The CARPLS Everyday Hero award honors the legacy of Pat Wrona, CARPLS former Director of Legal Services. Pat is the embodiment of CARPLS’ core mission: that no one should face a legal problem alone. She joined in 1995 as a part-time attorney and later became a supervisor. Pat became Director of Legal Services in 2007, and for 15 years through her quiet leadership and guidance, CARPLS became a national leader in legal service delivery innovation.
For more than a decade, Nancy Chaidez has been one of the first voices many clients hear when they reach out to CARPLS. Whether someone is facing eviction, navigating family court, seeking veterans’ services, or simply unsure where to turn, Nancy is often there with a listening ear to help them take the next step.
This year, Nancy’s compassion and commitment were recognized in a way she never expected: she was named CARPLS’ Everyday Hero Award recipient.
For Nancy, the honor came as a complete surprise.
“I cried,” she said. “I was so emotional because I didn’t even think I was nominated. I honestly thought maybe they needed to double check.”
That humility is part of what makes Nancy so beloved among her colleagues. While others see her as a constant source of support for clients and staff alike, Nancy has always viewed her work as simply doing what needs to be done.
She began her journey at CARPLS in 2012 as a part-time employee shortly after earning her paralegal certificate from Wilbur Wright College. It was right after her first day on the job that she realized how life-changing the work at CARPLS could be.
Her very first client was a single mother from Mexico who was facing eviction. The woman didn’t speak English, had been abandoned by her partner, left alone with her baby, and was escaping an abusive relationship with nowhere to go. “That experience opened my eyes,” Nancy recalled. “I realized how many people are truly in need.” That moment has stayed with her ever since—and it’s one of the main reasons she never left.
“Every day I wake up knowing I can help someone,” she said. “Even if I can’t solve every problem, I can listen. I can make someone feel heard. I can make a difference.”
Nancy is a proud first-generation Mexican American and Chicago native who became the first in her family to pursue a legal career. Though her journey has been shaped by determination and resilience, Nancy says recognition was never what motivated her.
“I do this from the heart,” she said. “I never expect anything in return.”
For the thousands of clients who call CARPLS each year searching for answers, Nancy Chaidez is often more than a paralegal. She’s a calm voice during chaos. A source of reassurance during uncertainty.
And now, officially, an everyday hero.
