Founder & CEO | Joan D. Clay, Esq.

Ms. Clay is the founder and CEO of The Village Legal and Community Project. With over 20 years as a licensed attorney, Joan has spent half of her career as a public interest attorney committed to providing access to justice to overlooked and underserved communities. Her experience includes private practice, volunteer work in public interest law, as well as experience as a law school professor who oversaw a mortgage foreclosure clinic run by law students dedicated to helping those facing foreclosure at a time when banks were less than cooperative with homeowners.

For Joan, it is important to not only help make the legal system more accessible to those who can’t afford private attorneys, it is also important to mentor the next generation of public interest attorneys. Ms. Clay received her B.A. in Communications, with an emphasis in Journalism from Loyola University of Chicago and her J.D. from The University of Detroit Mercy.

Staff Attorney | Joanna Loomis, Esq. 

Joanna Loomis brings extensive experience in litigation, advocacy, and community engagement. Her career is dedicated to empowering marginalized populations and expanding access to justice. Joanna has worked on civil rights enforcement initiatives with the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office and supported Spanish-speaking immigrant communities with her legal expertise. 

Joanna holds a J.D. from NYU School of Law and a B.A. in Sociology and Linguistics from the University of Delaware. Fluent in Spanish, she is passionate about delivering equitable, client-centered legal services.

Paralegal | Alyssa Rodda 

Ms. Rodda is a dedicated and hardworking paralegal at The Village Legal and Community Project. She joined the organization as an intern and has since been promoted to our full-time paralegal. Of Bolivian descent, she  and enjoys celebrating her cultural heritage, often spending time with family and friends over authentic Hispanic cuisine and music. Alyssa has also traveled internationally to assist with mission work.

She brings a strong work ethic, diverse cultural perspective, and a deep commitment to justice to her role at The Village Legal Community Project, where she is committed to serving the community with dedication and integrity. Alyssa earned her B.A. degree in Paralegal Studies, with a minor in psychology from Roosevelt University in 2024.