Introduction of David Lander

David is a very modest guy.  I asked him for a bio and he sent me the following 4 sentences.

David Lander is a lifelong member of the Jewish community of St. Louis who left only briefly for College and Law School.
He is a lawyer at the firm of Thompson Coburn and a long time activist for social justice who was once the head of Legal Services of Eastern Missouri.
He was one of the founding members of JUJ St. Louis.
He has been married to Carole Lander for 41 years and has two children and four grandchildren.

That didn’t satisfy me as I know what a terrific and accomplished person he is, so I have some more information.

David is the co-chair of the Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights Department at Thompson Coburn.  He is a member of numerous professional organizations and has served as a resource for many articles in newspapers and magazines throughout the US including Consumer Reports, USA Today and Business Week.  He lectures and previously served as an Assistant Professor at St. Louis University Law School.  He has written extensively, also serving as a contributing author to several well respected publications.

And, most relevant to why he is here today is that David was inspired by Jewish organizations in Chicago and New York that were getting involved in racial and economic justice issues. 

He got together and began to meet with Jewish activists in St. Louis about starting such an organization here.  In May of 1999, a meeting was held at Hillel at which 29 individuals attended.  They agreed that there was sufficient energy and need to create a group that would be an active Jewish force for change through action and alliances and Jews United for Justice, JUJ was founded.

I am honored to call David a friend, proud to work with him in so noble a cause and I appreciate the opportunity and am extremely pleased to be able to introduce him to you today

Linda Gavatin

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