Equal Justice Works Welcomes Vivian Martinez to its Board of Directors

Equal Justice Works is proud to announce that Vivian Martinez has joined the organization’s board of directors as its newest member. Vivian is a second-year law student and Public Interest Scholar at LMU Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.

“Equal Justice Works was founded by law students, and they are still core to our mission.  We provide public interest opportunities, training, and educational debt assistance to enable these students to pursue their public interest dreams while in law school and beyond,” said David Stern, executive director at Equal Justice Works. “We are honored to welcome Vivian to the Board. She is an accomplished young leader whose passion for public interest law and commitment to serving her community make her a perfect addition to our Board of Directors.”

At LMU Loyola Law School, Vivian stays active on campus by volunteering at the Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic, where she provides direct representation to individuals who are unable to obtain immigration legal services elsewhere. At the Clinic, Vivian also collaborates with other law students on advocacy projects to advance the rights of immigrant communities of East Los Angeles and Boyle Heights. In addition to her immigration advocacy work, Vivian is a member of La Raza de Loyola and the Disability Law Society at her school.

“As the first in my family to attend law school, I feel an enormous responsibility to channel my family’s strength as new Americans into action of my own,” said Vivian. “I am thrilled to grow the momentum of the Equal Justice Works mission and uplift diversity in the legal field for continuing generations of QTBIPOC law students and lawyers. It is my great privilege to contribute to the vision of advancing equal access to justice alongside the dedicated board and passionate staff at Equal Justice Works.”

Vivian’s passion for public interest law extends beyond campus. Following her first year of law school, Vivian helped to provide critical legal services for people living in rural communities as part of the Rural Summer Legal Corps, a partnership between Equal Justice Works and the Legal Services Corporation that supports law students in serving rural communities each summer. During her Student Fellowship, Vivian was hosted at California Rural Legal Assistance, where she assisted with employment and immigration matters for LGBTQ+ rural communities in the Central Coast and Central Valley.

“My experience as an RSLC Student Fellow was fundamental to my journey in public interest law,” said Vivian. “The LGBTQ+ Program provided me with the training and mentorship necessary for a strong foundation in inclusive and affirming client representation. I gained invaluable skills to strengthen collaboration between clients and their legal team. The partnership between Equal Justice Works and California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc., made my commitment to those most marginalized possible and allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of our legal system and its impact on LGBTQ+ rural communities.”

After law school, Vivian plans to pursue a career in public service where she can draw on her experience in holistic services to uplift immigrant communities.

Visit here to view a full list of Equal Justice Works Board of Directors.

Equal Justice Works is proud to announce that Equal Justice Works Executive Director David Stern is being awarded the 2022 Laurie D. Zelon Pro Bono Award by the Pro Bono Institute (PBI).

“It’s only fitting that PBI honor David in this, his year of retirement,” said Eve Runyon, PBI President and CEO. “We are thrilled to celebrate his many contributions to public interest law and a truly illustrious career.”

Each year, PBI presents the Laurie D. Zelon Pro Bono Award to an individual or organization for their exceptional commitment to pro bono legal services. David will be recognized this evening at the PBI Annual Conference held in Washington, D.C.

“Throughout my career, I’ve always been passionate about equal justice and creating opportunities for law students and lawyers to make an impact in our communities, and our country,” said David. “Receiving this award from the Pro Bono Institute is deeply humbling because of our shared commitment and enthusiasm for expanding access to justice for people most in need.”

In 1992, David joined Equal Justice Works, then known as the National Association for Public Interest Law (NAPIL), to launch its postgraduate fellowship program. In 1995, he was promoted to executive director.

During his time at Equal Justice Works, David has built an extraordinary community of lawyers from all corners of the profession. Under his leadership, Equal Justice Works has facilitated more than 2,300 public interest fellowships, with 85% of Fellows continuing to serve the public following their Fellowship. In addition, Equal Justice Works is a national expert on student debt relief and partners with more than 90% of ABA-accredited law schools to promote public interest law opportunities across the country.

David has been recognized as a “Champion of Change” by the White House, as one of “The 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America” by The National Law Journal, and as one of the “Greatest Washington Lawyers in the Past 30 Years” by The Legal Times. In 2006, he was honored by the Mississippi Center for Justice for bringing national attention to the legal needs of survivors of Hurricane Katrina and for creating Equal Justice Works’ Katrina Initiative, which deployed lawyers to the Gulf Coast region to help thousands of people left without homes, jobs, or social services.

David currently serves on the Advisory Committee for Voices for Civil Justice, a nonpartisan communications hub advancing fairness in America’s legal system. He is also a member of the Legal Services Corporation’s Leaders Council, which is dedicated to raising public awareness of the crisis in civil legal aid nationwide.

Visit here to learn more about David’s commitment to public service and here to learn more about the Laurie D. Zelon Pro Bono Award.

A supporter of Equal Justice Works for nearly 25 years, Teresa served on its Board of Directors from 1998 to 2006. She has been a member of the organization’s Annual Dinner Steering Committee since 2012, and a member of its Board of Counselors since 2016

Each year, Equal Justice Works presents the Scales of Justice Award to a leader in the legal community who exemplifies a high level of commitment to public service and pro bono; shares the organization’s values of service, community, opportunity, passion, and equal access to justice; has upheld the organization’s mission and vision throughout their career while also supporting the organization; and has set a strong example for how legal professionals can contribute to efforts in the public interest.

“The only way to make the vision of equal justice for all a reality is for people to have equal access to lawyers and our justice system,” said Teresa. “Lawyers are critical players in fulfilling the promise of equal justice for all. Beyond increasing access, we must also work to ensure that the law structurally supports equal justice, and that we dismantle artificial boundaries to our justice system. I am proud to support Equal Justice Works and am honored to be a part of this community.”

At The Home Depot, Teresa has been a leading voice for expanding the company’s pro bono work and commitments related to social equity efforts in the United States. Since 2013, The Home Depot has sponsored six Equal Justice Works Fellows, and today currently cosponsors two Equal Justice Works Fellows with Eversheds Sutherland. Raneem Ashrawi  advocates for Georgia youth with behavioral and mental health needs, and Eliza McDuffie’s Fellowship project focuses on ending the solitary confinement of children in Georgia’s adult prisons.

“Our Fellows have made us all so incredibly proud to be associated with their work and we are grateful for their leadership and service to our home state of Georgia,” said Teresa.

Before joining The Home Depot, Teresa held several positions at MetLife, including senior chief counsel and deputy general counsel, and she was formerly a partner in the firm that is now Eversheds Sutherland. Teresa began her career in public service working as a deputy assistant attorney general for the Department of Justice during the Clinton administration. She also served as a law clerk for Judge James Dickson Phillips of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and for Justice John Paul Stevens of the United States Supreme Court.

Teresa has earned numerous accolades for her leadership and pro bono work, including recognition as one of 25 Influential Black Women in Business by The Network Journal and as one of America’s top Black attorneys by Black Enterprise. She has also served as a public member of the Administrative Conference of the U.S., and a co-chair of the board of directors of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights.  She is presently Chair of the Board of Advisors of the RAND Institute for Civil Justice.

Click here for more information about the Scales of Justice event.

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About Equal Justice Works

Equal Justice Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for lawyers to transform their passion for equal justice into a lifelong commitment to public service. As the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, Equal Justice Works brings together an extensive network of law students, lawyers, nonprofit legal aid organizations, and supporters to promote a lifelong commitment to public service and equal justice.

Contact
Heena Patel
Marketing and Communications Director
Email: [email protected]

Equal Justice Works is currently recruiting lawyers and organizers to serve as Fellows in our Housing Justice Program in Virginia starting in Spring 2022.

The Equal Justice Works Housing Justice Program uniquely combines the efforts of lawyers and community organizers, working collaboratively as Fellows, to address the dire problem of evictions in low-income and underserved communities. Fellows hosted at legal aid and grassroots organizations work strategically help tenants access justice and empower communities to stand up against unfair housing practices.

Since the program was first launched in Richmond, Virginia in 2019, Fellows have: helped more than 4,800 tenants avoid eviction; collaborated with over 30 tenants’ rights organizations to educate 40,000 tenants about their rights; contributed to efforts to save communities from displacement; and received national media attention for their important work.

In 2022, Equal Justice Works is expanding the Housing Justice Program from Richmond to Northern and Eastern Virginia, and into South Carolina and Maryland. Fellows will be hosted at legal aid and grassroots organizations in areas where evictions and housing instability have reached epidemic proportions. During a two-year term, Fellows work collaboratively to provide legal advice, referrals, and full representation for tenants in eviction proceedings. They also engage in outreach, education activities, and work with community partners to address systematic barriers that contribute to housing instability.

The Housing Justice Program is currently recruiting for Fellows (7 lawyers and 4 organizers) in Virginia to serve at organizations in the Greater Richmond Region, Hampton Roads, and Northern Virginia starting in Spring of 2022.

Organizations still hiring Fellows to begin working this spring are:

• Central Virginia Legal Aid Society
• Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia
• Legal Services of Northern Virginia
  • Housing Justice Attorney Fellow
  • Housing Justice Paralegal
• Virginia Poverty Law Center
  • Housing Justice Attorney Fellow
  • Housing Justice Community Organizer

The Housing Justice Program will begin recruiting for Fellows in South Carolina and Maryland in Summer 2022.

If you have any questions about the application process or program, please reach out to [email protected].

To learn more about the Housing Justice Program, click here.

The Housing Justice Program is made possible thanks to the generosity of The JPB Foundation and JPMorgan Chase Foundation.

This press release was previously scheduled to announce the start of Disaster Resilience Awareness Month. We acknowledge that disasters occur in many forms and around the world, and our hearts are with the people of Ukraine and with all people affected by the most recent actions taken by Russian military forces.

Equal Justice Works, American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, American Red Cross, Legal Services Corporation, Pro Bono Net, and DisasterLegalAid.org lead effort to raise awareness for disaster resilience

Disaster Resilience Awareness Month will take place in March 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C., FEBRUARY 24, 2022—Equal Justice Works, the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, announced today that it has teamed up with the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (ABA YLD), American Red Cross, Legal Services Corporation (LSC), Pro Bono Net and DisasterLegalAid.org, to commemorate Disaster Resilience Awareness Month in March 2022.

“As the frequency, severity, and complexity of disasters continues to increase, it is vital that we increase support to legal professionals who can ensure that critical services are accessible in disaster-affected communities,” said Sara Morello, executive vice president & chief of staff at Equal Justice Works. “We are honored to partner with these leading associations and nonprofits to help increase visibility around the importance of disaster preparedness and resilience.”

Disaster Resilience Awareness Month—observed every March—was created by Equal Justice Works in 2021 as a collaborative effort to share key resources for disaster survivors and attorneys and shine a light on the complex legal needs of disaster survivors. This year, the ABA YLD, American Red Cross, LSC, Pro Bono Net, and DisasterLegalAid.org will join Equal Justice Works in an awareness-raising and education campaign to highlight the important role legal professionals play in helping people and families navigate all kinds of disasters including COVID-19, hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, and winter storms.

“Disaster management and humanitarian aid organizations have had to reevaluate how communities and individuals can better adapt and prepare for future disaster events. Increasing a community’s resilience level increases its ability to cope with the changes that affect it,” said Disaster Cycle Services, Red Cross. “Creating awareness of the vulnerabilities in an area, and addressing these vulnerabilities with preparedness training, disaster risk reduction and sustainable changes made over the long-term can develop a community’s adaptive capacity to be more resilient.”

“The Legal Services Corporation is honored to join this effort. LSC-funded legal services organizations have been a critical partner in disaster preparedness and recovery for almost two decades. Our work in this area continues to grow,” said Lynn Jennings, Legal Services Corporation Vice President for Grants Management. “However, in order to increase the disaster resilience of low-income individuals, families, and communities, legal services providers must shift their approach away from legal preparedness as a siloed activity and toward integration of preparedness into all facets of their work with clients and communities.” LSC’s Disaster Task Force Report and the Legal Aid Disaster Resource Center provide comprehensive resources to assist legal services organizations, courts, individuals, and communities in enhancing their disaster resilience.

Fellows in the Equal Justice Works Disaster Resilience Program will share their expertise and  information on the legal services available to disaster survivors and best practices to advocate  for individuals and families who need help recovering from the legal effects of disasters. Topics will include how to create a disaster preparedness plan, legal help after wildfires, housing assistance options following a disaster, and FEMA benefits and assistance tips for practitioners, among other disaster-related legal matters.

“Hurricane Ida’s impact last year across the Northeast was once again a reminder of the value of partnership-building and cross-sector planning to support survivors with their most pressing needs,” said Mark O’Brien, Executive Director at Pro Bono Net. “This is an important initiative to continue that work, and we are glad to raise awareness around disaster resilience again this year.”

DisasterLegalAid.org, a national online clearinghouse that provides information on legal issues impacting communities hit by natural disasters, will be offering legal aid and pro bono attorneys access to additional specialized disaster advocacy resources through its National Disaster Legal Aid Advocacy Center, a growing online community of advocates working on disaster response and recovery.

“With the staggering rise of natural disasters, we need more lawyers, law students, and other advocates who can assist in legal response efforts and eliminate barriers to recovery,” said Linda Anderson Stanley, senior program manager at Equal Justice Works and director of the ABA YLD Disaster Legal Services Program. “This is a brilliant opportunity to raise awareness about available legal services and the need for preparedness, before the start of hurricane and wildfire seasons.”

Through their Disaster Legal Services Program, the ABA YLD will engage in community outreach and education by posting information on how to get involved in national disaster legal aid efforts. ABA YLD will also share service delivery strategies and best practices for representing disaster survivors.

Since 2005, Equal Justice Works has mobilized more than 80 passionate public service lawyers to deliver legal services to disaster-affected communities. To learn more about the organization’s efforts to mobilize public service leaders who are helping communities prepare for and recover from disasters, visit here.

If your organization is interested in joining us for Disaster Resilience Awareness Month, please reach out to us at [email protected].

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About Equal Justice Works

Equal Justice Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for lawyers to transform their passion for equal justice into a lifelong commitment to public service. As the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, Equal Justice Works brings together an extensive network of law students, lawyers, nonprofit legal aid organizations, and supporters to promote a lifelong commitment to public service and equal justice.

About the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Disaster Legal Services Program

The ABA YLD, the largest national organization of young lawyers, provides leadership in serving the public and the profession, and promotes excellence and fulfillment in the practice of law. Its parent organization, the ABA, is the national voice of the legal profession and one of the largest voluntary professional membership groups in the world.

Through the Disaster Legal Services Program, the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (ABA YLD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency provide immediate temporary legal assistance to disaster survivors at no charge. Since September 2007, the ABA YLD has responded to 178 declared disasters in 44 states and 4 U.S. territories.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to survivors of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

The American Red Cross name and logo are used with its permission, which in no way constitutes an endorsement, express or implied, of any product, service, company, opinion or political position. The American Red Cross name and logo are registered trademarks owned by the American National Red Cross.

About Legal Services Corporation

Legal Services Corporation (LSC), an independent nonprofit established by Congress in 1974, is the nation’s largest funder of  civil legal aid to low-income Americans. The Corporation currently provides funding to 132 independent nonprofit legal aid programs in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. The Legal Aid Disaster Resource Center is a one-stop information hub to provide additional support and resources to disaster legal aid organizations and professionals, pro bono volunteers, and disaster survivors.

About Pro Bono Net and DisasterLegalAid.org

Pro Bono Net brings the power of the law to all by building cutting-edge digital tools and fostering collaborations with the nation’s leading civil legal organizations. DisasterLegalAid.org is a collaborative effort of Lone Star Legal Aid, Pro Bono Net, the American Bar Association, and the National Legal Aid & Defender Association. It was launched in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. For over 15 years, DisasterLegalAid.org has served as a national centralized resource for disaster survivors and the legal community. To learn more, please visit www.probono.net/our-work/initiatives/disaster/.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Equal Justice Works, the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, today announced that Erin Johnston, a litigation partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, has been named to the organization’s board of directors.

“We are pleased to welcome Erin to the Equal Justice Works Board of Directors,” said David Stern, executive director at Equal Justice Works. “Her unwavering passion for pro bono work and serving communities is a passion we share at Equal Justice Works, and we look forward to drawing on her experience and knowledge to guide our vision for continued growth.”

A leader in the legal profession, Erin has been a powerful force in driving pro bono initiatives. At Kirkland & Ellis LLP, she has received the Pro Bono Service Award six times for her exceptional commitment. Erin has also been recognized by The Legal 500 U.S. for General Commercial Disputes, and was named a “Rising Star” in Business Litigation twice by Super Lawyers.

“It is a remarkable privilege to join the Equal Justice Works Board of Directors,” said Erin. “The impact of this organization on growing the field of young talent successfully pursuing public interest careers after law school is astounding, and the commitment of this Board to continued growth and excellence in this endeavor is unparalleled.  I’m honored to have the opportunity to contribute in every way I can.”

At Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Erin represents Fortune 500 companies in complex business disputes in state and federal courts across the country. She has successfully handled products liability actions, contract disputes, class actions, securities and accounting fraud cases, antitrust matters, bankruptcy-related disputes, government investigations, and appeals. Erin also holds several leadership roles at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, including serving as chair of the Diversity Committee and the Women’s Leadership Initiative in the Washington, D.C., office.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP is one of the top law firm supporters of Equal Justice Works. Since 2012, Kirkland & Ellis LLP has invested more than $1 million to support 15 Equal Justice Works Fellowships.

The full list of Equal Justice Works Board of Directors members can be found here.

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About Equal Justice Works

Equal Justice Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for lawyers to transform their passion for equal justice into a lifelong commitment to public service. As the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, Equal Justice Works brings together an extensive network of law students, lawyers, nonprofit legal aid organizations, and supporters to promote public service and inspire a lifelong commitment to equal justice.

Contact
Heena Patel
Marketing and Communications Director
Email: [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WHAT:
Representatives from Equal Justice Works, The JPB Foundation, and JPMorgan Chase will come together to discuss how public-private partnerships can help increase capacity of the legal aid community in Virginia, provide legal assistance to low-income families facing eviction, and advocate for policies and practices that protect the rights of tenants.

WHO:
Speakers include:

• Hana Hausnerova, Director of Public Programs, Equal Justice Works (Moderator)
• Annie Greengard, Senior Program Officer, The JPB Foundation
• Abigail Suarez, Program Officer, Community Development, Global Philanthropy at JPMorgan Chase
• Laura Dobbs, Staff Attorney, Virginia Poverty Law Center; 2019 Equal Justice Works Fellow

WHEN:
Thursday, January 27, 2022
10:30–11:30 a.m. ET

WHERE:
Register for the virtual press event here.

CONTACT:
Heena Patel
Marketing and Communications Director
Email: [email protected]

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About Equal Justice Works

Equal Justice Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for lawyers to transform their passion for equal justice into a lifelong commitment to public service. As the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, Equal Justice Works brings together an extensive network of law students, lawyers, nonprofit legal aid organizations, and supporters to promote public service and inspire a lifelong commitment to equal justice.

Equal Justice Works is a leading member of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Coalition, committed to supporting PSLF

Washington, D.C., January 5, 2022—Equal Justice Works, the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, today announced it will host a monthly webinar series as part of the PSLF Coalition to share information about earning Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and the Department of Education’s Temporary Waiver. A panel of experts from Equal Justice Works and the PSLF Coalition will guide the conversations and answer questions from borrowers enrolled in the PSLF program.

PSLF is the only educational debt program specifically targeted at public service professionals, designed to make a career in public service possible. This fall, the Department of Education announced an overhaul of the PSLF program, implementing a limited waiver that will enable over 550,000 borrowers to get credit for additional loan repayments and enable approximately 22,000 borrowers to obtain complete loan forgiveness up until Oct. 31, 2022. 

“Public service professionals are the backbone of our society. For those individuals who continued their education in pursuit of a career in public health, public education, and public safety, PSLF is a critical program to attract and retain professionals where they’re needed most.” said Aoife Delargy Lowe, Vice President of Law School Engagement & Advocacy at Equal Justice Works. “With the Department of Education’s overhaul underway, our focus now is to ensure that eligible public service professionals are aware of the October deadline and know how to take the necessary steps to earn and receive the educational debt forgiveness they are owed.”

The PSLF Coalition is made up of over 90 nonprofit and public service organizations committed to supporting PSLF. Together, the Coalition members work to ensure that lawmakers know how important PSLF is to the people who work in public safety, education, and health in communities across the United States.

Webinars will take place on the first Wednesday of every month at 12 p.m. ET. The first webinar of 2022 will take place today. To register for today’s webinar and stay informed on the status of PSLF, visit pslfcoalition.org/temporary-waiver. 

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About Equal Justice Works

Equal Justice Works is the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law. We bring together an extensive network of law students, lawyers, legal services organizations, and supporters to promote a lifelong commitment to public service and equal justice. Following their Fellowships, more than 85% of our Fellows remain in public service positions, continuing to pursue equal justice for underserved communities across the country.

About PSLF Coalition

The PSLF Coalition consists of over 90 organizations committed to supporting Public Service Loan Forgiveness. PSLF is the only educational debt program specifically targeted at public service professionals. For those with the passion and qualifying education, but also educational debt, PSLF makes a career in public service possible. ​

In the face of COVID-19, we recognize that many who are on the frontlines fighting to protect and support our communities are our public service professionals: those working in public health, public safety, and public education. These public service professionals include first responders, nurses, and doctors, who are all putting their lives on the line to care for us. Teachers who are working to ensure that learning can continue and school counselors who are finding new ways to connect with and support students. As well as social workers, firefighters, and legal aid lawyers who are supporting the safety and wellbeing of communities.

Media Contact

Heena Patel
Marketing and Communications Director
Email: [email protected]

Investments from The JPB Foundation and JPMorgan Chase will support organization’s work to mobilize lawyers and community organizers to disrupt unlawful evictions as well as housing discrimination and instability through its Housing Justice Program.

WASHINGTON, D.C., NOVEMBER 16, 2021—Equal Justice Works, the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, today announced that it has investments totaling $3.75 million from The JPB Foundation and JPMorgan Chase to continue its Housing Justice Program.

“Equal Justice Works is privileged to partner with The JPB Foundation and JPMorgan Chase to disrupt the vicious cycle of evictions for people experiencing poverty,” said Hana Hausnerova, director of public programs at Equal Justice Works. “These grants support the organization’s commitment to mobilizing passionate public service leaders who will work together to advance housing justice.”

Since 1993, Equal Justice Works has mobilized more than 250 Fellows (lawyers and community organizers) to combat housing instability at the individual, community, and systemic level. In 2019, the organization created the Housing Justice Program, placing eight Fellows (six lawyers and two community organizers) at legal services organizations in the Greater Richmond Region of Virginia, to serve low-income individuals and families facing evictions. In its first two years of operation, the Fellows conducted more than 300 in-person and virtual trainings for tenants in the community, prevented more than 4,800 tenants from being evicted, and organized to win a citywide moratorium on public housing evictions that was extended in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fellows were also instrumental in coordinating public pressure campaigns that yielded multiple new codified tenant protections, making it more difficult to evict residents from their homes.

The investments from The JPB Foundation and JPMorgan Chase support the organization’s efforts to expand the Housing Justice Program into other jurisdictions with high eviction rates in Virginia and beyond, including Hampton Roads, Virginia, a region encompassing four of the top-ten evicting cities in the country. Working together, the 21 Fellows (lawyers and community organizers) will provide legal assistance to tenants in eviction proceedings; engage in high impact litigation to stop predatory landlords; build collaborative partnerships with community organizations; and advocate for policies and practices that protect the rights of tenants. The program will place special emphasis on serving low-income people of color and residents of public housing.

“At JPMorgan Chase, we believe that housing stability and affordability are essential to building wealth. However, safe and affordable housing is out of reach for many families, especially in the wake of the economic crisis resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.” said Abigail Suarez, Head of Neighborhood Development, JPMorgan Chase. “We are pleased to support Equal Justice Works efforts to help address systemic barriers in the housing system and provide much needed housing stability, especially for Black, Latino and Hispanic families.”

Equal Justice Works will expand the Housing Justice Program in two phases. In phase one legal services organizations in Virginia will be selected to host 12 Fellows to begin their Fellowships in January 2022. In phase two, Equal Justice Works will partner with organizations in other jurisdictions, such as Charleston, South Carolina, to place 9 Fellows who will begin their terms in September 2022.

The Housing Justice Program is made possible thanks to the generosity of The JPB Foundation and JPMorgan Chase. Visit here to learn more about program. 

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About Equal Justice Works

Equal Justice Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for lawyers to transform their passion for equal justice into a lifelong commitment to public service. As the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, Equal Justice Works brings together an extensive network of law students, lawyers, nonprofit legal aid organizations, and supporters to promote public service and inspire a lifelong commitment to equal justice.

Contact
Heena Patel
Marketing and Communications Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 202.466.3686

Grant from W.K. Kellogg Foundation will support organization’s work to mobilize lawyers through its Disaster Resilience Program to help communities rebuild and reimagine post COVID-19

WASHINGTON, D.C., SEPTEMBER 23, 2021—Equal Justice Works, the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, today announced that it has been awarded a $2.5 million grant by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to help communities rebuild and reimagine post COVID-19 through the organization’s Disaster Resilience Program, a legal Fellowship program focused on disaster lawyering.

“We are grateful to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation for their generous support,” said Sara Morello, executive vice president and chief of staff. “This funding will help bolster our efforts to build a pipeline of passionate public service leaders who will break down siloes in disaster legal response and advance systemic change to ensure that critical legal services are accessible in the aftermath of disasters.”

Since 2005, Equal Justice Works has developed targeted programs to mobilize lawyers to support disaster-affected communities. In 2020, the organization launched its Disaster Resilience Program, placing six Fellows (lawyers) and six Student Fellows (law students) at legal services organizations in Texas and Florida to address the critical legal needs that communities face before, during, and after a disaster. Recently, Equal Justice Works received funding from the California Community Foundation Wildfire Relief Fund to support two Fellows and two Student Fellows who will begin their Fellowships this fall, providing civil legal aid to communities affected by wildfires in California.

“The Kellogg Foundation is focused on ensuring all children thrive, regardless of their race, gender, citizenship status or zip code,” said Rhea Williams-Bishop, director of programming for Mississippi and New Orleans at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. “We know that marginalized communities, which are excluded from opportunities in good times, face greater disparities during and after any disaster. The work at Equal Justice Works is critical to addressing these systemic barriers and helping our children access opportunities so they can thrive.”

The grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation will support the Disaster Resilience Program’s next cohort, which will include 12 Fellows and 12 Student Fellows who will assist low-income and immigrant families and children throughout New Mexico and address housing issues for low-income families in Louisiana. Fellows and Student Fellows will work in concert with the program participants in Texas, Florida, and California, to help build economic security in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and promote resilience among marginalized communities.

Equal Justice Works began the selection process for legal services organizations to host these Fellows earlier this month, with Fellows expected to begin work in October 2021 and Student Fellows serving during Summer 2022.

The Disaster Resilience Program is currently funded by the Bigglesworth Family Foundation, California Community Foundation Wildfire Relief Fund, Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and individual contributions.

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About Equal Justice Works

Equal Justice Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for lawyers to transform their passion for equal justice into a lifelong commitment to public service. As the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, Equal Justice Works brings together an extensive network of law students, lawyers, nonprofit legal aid organizations, and supporters to promote public service and inspire a lifelong commitment to equal justice.

About the W.K. Kellogg Foundation

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal innovator and entrepreneur Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work and life.

The Kellogg Foundation is based in Battle Creek, Michigan, and works throughout the United States and internationally, as well as with sovereign tribes. Special attention is paid to priority places where there are high concentrations of poverty and where children face significant barriers to success. WKKF priority places in the U.S. are in Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, and New Orleans; and internationally, are in Mexico and Haiti. For more information, visit www.wkkf.org

Contact
Heena Patel
Marketing and Communications Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 202.466.3686