Equal Justice Works Press Release

	press release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 17, 2007 CONTACT: James Carroll (202) 466-3686 ext. 102	jcarroll@equaljusticeworks.org www.equaljusticeworks.org

NATIONAL SERVICE AGENCY HONORS EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS LAWYER WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Corporation for National and Community Service today presented the 2007 Spirit of Service Award to Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Attorney Crystal Utley. Ms. Utley was recognized for her service at the Mississippi Center for Justice in Jackson, Miss., where she manages pro bono opportunities for lawyers and law students. In the last 14 months, Ms. Utley has recruited and trained more than 65 private attorneys who volunteer their time to serve more than 500 Hurricane Katrina survivors. The Spirit of Service Awards pay tribute to outstanding participants in each of the Corporation for National and Community Service’s programs — AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and Learn and Serve America. Ms. Utley was selected from among 75,000 AmeriCorps members currently serving throughout the country because she exemplifies the spirit of national service, demonstrates exceptional service or leadership, and serves as role models for others in her community. The award was presented today at the Corporation’s National Conference on Community Volunteering and National Service in Philadelphia. “Because of Crystal’s work, hundreds of families affected by the hurricane are on paths to recovery,” said Equal Justice Works Chief Executive David Stern. “Today we’re celebrating this well-deserved recognition of her work at the conference in Philadelphia, at the Mississippi Center for Justice in Jackson, and at Equal Justice Works in Washington.” A native Mississippian, Ms. Utley is a graduate of the College of Charleston and a 2005 graduate of Mississippi College School of Law. Before joining MCJ she was an associate at the Hood Law Firm in Charleston, S.C. - end - 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. For a profile of Crystal Utley: http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/?q=node/14&pid=15046 For more about AmeriCorps programs: www.americorps.org
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