Meet our Team

Nichelle Beardsley

Office Manager

Nichelle Beardsley joined ALRP as Office Manager in May 2024 and plays an integral role in keeping ALRP’s human resources, finance, IT, and facilities functions running smoothly. Nichelle has dedicated her career to the nonprofit sector, including 13 years at a public policy institute and, most recently, six years at community-based organization Lincoln Families. She is a Bay Area native who was raised in Berkeley and now lives in Oakland.

Rafael Benzecry

Shartsis Friese LLP Public Interest Fellow

Rafael (he/him) is an immigration attorney with a transnational background and a deep commitment to justice and cultural understanding. He earned his LL.B. from the Federal University of Amazonas (Brazil) in 2017, an M.S. in Cultural Heritage from Brazil’s National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage in 2020, and an LL.M. from Harvard Law School in 2023. Before moving to the United States, Rafael worked in Brazil on matters involving historic preservation and cultural activities, experiences that shaped his appreciation for the intersection of law, identity, and collective memory. As an immigrant himself, he later developed a practice in immigration law, providing legal services to immigrant communities in Reading, Pennsylvania, and beyond. Admitted to the New York Bar and now based in San Francisco, Rafael continues to advance his commitment to fairness and inclusion through client-centered advocacy. Outside of his legal work, he enjoys hiking, exploring the city’s historic and architectural landmarks, and studying history and foreign languages.

Claire Clayton

Development Associate

Claire (she/they) attended Barnard College where she graduated with a degree in Philosophy, Psychology, and Latin American Studies. Before joining ALRP, Claire worked as a paralegal with the New York Legal Assistance Group in their Immigrant Protection Unit, and as Legal Program Associate at the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies here in San Francisco. At ALRP, Claire provides part-time administrative support to the Executive Director and the Development and Communications Manager.

J. F. Creecy

Pro Bono Panel Manager

Jake joined ALRP in 2024. Jake has his BA and MA and served as an armor officer in the United States Army. More recently he worked in the private sector with several prominent Silicon Valley tech companies including Facebook and LinkedIn. Jake decided that non-profits are his true calling as it fits with his focus on service and helping others. Jake enjoys fishing and writing history.

Jeff Dulgar

Director of Housing and Litigation

Jeff joined ALRP in 2015 as a Staff Attorney after working at a San Francisco real estate firm. Jeff also brings ample experience to ALRP from his time as an ALRP law clerk and as a solo practitioner representing tenants. He earned his J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law after graduating from UC Santa Barbara with a major in Political Science and Global Peace and Security. Jeff has maintained a focus on supporting under-served communities in the Bay Area through his prior work at Oakland’s Self Help and Family Law Facilitator’s Office and by riding in the AIDS/LifeCycle for the past four years.

Matt Foreman

Executive Director

Matt Foreman is a nationally recognized LGBTQ rights leader with a diverse background in political advocacy, civil rights, and philanthropy. From 2008 to 2023, he led the LGBT Equality Program at the Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, one of the largest foundation funders of the LGBTQ movement. Under his leadership, the Haas, Jr. Fund played a critical role in advancing marriage equality across the country. Matt served as co-chair of the Civil Marriage Collaborative, a partnership of key marriage equality funders that raised $163 million to help secure the freedom to marry.

Previously, Matt was executive director of the National LGBTQ Task Force. During his tenure, the organization’s budget and staff more than doubled (to $10 million and 60, respectively), and it reestablished itself as a leading voice for LGBT rights in the nation’s capital. Before the Task Force, Matt served as executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda (New York State’s LGBT political advocacy organization) and the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project. While at the Pride Agenda, he led campaigns that resulted in the enactment of a statewide gay rights law, a hate crimes law, and laws extending equal benefits to the surviving partners of those killed on 9/11. At the Anti-Violence Project, he focused the city’s attention on anti-gay violence, resulting in important changes in police training, deployment and responsiveness. (Matt’s work is currently featured in HBO’s four-part documentary “Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York.”)

Prior to his work in LGBTQ rights, Matt was involved in prison policy and administration. A graduate of the New York University School of Law, Matt is a founder of Heritage of Pride, which organizes New York City’s annual LGBTQ pride events, and a former member of the New York City Human Rights Commission.

Bryanna Garay

Senior Paralegal

Bryanna is passionate about helping people any way she can. She joined ALRP in 2023 with the intention to help people stay housed. She believes that legal representation is a right that should not be decided by your economic status. Bryanna graduated from Bryant & Stratton College in October 2023 with an AA in Paralegal Studies. Her passion is in law, but her drive is from family. In 2021 and 2022, she was a volunteer soccer coach for kids with disabilities. She enjoys playing games, creating AI artwork, and spending time with family.

Emily Heinzen

Supervising Staff Attorney - Outreach

After working in education for several years, Emily received her J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law in 2018, graduating with an emphasis in Public Interest Law. During her time in school, Emily had the opportunity to work at ALRP as a law clerk, where she learned firsthand about the issues facing people living with HIV. Prior to joining ALRP as a full-time staff member, Emily worked as an extern with the San Francisco District Attorney’s office and explored private practice as family law attorney. Emily is thrilled to be back at ALRP, meeting with clients and community partners throughout the Bay Area and supporting clients with their estate planning needs.

Sloka Krishnan

Director of Development and Communications

Sloka Krishnan joined ALRP in 2023. He previously served in a number of development and administrative roles in the nonprofit sector, primarily related to public health and immigrant and LGBTQ justice. A reformed Midwesterner, Sloka holds a Master of Science in Information from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University. In his spare time, he is a hobbyist playwright / theatre artist.

Kim Kruse

Director of Social Services

Kim graduated from San Francisco State University in 2004 with a Master’s in Social Welfare. She worked at Kaiser Permanente Hospital San Francisco in-patient for 15 years. In January 2020, she began her role as the TRC (Tenant Right to Counsel) Social Work Supervisor with both ALRP and Legal Assistance to the Elderly. Her role has expanded to include social work supervision for Care Court legal advocates, making her a Clinical Director of Social Work Services for both ALRP and Legal Assistance to the Elderly. Kim has always loved working with the HIV community and will continue to dedicate aspects of her career to this amazing population that often is overlooked.

Delaney Nevius

Staff Attorney

Delaney graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a B.A. in Feminist Studies and received a J.D. from UC Law San Francisco in 2018. After law school, Delaney worked at a non-profit in Oakland representing clients in their public benefits cases. Prior to joining ALRP, Delaney worked at the UC Law San Francisco Individual Representation Clinic and represented clients in Social Security cases, clean slate criminal conviction relief cases, and wage and hour cases at the Labor Commissioner’s Office.

Ryan Orkisz

Staff Attorney

After several years in the advertising industry, Ryan (he/him) earned his J.D. from UC Law San Francisco in 2024, with a concentration in Social Justice Lawyering. During law school, Ryan discovered his interest in direct legal services work through formative experiences in UC Law SF’s Individual Representation Clinic and an externship at Centro Legal de la Raza. Driven by his desire to support underserved communities across the Bay Area, Ryan joined ALRP as a Staff Advocate in December 2024. Outside of his work at ALRP, Ryan enjoys listening to music and spending time with his dog, Piper.

Allison Pruitt

Senior Supervising Attorney

Allison graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a B.A. in politics and earned her J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law, with a focus on human rights and public international law.  Prior to joining ALRP, Allison interned with UNHCR, Center for Justice and Accountability, the Eviction Defense Collaborative, and Face to Face the Sonoma County AIDS Network. 

Jaime Rush

Director of Client Services / Managing Attorney

Jaime received her B.A. in Sociology from Wesleyan University and earned her J.D. from University of California, Hastings College of Law in 2005. She was admitted to the California Bar later that year. During law school, Jaime was an extern for Phyllis Hamilton of the Northern District of California Court, and she was also a member of the Hastings Communications and Entertainment Law Journal. Since graduating, Jaime has worked as a Housing Law Clerk at ALRP, and also as a contract attorney with a small tenant advocacy practice in San Francisco.

Kai Shintani

Senior Housing Attorney

Kai Shintani received a B.A. in art from University of California Los Angeles and earned her J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law with a focus in public interest law. Kai was introduced to ALRP as a law student though GGU’s Honors Lawyering Program, which gave her the opportunity to work with the Eviction Defense Team. She is excited return to ALRP as a staff attorney on the Eviction Defense Team.

Stephen Spano

Supervising Staff Attorney - HCAP

Stephen’s sordid past includes pool hustling, houselessness, a music degree from Berklee College of Music, and a career in the entertainment industry. While achieving his JD from Golden Gate University, Stephen externed for KQED, Judge Maria-Elena James in the Federal District Court for the Northern District of California, Justice Carlos Moreno in the Supreme Court of California, and of course: ALRP. Indeed, Stephen’s connections to ALRP run deep. Having been a volunteer, law clerk, donor, fundraiser, panel attorney as well as a client, Stephen’s role as the HCAP Staff Attorney provides him the opportunity to support Consumers of HIV services as well as Service Providers using alternative dispute resolution techniques.

Slater Stanley

Staff Attorney

Slater joined ALRP as a staff advocate in March 2024 before passing the California bar and becoming a staff attorney in May, with a focus on immigration and housing matters. As a law student, Slater interned with Oasis Legal Services and The LGBT Asylum Project, where he assisted in the preparation of affirmative asylum applications and supporting evidence as well as hearing representation for LGBTQ-identified asylum seekers at the San Francisco Asylum Office. Slater holds a JD from the University of San Francisco School of Law and a Bachelor’s degree in Mandarin Language and Chinese History from NYU. Prior to law school, he worked as a professional makeup artist for five years.

Kylah Stroh

Housing Paralegal

Kylah earned her B.A. in Criminal Justice Studies and Paralegal Certification at San Francisco State University. For many years, she has been driven to do work that helps people, previously working with under-resourced children and their families. Kylah believes that housing is an essential need for all people, regardless of their status, past, or how they carry themselves in the world. She joined ALRP in 2025 as a Housing Paralegal with the passion and goal to continue helping people. 

Hunter Wolff

Staff Attorney

Hunter received her J.D. From Berkeley Law in 2023 with Pro Bono Highest Distinction and a Public Interest & Social Justice certificate. During law school, she participated in numerous pro bono programs providing community legal aid and worked extensively with Berkeley Law’s Policy Advocacy Clinic to end criminal financial punishment practices in several states. Hunter joined ALRP as a staff attorney in 2025 supporting clients with housing and government benefits matters.