Student James Lacey will receive the Salmon P. Chase Award of Chase College聽of Law this year, presented annually at commencement to a graduating student聽who represents Chase鈥檚 legacy for service to others as a Cincinnati lawyer in聽the mid-1800s.
鈥 James is a part-time student who works as senior manager of the Community聽Resource Coordination Department at Activities Beyond the Classroom, a聽Cincinnati-based nonprofit. His work focuses on providing academic support,聽financial relief and social services to underserved students and families.
鈥 As a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, he has led monthly initiatives聽aimed at uplifting Black youth and families, mentoring young men through the Alpha Esquires program, facilitating college readiness workshops and organizing聽quarterly mobile food drives, in partnership with the Free store Foodbank in聽Cincinnati.
鈥 His thoughts: 鈥淰ery early in my law school聽journey, I realized that we each carry a unique perspective and the best way to聽understand each other is to stop and listen to one another. The more we lean聽into that, the stronger our community becomes. I鈥檝e embraced that mindset every聽day, and I believe my peers and professors saw that authenticity and consistency聽as something worthy of this award.鈥
鈥 His plans: 鈥淎fter graduation, I look forward to聽continuing to grow at the intersection of law and business, as a litigation associate, pursuing opportunities that allow me to apply both skill sets in聽meaningful ways. Looking ahead, I see my career evolving toward consumer聽protection; where I can use that foundation to help build systems that are聽fair, transparent and centered on everyday people.鈥
