Children’s Law Center names exec director

The Children’s Law Center Board of Directors announced it has chosen Acena Beck to be the executive director and leader of the organization.

Beck, the current deputy director, will assume the duties and responsibilities of executive director on July 1. She takes over for Kim Brooks Tandy, who founded the Covington-based legal-services center for children and youth in 1989. Tandy is stepping down June 30.

“I look forward to the next few months I will be remaining at Children’s Law Center as its executive director, but I also very much look forward to passing the baton to Acena,” said Tandy, who has served as executive director for 28 years. “I have full confidence that she will lead us into the future with the same enthusiasm, insight and leadership we have already witnessed.”

Beck, a native of Morehead who now resides in Fort Mitchell, will also become the chief executive officer for the organization, while coordinating with the board of directors to set its internal vision and goals. She will continue to perform her legal duties of advocating for children and youth and leading the organization’s public policy work.

“I am very pleased Acena Beck accepts the duties and responsibilities of executive director effective July 1,” said Joseph Nava, the group’s board president. “Acena is an outstanding attorney with a brilliant record advocating for children’s legal rights; we are looking forward to her leading the Children’s Law Center into its third decade of providing quality representation for our children and youth.”

Beck has extensive experience in family and juvenile law, representing clients in private practice and in the nonprofit sector. She is licensed to practice law in state and federal courts in Kentucky. At Children’s Law Center, Beck represents youth on a variety of legal issues.

She earned her bachelor’s degree from Morehead State University, then received her law degree from Northern Kentucky University’s Chase College of Law. She is active in the Northern Kentucky Bar Association and the Kentucky Bar Association, and currently serves on the Kentucky Access to Justice Commission.

“I am excited and honored to have been chosen to continue Kim Tandy’s legacy. I look forward to working with the board and CLC’s talented and passionate staff to create an exciting new chapter for the organization,” said Beck of her new role.

The Children’s Law Center is a unique nonprofit legal service center protecting the rights of children and youth to help them overcome barriers and transition into adulthood, better self-advocate for their own needs, and successfully contribute to society. It provides individual legal advocacy to children and youth. Through its public policy work, training and education, impact litigation, and juvenile defender support services, it seeks to improve the systems that serve children. CLC offers services in Kentucky and Ohio, and collaborates with other organizations within the region and nationally on a variety of legal topics relating to children and youths.

For nearly three decades, CLC lawyers have worked to provide free individual legal advocacy to children and youth, and seeks to impact systems that serve them. Through its work as lawyers and change agents, CLC provides the opportunities for young people to better advocate for their own needs.