|
From the Desk of Bob Simmons, Executive Director
|
Celebrating Pro Bono Service:
We Get By With (More Than) A Little Help From Our Friends
|
|
|
October 2015 - In This Issue:
|
|
|
|
|
Elsewhere in this Newsletter, you will find information about the annual Pro Bono Awards that will be presented on October 20 by the Council for Children's Rights, Legal Services of Southern Piedmont, and Legal Aid of North Carolina. We are three of the five non-profit legal services providers in our community. The other two are Safe Alliance and International House. We all serve different people with different needs, but we all share a common challenge: finding the resources to hire and retain the people necessary to serve community needs that exceed our capacity and continue to grow.
One way we all try to meet that challenge is by relying on the lawyers in our community to meet their obligations under ethics rules to provide free legal services to people in need and financial support to agencies who provide those services. Many lawyers in our community go above and beyond their obligations on both counts. We cannot honor them all with an award every year, but we can thank them for their public service.
Friday September 25 and Friday October 2 provided opportunities to witness the commitment of the Mecklenburg County Bar and its members to providing equal access to legal services - and justice - for all of our neighbors.
|
|
|
|
November 4, 2015
School Discipline for Children with Disabilities
12:00 noon
Children & Family Services Center
Reservations Requested
|
|
October 20, 2015
Foundation For The Carolinas
5:30 p.m.
Presented by
Council for Children's Rights
Legal Aid of North Carolina &
Legal Services of Southern Piedmont
|
|
Save the Date!
Giving Tuesday
|
|
|
|
Retired teacher Maureen Fanelli and law student Kristin Windley take a quick lunch break during the training.
|
|
Over 30 interested folks took part in our fall
Custody Advocacy training event on Friday,October 2. The all-day workshop featured panels with judges, extensive training sessions and a mock trial. The on-site workshop takes place twice a year, but now online training is also available. If interested, contact Ann Dorsett, Volunteer Coordinator.
|
|
Are You Smarter Earns High Grades!
|
Thanks to all who participated in the Young Ambassador Group's annual fundraiser - Are You Smarter Than A Middle Schooler on September 17. Over $30,000 was raised that evening. And a great time was had by all! Thanks to our sponsors and friends for making this a huge success.
|
|
 |
|
|
Staff Profile: Deborah Whitfield
|
|
Determination, Perseverance and Love
|
We all need a hero to inspire and motivate us. When asked to identify her hero, attorney Deborah Whitfield is quick to answer "My Mom!... she demonstrates determination, perseverance and reminds me often of the value of paying attention to the needs of others and to ensuring their dignity."
That description could well be applied to Deborah herself. During her eight years at the Council as a staff attorney with our Individual Advocacy Team, she has been a fighter and a champion for the rights of children with special needs and for the dignity of all children -- her own two daughters as well as her many clients.
Her favorite quote, which also comes from her mother, is "Nothing given in love is ever lost." It is clear by her passion for her work that she sees it as a labor of love.
We asked her to share a bit about her work, the journey that brought her here and the causes that keep her going.
Read the
full profile here.
|
|
We celebrate the outstanding pro bono contributions made in our community next week as we gather with friends supporters for the annual Pro Bono Awards presented by the Council, Legal Services of the Southern Piedmont and Legal Aid of North Carolina.
Council for Children's Rights chose to honor three individuals and one law firm whose contributions have had a positive impact on both the quality of our work and our capacity to serve those in need. We are grateful to them, and to all our volunteer attorneys and advocates. You inspire us and encourage us every day.
|
Outstanding Firm Service
Horak Talley. PA
"Horack Talley is a great law firm that has been very generous in providing the CFCR Custody Advocacy Program with really good lawyers - Gena Morris, Mitchell Kelling, Will Medlin, Libby James, and Bree Laughrun - doing great work for vulnerable children, foot soldiers on the front lines of divorce wars between bitter parents."
- John Parker - Staff Attorney, Custody Advocacy Team
|
Outstanding Volunteer Service
Mary Schilli
"We all know that there are people out there who choose to work quietly and almost in secret as they serve others - Mary Schilli is one of those people. For over five years, Mary supported the children of Mecklenburg County through her efforts as CFCR's Volunteer Coordinator. Mary never asked for compensation for her work, nor did she ever ask for recognition. She is a volunteer with a heart of gold and we are so proud to consider her part of the Council family."
--Ashley Neal- Director, Custody Advocacy Program
|
Outstanding Pro Bono Service
Rolly Chambers
"Rolly Chambers has spent hundreds of hours over several years advocating for the best interests of children in the most difficult custody cases. He handles each case with the skill, good judgment, energy, and compassion that are characteristic of him. These kids really matter to Rolly."
-- John Parker - Staff Attorney, Custody Advocacy Team
|
Distinguished Pro Bono Service
Katherine Holliday
Presented by Council, LSSP & LANC
"I've known Katie Holliday for years, since her days as founding Executive Director of the Children's Law Center in 1987. I've worked closely with her as a volunteer lawyer, board member, and on numerous panels and projects focused on improving the lives of children. She
was an early leader in the movement to bring our community's practices in line with the requirements of the law protecting the rights of our children. She coordinated the legal representation of children with the social services work needed to address the larger issues in their lives that placed them at risk. That comprehension of the whole child was ahead if its time and laid the foundation for the work of the Council today.
"Since going into private practice, Katie has continued to lead our community to stand up for children's rights as a volunteer advocate. Katie has set an example and a high bar for those of us who came into that work under her influence, and the lives of countless children in our community have been improved as a result of Katie's tireless efforts on their behalf."
-- Bob Simmons, Executive Director, Council for Children Rights.
Congratulations to all the honorees.
|
| Pro Bono Makes a Difference! National Pro Bono Week - Oct. 25--31, 2015
- There is one private attorney for every 562 North Carolinians.There is only one legal aid attorney for every 13,170 low-income people in NC.
- Last year, attorneys and advocates volunteered over 5,000 hours to the Council's Custody Advocacy Program
- Last year, pro bono attorneys and advocates helped Council LSSP and LANC served over 1,300 children, families and individuals in legal crisis.
We Are Stronger With Your Support!
|
|
|
|
|
|
