As a volunteer attorney, Mark Steiner has provided more than 400 hours of free legal consultation and advice to Neighbors served by BakerRipley’s Immigration and Citizenship program. Over the past 10 years, Mark has helped hundreds of immigrants as they begin their journey to naturalization. Along with legal advice, Mark provides a healthy dose of encouragement. The legal process for immigration can be confusing and complex, but Mark simply says, “You can do this.” In response, Neighbors often tell the BakerRipley team, “The man with the bow tie, he treated me with kindness and respect.” It is a beautiful exchange to watch.
Mark is always willing to lend a hand wherever needed. During the pandemic, Mark was the first to volunteer to support BakerRipley’s Drive-Thru Citizenship Workshop. He stood outside during the heat of Houston’s summer, supporting families with car-side legal consultations—and continued to serve in that way for the next two years. Mark’s service to the community goes beyond BakerRipley, and in 2018 Shell named him one of six “Heroes of Houston” to honor the resilience, bravery and generosity of everyday Houstonians in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. Mark worked 11-hour shifts managing “Baby Island” at NRG, distributing baby supplies to families who had been rescued from the flood waters.
In recognition of his volunteer work, Mark was the first recipient of the Mark Steiner Award for Immigration Altruism in 2017. The award was presented by BakerRipley, NALEO, Univision, and the City of Houston Office of New Americans and Immigrant Communities. Thank you, Mark, for your exceptional service to BakerRipley. Your generous gifts of time and expertise make the difference of a lifetime for the Neighbors we serve.
