news release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 12, 2008

CONTACT:
James Carroll
(202) 466-3686 ext. 102 		jcarroll@equaljusticeworks.org
www.equaljusticeworks.org
HONORS FOR DOCUMENTARY ABOUT EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS
LAWYERS IN THE GULF REGION
WASHINGTON, D.C. - A short documentary about Equal Justice Works Lawyers in the Gulf Region, Survivors of the Storm: Securing Justice in Post-Katrina America, received top honors in the 2007 Aurora Awards, a prestigious independent film and video competition, Equal Justice Works announced.

The 8-minute film was produced by Video/Action for Equal Justice Works as a tribute to the lawyers who have helped thousands of people affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The Aurora judges awarded Survivors of the Storm their highest honor, a Platinum Best of Show, in the Social Issues/Report/Documentary category. In their comments, the judges noted the “beautiful videography,” “high creativity” and “excellent execution and content.”

When the hurricanes devastated the Gulf Coast region in 2005 and left hundreds of thousands of people without homes, jobs, access to health care or social services, Equal Justice Works responded by establishing the Katrina Initiative to support public interest attorneys in the area for up to two years. The 19 Katrina Legal Fellows greatly increased the capacity of organizations across several states to manage the unprecedented web of legal problems, bureaucratic red tape and financial disruption that resulted from the hurricanes. The film focuses on the work of three of those Fellows.

“Survivors of the Storm tells the story of the difference public interest lawyers can make in communities in crisis,” said Equal Justice Work Chief Executive David Stern. “We are enormously proud of the achievements of our lawyers in the Gulf Region and delighted that this tribute to their work has been so well received.”

Now entering its final year, the Katrina Initiative has successfully met the challenge of providing emergency legal assistance and is now focusing on long-term goals. The Initiative is focused on building strong legal foundations to provide access to justice so that individuals can stabilize their lives and, eventually, communities in the Gulf Coast will thrive once again.

Through the Katrina Initiative, Equal Justice Works has created a model for quickly mobilizing and responding to future disasters. To learn more about the initiative and other Equal Justice Works programs, visit www.equaljusticeworks.org.

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Video/Action Inc. is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit video production company that was founded in 1990 by Emmy Award-winning producer Robin Smith. Over the last 16 years, Video/Action has produced more than 186 educational television programs, training videos, and informational shorts on a wide range of topics including homelessness, women's health, community-based arts and education initiatives, crime victimization issues and violence prevention.

Equal Justice Works, a nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in 1986 by law students dedicated to working for equal justice on behalf of underserved communities and causes. Today, Equal Justice Works is the national leader in creating summer and postgraduate public interest opportunities for law students and lawyers as well as in urging more public interest programming at law schools. For more information, visit www.equaljusticeworks.org.

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