Anas “Andy” Shallal is an artist, social entrepreneur, and founder and CEO of Busboys and Poets, giving a place where art, culture and politics intentionally collide over mindfully sourced food, drinks and programming that feeds the mind body and soul. A member of the Restaurant Opportunities Center (ROC) focusing on sustainable business and employment practices, Busboys and Poets has been at the forefront of environmental stewardship and at the cutting edge of the local/sustainable food movement.

Shallal has founded and co-founded several peace and justice organizations and holds leadership positions in numerous organizations that support the DMV. He has the esteemed honor to be on the board of trustees for the Institute for Policy Studies, the Anacostia Coordinating Council, The Anacostia Park Foundation, The DC Fiscal Policy Institute and a founding member of Think Local First DC.

Immigrant Food is D.C.’s first cause-casual restaurant. They celebrate America’s story – the story of immigrants.

Co-Founder Peter Schechter commemorated the 10th anniversary of his mother’s death in 2018. His mother and father were both immigrants, but his mother was a chain immigrant, brought to America by her aunt. The anniversary of his mom’s passing coincided with a shocking surge of negative rhetoric against immigrants.

That’s when the idea of Immigrant Food began to form. It’s a restaurant that celebrates the successes of past immigrants and positively impacts today’s immigrants who – like Gerda and Edmund, Peter’s parents– have come to America to remake their lives. Read more about Immigrant Food’s story.

Ayuda’s Advocate of Change award is designed to recognize a(n) individual(s), organization, or company who have steadfastly advocated for immigrants’ rights in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan community.

Immigrant Food is the first recipient of this prestigious award as they have shown exemplary leadership and commitment in the area advocating for immigrant rights. As D.C.’s first cause-casual restaurant, their mission to help to unite people at the table, celebrate America’s history and educate on pressing issues facing immigrants in the United States is inspiring.

We commend Immigrant Food’s support of local organizations – including Ayuda – in the Washington, D.C. area and across the nation.

Jill Flack is an Assistant General Counsel at Exelon, where she handles labor, employment and employee benefits matters .  She is also the coordinator of Exelon’s D.C. region pro bono program and built the pro bono program for Pepco Holdings, following Pepco’s merger with Exelon. Jill has done pro bono work with many organizations in DC and Maryland, including several immigration relief clinics with Ayuda. In recognition of her work, Jill was awarded the Matt Gutt Pro Bono Award by Exelon in 2021.

Jill has volunteered with non-profits in her community, including the Arlington Community Foundation, which awards annual scholarships to seniors in the Arlington County public schools.  Additionally, she served as chair on the Student Services Advisory Committee which successfully advocated for increasing the number of psychologists, counselors and social workers in Arlington Public Schools. 

Jill is a graduate of Cornell University and Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law and obtained a Certificate in Employee Benefits Law from Georgetown Law School.

Jill Flack is receiving the 2022 pro bono service award, for her staunch commitment to Ayuda’s mission and clients through extraordinary partnership as part of Ayuda’s pro bono program.

She has been a strong supporter of Ayuda and has advocated for our interests within Exelon, ensuring that Exelon has been an important and committed clinic partner. Moreover, she is always there when our pro bono program needs a thought partner. 

Orrick focuses on serving the Technology & Innovation, Energy & Infrastructure and Finance sectors globally. Clients worldwide call on our teams for forward-looking commercial advice on transactions, litigation and compliance matters. They bring distinctive quality, teamwork and value to the table – and innovate in everything we do.

This year, Ayuda honors Orrick with the 2022 Pro Bono Service Impact award for their special and significant contribution to Ayuda’s legal pro bono program in the last year.

Orrick has demonstrated a staunch commitment to Ayuda’s mission and clients through extraordinary pro bono representation as part of Ayuda’s pro bono program.

In particular Orrick’s support and leadership in representing trafficking clients with approved T-Visas in adjustment of status proceedings has been invaluable. 

Craig Silliman is executive vice president and chief administrative, legal and public policy officer. He is responsible for Verizon’s supply chain, real estate, public policy, legal, regulatory and security groups. Before assuming his current position in July 2019, Silliman was executive vice president for public policy and general counsel, responsible for leading the company’s public policy, legal, regulatory, government affairs and security groups. He has also served as senior vice president for public policy and government affairs, with responsibility for Verizon’s global public policy, federal and state legislative affairs, federal regulatory affairs, strategic alliances, national security, privacy and corporate citizenship.

He has served in a number of other senior management roles at Verizon, including senior vice president and general counsel for Verizon’s wireline consumer, business and wholesale groups globally, and senior vice president and deputy general counsel, with responsibility for antitrust, intellectual property, national security, privacy and strategic product support.

Prior to joining a Verizon predecessor company in 1997, Craig was an attorney in the international trade practice at Collier, Shannon, Rill & Scott (now Kelley, Drye & Warren) in Washington, D.C.

Corporate and charitable leadership

Since 2011, Craig has served on the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. He has also taught international telecommunications regulation as an adjunct professor at the American University School of Law in Washington, D.C.

Personal and educational background

Craig earned his law degree from the University of Virginia and is a member of the bar in Maryland, New Jersey, and Washington, DC. He is married with three sons and in his free time enjoys reading, cycling, traveling and vegetable gardening.