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SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area today announced the appointment of Lateefah Simon as its new Executive Director. A MacArthur Fellow and a nationally recognized civil rights activist, Simon joins the organization as it celebrates its 40th anniversary.

"Throughout her life, Lateefah has advocated for the communities and issues that are central to our mission," said Nancy Harris, an attorney at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe and Board Co-Chair. "She is skilled at building effective coalitions and moving the social justice movement forward. With her leadership, a dedicated staff and renewed energy, we will continue to build on our successes and bring fresh solutions to the problems facing our client communities."

Simon joins LCCR from the Office of San Francisco District Attorney Kamala D. Harris, where she has served as Director of Reentry Services since 2005. Previously, Simon served for 11 years as Executive Director of the Center for Young Women's Development. She first joined CYWD as a volunteer at age 15 and became one of the youngest leaders of a social service agency in the country at 19.

"This organization is deeply rooted in the communities it serves and has a tremendous history of leading on issues of race, poverty and immigration," said Simon. "I am thrilled and humbled by this opportunity, and eager to help expand the Lawyers' Committee's goal of advancing the civil and legal rights of those who need it most."

Simon has been recognized by the Ford Foundation, the Women's Foundation of California, and the National Organization for Women. The California State Assembly named her "California Woman of the Year" in 2005, and she received the Jefferson Award for extraordinary public service in 2007. Simon serves on the board of directors of the ACLU of Northern California and the Women's Foundation of California.

She will officially begin her tenure as Executive Director on January 5, 2009, succeeding Interim Executive Director Oren Sellstrom.

About the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area:

For 40 years, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights has championed the legal rights of people of color, poor people, immigrants and refugees, with a special commitment to African-Americans. LCCR is affiliated with the national Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, begun in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy. In 1968, shortly after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., leading members of the San Francisco Bar established the San Francisco office to advance civil rights. The Lawyers' Committee staff, working with hundreds of pro bono attorneys, provides free legal assistance and representation to individuals on civil legal matters. LCCR also helps advance civil rights by taking on vital cases that impact policy. For more information, please visit http://www.lccr.com/. Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area

Web site: http://www.lccr.com/