Heidi Lee Henderson departs Access Justice Brooklyn, Melissa Starr named interim president

December 12, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

Melissa Starr, interim president and CEO of Access Justice Brooklyn, steps into her new role following the departure of Heidi Lee Henderson. With seven years at AJB, Starr has been instrumental in advancing the organization’s fundraising strategy and building key partnerships. She takes the helm during an exciting transition as AJB prepares to relocate to 203 Jay Street in 2025. Brooklyn Eagle photo by Rob Abruzzese

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Access Justice Brooklyn (AJB), a nonprofit dedicated to providing pro bono legal services, has announced a leadership change as President and CEO Heidi Lee Henderson prepares to leave the organization.

Henderson, who has guided AJB through a transformative decade, stepped down on Dec. 6 to assume a leadership position at a national nonprofit. Melissa Starr, currently the senior director of development and strategic initiatives, will step into the role of interim president and CEO.

Henderson’s tenure at AJB is marked by growth and adaptation. Under her leadership, the organization more than doubled its staff, expanded its operating budget from under $700,000 to $2.4 million, and rebranded from the Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project to Access Justice Brooklyn in 2022. Henderson also steered the organization through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Heidi has been an extraordinary champion for people in the Brooklyn community,” said AJB Board Chair Lynn Judell. “Her leadership over the last decade has been unparalleled, and she will be deeply missed. Thanks to Heidi’s vision, her tenacity, and the remarkable team she has built, Access Justice Brooklyn is well-positioned to continue its mission of creating a more equitable Brooklyn.”

Board Vice Chair Stephen Z. Williamson echoed the sentiment, calling Henderson’s tenure a time of “dynamic change and growth.”

Henderson expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to lead AJB, stating, “It has been an honor to have led Access Justice Brooklyn for the past 10 years. AJB is a force in our Brooklyn community—dismantling systemic barriers to justice and providing critical legal services to underserved Brooklynites.” She voiced confidence in Starr’s ability to guide the organization forward.

Starr, who joined AJB in 2017, has played a central role in shaping the organization’s fundraising and communications strategy. She takes on her new role as AJB prepares to relocate to a new office at 203 Jay Street in early 2025.

“Over the past seven years, I have had the privilege of working alongside Heidi and witnessing the impact of her leadership,” Starr said. “As we transition into this new chapter, I am honored to accept the role of interim president and CEO and look forward to advancing our mission of ensuring an accessible and equitable legal system.”

AJB’s Board of Directors plans to conduct a comprehensive search for a permanent president and CEO in the new year.