by Hailey Hughes

“What can I do to help you?” Kathleen Klein asked during a DAYL committee meeting. At first, this question seems surprising because only so often does someone think to ask such a selfless question and then have the full intention of carrying through on the response. Yet after getting to know her, this question is no surprise at all. This is who Kathleen is – an incredibly giving and selfless individual who has devoted her career and free time to helping others.

Early on, Kathleen knew her calling was to help others. Majoring in Human and Organizational Development, Kathleen excelled at balancing her time between school, graduating cum laude from Vanderbilt University, and serving as an Honors Research Assistant, the Director of Community Outreach for Delta Gamma sorority, and a member of the Fundraising and Publicity Executive Committee for the Manna Project International. In addition to all of this, Kathleen even spent a semester studying abroad in Cape Town, South Africa with Students’ Health and Welfare Centres Organisation (SHAWCO), teaching computer skills to low-income women.

During law school at The Pennsylvania State University, Kathleen focused on immigration and international law, taking leadership roles in the International Law Society, Women’s Law Caucus, National Lawyers Guild, and Public Interest Law Fund, in addition to co-authorizing a community education workshop at the Center for Immigrants’ Rights, explaining the immigration remedies of U/T/VAWA visas for a nonprofit organization assisting domestic violence victims.

Throughout her career, Kathleen has been a fierce advocate for immigration, domestic violence, and human trafficking clients. In her role as Legal Program Director at Mosaic Family Services, Kathleen supervises the attorneys, paralegals, and interns with the legal department while maintaining her own domestic violence caseload, developing policies and procedures for client safety and the security of client data, and providing human trafficking and T-visa training to partner organizations. Prior to her current role, Kathleen worked at Mosaic Family Services as the Senior Immigration Attorney and managed the domestic violence division.

Kathleen also uses her giving nature and passion for immigration law and civic service to benefit the legal and local community. Kathleen has been a strong leader in DAYL, taking many leadership positions, including serving as the Freedom Run Co-Chair in 2022, a member of the DAYL/DWLA Women’s Mentoring Circles Committee from 2021 to 2022, the Politically Aware Chair in 2021, and many others throughout the years. Kathleen also serves on committees in the Dallas Bar Association and Attorneys Serving the Community. Additionally, Kathleen offers her skills as an attorney in a volunteer capacity with the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program’s Legal Line, which provides free phone calls for pro bono legal advice to members of the Dallas area community.  She also volunteers with VECINA, an organization dedicated to helping unaccompanied immigration children be reunited with their families or sponsors in the United States.

Kathleen has and will continue to do wonderful things for DAYL and our community, using her can-do attitude and her passion for helping others. It is clear that Kathleen’s altruistic nature and ability to balance an abundance of activities allows her to be the dynamite advocate, star volunteer, and inspiring leader that we are so lucky to know. Kathleen is truly One to Watch!