Jill Willis was an elementary school student when her mother took her to participate in the 1963 school boycott. Jill retired, but hasn’t been able to stay away from work that makes a difference. This is what she told us recently:
“My strong interest in social justice, exemplified and nurtured by my mother from childhood, led me not only to pursue social work, but ultimately to my current role as a civil rights lawyer. I currently have 5 matters in federal court defending clients who’ve experienced employment discrimination.”
Norfolk Southern is a company discriminating against employees on the Southside of Chicago that Jill is taking down. She became a solo practitioner years ago because she “disliked the politics inherent in major law firm and large corporate environments, not to mention the often negative attitudes about women, minorities and older workers.” Jill Willis’ fight for equal rights started from a young age during the 1963 school boycott and continues to this day.
Check out the article here.