Meet Casey Burke, Prospera partner in North Carolina
Casey Burke is the Executive Director of CLIMB, a nonprofit legal services organization in Mecklenburg County. With a passion for making business law more accessible, she connects small business owners with pro-bono legal support from top law firms in Charlotte. Casey collaborates with Prospera to offer legal clinics that serve under-resourced entrepreneurs in the region. Keep reading to learn more about her work and commitment to empowering the small business community.
What are your company’s mission and products/services?
I am the Executive Director of CLIMB. We are a nonprofit legal services organization that provides pro bono legal support and representation to under-resourced small business owners and entrepreneurs in Mecklenburg County. We do this by relying on volunteers from our partner firms—a group of the largest law firms in Charlotte who have all committed to giving back to the community and promoting economic mobility through pro bono. We seek to make business law services available to those for whom access to an attorney would be unaffordable otherwise and have hosted numerous legal clinics with Prospera, one of our community partners.
What motivated you to become a Prospera partner?
I am passionate about bringing the legal industry to the people—making the law accessible for everyone, regardless of ability to pay. There are so many lawyers who want to give back to the community by offering their services pro bono, and so many small business owners who could benefit from their expertise and knowledge. I’m grateful to be the connective tissue between these two groups. In particular, the Hispanic/Latino community in Charlotte that Prospera engages is full of incredible and motivated individuals, for whom just a bit of help goes a really long way. It is an honor to engage with this community, and I have enjoyed every minute.
What have you enjoyed the most so far about your partnership with Prospera?
Getting a chance to work with and talk to local small business owners and entrepreneurs through Prospera has been so gratifying. Everyone I have met has been inspiring—they are so open to learning everything they can, so grateful for the support they receive, and so passionate about their business pursuits. As a volunteer, it feels good to know that your work is going toward people who genuinely appreciate it and benefit from it.
What would you most like the local community to know about Prospera?
The Prospera team is a very dedicated group that believes in their mission and does everything in their power to empower the small businesses and entrepreneurs they serve. The work that they do to support the Hispanic small business community here in Charlotte is transformative. I’m grateful that Prospera exists, because the whole Charlotte community benefits from the businesses they have helped to build, sustain, and scale.
Which are the three words that best describe you?
Empathetic, bold, and passionate.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned throughout your career?
Never let fear be the reason you don’t do something. Tackling your fears is the only way to grow.
How do you achieve work/life balance?
I’m a lawyer, nonprofit Executive Director, wife, and mother, so sometimes it can be hard to find balance. I try to be very focused and intentional so that I can be as productive as possible during working hours. Likewise, when I am with my family, I do my best to be focused and intentional with them. Of course, there are times when work cuts into family time, or when I have to log on after my six-year-old goes to bed, but for me personally, my family is the most important thing in my life. They inspire me and make me whole, and the love, happiness, and fulfillment I get with them are a big reason I am able to show up as my best self every day at work.
How do you stay informed about trends in your industry?
I’m very connected to the pro bono community in Charlotte, North Carolina, and beyond. I attend regular monthly meetings with other pro bono professionals, and attend national conferences when possible to learn about how others around the country are increasing access to justice.
Where is your favorite place to have a meeting outside of the office?
I love a lunch meeting! Sharing a meal is a key way to bond in our social lives and family lives, and the working world is no different. If I’m proposing a lunch spot, I almost always pick Calle Sol, and I almost always get ceviche.
Which social media platform do you use most frequently?
LinkedIn.
What is one item still on your bucket list?
There are so many items on my bucket list and for me, many of them are travel related! I am still learning Spanish (I take a virtual class for an hour every week) and one day I hope to be conversational. I’ve never been to the African continent. I’ve never seen the northern lights. I’ve never seen a polar bear in the wild—I can’t explain it, I just want to. I want to hike the teahouses in Nepal. I could go on forever!
Casey’s passion for access to justice and her dedication to connecting legal expertise with those who need it most make her a valued partner in Prospera’s mission. Her work with CLIMB helps bring essential resources to Hispanic entrepreneurs, propelling them to build stronger businesses and more equitable communities. At Prospera, we are proud to work alongside Casey and deeply appreciate her commitment to empowering our clients.
