Manire Vaughn

Manire Vaughn currently serves as the Lead Senior Staff Attorney for the Climate Justice Team at the Public Health Law Center (PHLC). As the leader of PHLC's newest program, he endeavors to use the law as a tool to support affordable housing advocates, community-based organizations, and environmental policy experts to eradicate the systemic impacts of environmental injustice. Manire believes that housing is a human right, and strives to elevate the voices of those living in affordable housing by engaging with residents across the country on various topics including building decarbonization, energy efficiency, and healthy housing. 

Manire is deeply committed to equity, and protecting the rights of those most vulnerable. Prior joining PHLC, Manire worked as a housing attorney at legal aid, where he represented hundreds of clients facing evictions, subsidized housing terminations, repair disputes, and housing discrimination. He has also worked to advance access to justice within the Minnesota Judicial System as a Legal Fellow with the Minnesota Legal Aid Coalition, and provided Racial Impact Statements to the Minnesota Legislature on behalf of the Minnesota Sentencing and Guidelines Commission on impending drug bills. 

Beyond practice, Manire is an adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, and serves as an inaugural board member of the Peris Hill Housing Project in Minneapolis. 

In 2022, Manire was recognized by the National Association of Social Workers and received the Paul and Sheila Wellstone Social Justice Award for his commitment to social justice 

Manire earned his Juris Doctorate at Michigan State University College of Law, and dual bachelor’s degrees in human services and criminal justice from St. Mary’s University.