Anne Piervil

The Project

Anne provided direct legal services to Haitian farmworkers and the Haitian community through a Medical Legal Partnership with Florida Legal Services and Orange Blossom Family Health.

This Fellowship addressed the lack of legal services available to the Haitian community in Central Florida due to language barriers and cultural competence gaps. Haitian Farmworkers and their families have difficulties accessing legal aid and face unique barriers to healthcare access. This Medical-Legal Partnership provided the community with legal assistance and medical professionals that were culturally aware of their needs.

Fellowship Highlights

During the two-year Fellowship, Anne:

  • Established a Medical Legal Partnership with Florida Legal Services and Orange Blossom Family Health to serve the Haitian community in Central Florida
  • Provided full representation to 35 clients, including on matters involving Social Security Disability claims, Temporary Protected Status, mortgage claims, and eviction issues
  • Provided brief services, advice and/or referrals to over 95 individuals
  • Gave 12 presentations to local community organizations on Temporary Protected Status and immigration scams to avoid, reaching nearly 300 community members
  • Through engagement with statewide organizations for farmworker justice, advocated for the creation of Florida’s first Farmworker Advisory Council under the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
  • Developed the first Haitian coalition in Central Florida, known as the Central Florida Haitian Coalition, to provide education on healthcare, immigration, and child welfare
  • Hosted four legal clinics with the Consulate of Haiti’s Emergency Haitian Task Force to address the needs of newly arriving immigrants in Orlando

Next Steps

Anne will continue to serve as the Medical Legal Partnership attorney with Florida Legal Services and Orange Blossom Family Health, growing the MLP to service Haitian crime victims. Anne will host legal clinics to ensure newly arriving immigrants have access to legal assistance and will host quarterly workshops to educate the Haitian community about healthcare, mental health, and housing issues.

Media

Equal Justice Works Celebrates the Work of Fellows for MLK Day

Equal Justice Works Fellows Use Personal Experiences to Impact Legal Aid Work

Celebrating Haitian women from across the spectrum

Building a Better Future Together

“L'union fait la force”—which means unity is strength—is Haiti’s national motto. As a Haitian-American woman and child of Haitian immigrants, I am driven to not simply give back, but to help create change to better the lives of Haitian farmworkers.

Anne Piervil /
2020 Equal Justice Works Fellow

The Inspiration

The Inspiration