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Opening Our Doors: Honoring Three Champions of Justice

West Tennessee Legal Services opened our Memphis office to the community for an afternoon we were proud to host. On September 17, neighbors, partners, and supporters joined us to honor three Champions of Justice: Rajanae T. Jones, Judge Tarik B. Sugarmon, and the Ford Foundation.

The open house was about more than a celebration. Legal aid works best when the community knows who we are, what we do, and how to reach us. Opening our doors gave people a chance to meet our team, see where the work happens, and learn more about the impact WTLS is making across West Tennessee. Too often, people facing a legal problem don’t know that help exists, but events like this help change that.

Our Three Honorees Included:

Rajanae T. Jones

Rajanae T. Jones is an Associate Attorney at Burch, Porter & Johnson, PLLC, where she practices general litigation with a focus on municipal law. As a Special Attorney for the City of Memphis, she works on anti-blight litigation, addressing blighted and nuisance properties and their effect on Memphis neighborhoods, an area of practice that has become especially close to her heart. Ms. Jones earned her B.S. in Chemistry from Southern University in 2021 and her J.D. from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 2024.

Judge Tarik B. Sugarmon

A lifelong Memphian, Judge Sugarmon was elected in August 2022 as Judge of the Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County. His career reflects a deep commitment to justice, equity, and community impact, and he brings decades of legal, judicial, and community experience to the bench. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance from Morehouse College and his law degree from Howard University School of Law, where he graduated in the top five percent of his class.

The Ford Foundation

In 2025, the Ford Foundation expanded its funding for WTLS, focusing on strengthening communities in the area surrounding the Blue Oval manufacturing facility in Stanton. That investment helped us grow our outreach in Tipton, Fayette, Haywood, and Lauderdale Counties, bringing legal help closer to the people who need it.

Thank You, Champions

Together, our Champions of Justice have shown that justice is a community effort. It takes attorneys, judges, funders, volunteers, and neighbors all working toward the same goal of making sure everyone has a fair chance, no matter their income or zip code.