IN THIS ISSUE
Client Newsletter Future Issues
2019 Annual Conference -Registration & Logistics
What's Going On In The Field
Share Your Story & Poll
Client Member Spotlight
- From Tragedy to Triumph - Brandon Whitting
- How Three Women in Atlanta Changed the World
2019 Art Auction - FIRE SALE
Poetic Justice Corner
Self-Care
Client Resource Center
Upcoming Events
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2019 Annual Conference
SPECIAL EDITION
Newsletter
COMING SOON
OCTOBER 2019
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Client Caucus
Client Track - Sessions
Client Section Meeting
Client Reception
Client Game Night
...and much more
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NEXT CLIENT NEWSLETTER RELEASES
FOR 2019:
October 2019
December 2019
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The
2019 Annual Conference
will be held at the
Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center
(400 Renaissance Drive), in
Detroit, Michigan
.
Wednesday, November 06, 2019 9:30 am to Saturday, November 09, 2019 3:30 pm
Register by September 22
to take advantage of
Early Bird
rates.
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What's Going On in the Field
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Strengthen the Sixth: A New NLADA Digital Portal
The team at NLADA will soon be launching a new website called
Strengthen the Sixth - Fair Trials, Accurate Verdicts
.
The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees many rights to people accused of violating the law; the right to counsel, right to a speedy trial and a fair process among them. This new website will bring together stakeholders from every community, including clients and the general public, to learn about their roles and responsibilities in upholding the Sixth Amendment. It will be the go-to place if you want to read encouraging stories about what’s working in the field, information about what happens when it’s not working, and also, what we can do as a community to bring change. The voice of clients will be elevated here, including stories about lived experience and the enormous impact that formerly incarcerated people are having on improving both the civil and criminal justice system. We are excited to get everyone from the client community involved, so please consider joining us! If you would like to learn more please email Rosalie Joy, VP of Defender Legal Services, at
r.joy@nlada.org.
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What does equal justice mean to you?
Why are you a client leader?
How have you made a difference in your community?
Everyone has a story to tell, and NLADA wants to hear them all! Share yours at
‘Story Corner’
this Annual Conference, or before by sending it to
membership@nlada.org
.
Look for more details in our next newsletter issue or reach out to Chelsey Gibson at
c.gibson@nlada.org
.
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Would you be willing to Share Your Story with NLADA to be featured in future newsletter issues?
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Yes, but I need someone to contact me directly.
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Client Member Spotlight
NLADA works to put a human face on the issues of equal access to justice by telling the stories of clients and attorneys alike.
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Brandon Whitting's interview was conducted by NLADA's
Membership Intern
,
Macey Karmilowicz
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This month’s client spotlight will be on
Brandon Whitting
- storyteller, motivational speaker, proud father and advocate for the transformative power of love.
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Mr. Whitting was born in Crockett, a small town in East Texas. Crockett’s poverty rate is reported to be 39.3 percent, with a median household income of $25,190. Mr. Whitting says that the odds have been stacked against him since the day he was born. At the age of seventeen, just before he could begin his senior year of high school, Mr. Whitting was sentenced as an adult to fifteen years in a state prison.
Mr. Whitting had to learn to adjust quickly to his new environment while simultaneously navigating his own trauma and anger. Ultimately, this frustration would give way to a period of ardent, autodidactic learning and self-exploration. Mr. Whitting admits that even in his high school years he “always secretly loved to read”, but it wasn’t until he was in an environment where reading was “fashionable” that he whole-heartedly embarked on his literary quest. He began to immerse himself in as many novels as he could get his hands on, obsessed with learning more about psychology, his culture and self-improvement.
Mr. Whitting explains that this education was not limited to just books, but “everyone [he] met gave him knowledge, and [he] always took it.” This education enabled Mr. Whitting to envision spaces that he was never before allowed to imagine himself in. He completed his GED from Lee College, and began taking college-level, psychology classes at Prairie View A&M University upon release. As Mr. Whitting continued to tap into his talents, he developed an overwhelming desire within himself to share his experience with kids facing the same challenges.
Upon his release in 2006, Mr. Whitting “didn’t come home bitter” but he does admit “when you leave prison you still have some scars”. Mr. Whitting emphasizes his undying gratitude to his exceptional support system that was instrumental in the success of his reentry journey. However, he’s quick to assert that a lot of people in his position are nowhere near as fortunate.
Mr. Whitting supports the effort to “ban the box”, or to eliminate the practice of forcing former inmates to report their criminal history to their potential employers. This challenge can be somewhat of a shock to those who educated themselves while locked up in hopes of creating a better future. “I have intelligence and drive, but felonies restrict you. You can’t change the past, so when does it end?"
Today Mr. Whitting is chasing his dream of creative storytelling on an impassioned mission to encourage others. Mr. Whitting travels to middle schools, high schools, colleges, and juvenile detention facilities to speak to the youth about the importance of education, the failures of the prison system, and the value of self-esteem. Through candid conversations, Mr. Whitting hopes to fill a deficit by showing compassion, understanding, and encouragement to children in his community.
However, he believes that the ultimate manifestation of his journey is setting an example, to the kids he meets and especially to his ten-year-old daughter. Mr. Whitting describes his relationship with his daughter as open, caring and honest. “When I was growing up, no one ever asked me how my day was, so now I ask my daughter every day.”
A few years ago, Mr. Whitting took a trip to Washington, D.C. with his family. He recounts sitting on the steps of the Lincoln memorial, with his daughter in his lap, looking out at the Washington monument. He thought to himself that ten years ago he was sitting in a jail cell, but today he is never lost in his mission to break the cycle.
Mr. Whitting just completed his first musical project, “The Autobiography of G.R.A.N.”. The album blends his story with his message to deliver an audio recounting of his life, that he hopes will accompany a forthcoming written component. Mr. Whitting is currently working on finishing his written autobiography and hopes to create a visual documentary to complete the trilogy. Mr. Whitting regularly appears on a podcast about love, emotion and community entitled, “Think About It Radio”.
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For any readers that would like to get in contact with
Brandon Whitting
to hear the G.R.A.N. Mixtape, or about his Autobiography of G.R.A.N. can reach out to him at
brandonwhitting20@gmail.com
.
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How Three Women in Atlanta Changed the World
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Submission by Julie Reisken
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When people think about legal aid some think of the lawyers that help abused women with restraining orders, or the lawyers that help people who are victims of slumlords or even lawyers that help the elderly, disabled and veterans get benefits. Legal aid lawyers do all of these important tasks. What most people do not know, however, is that it legal aid lawyers also helped thousands of the most severely disabled American’s (including senior citizens and veterans) secure the most basic right of all. The right to live freely in the community.
In 1995 a lawyer from Atlanta Legal Aid Society met some clients at the Georgia Regional Hospital at Atlanta doing routine outreach that legal aid staff conduct on a regular basis to make sure they are not missing those in the most need. When Susan Jamieson the lawyer that asked her client Elaine “how can we help you?” Elaine said clearly “get me out of here”. Elaine never wavered on her desire to live freely. Elaine was stuck in a state institution against her will simply because she was disabled and needed a little support. Elaine and later co-plaintiff Lois were the individuals initially represented by the Atlanta Legal Aid Society. This was one case about two women who just wanted the same opportunities the rest of us take for granted every day. What they asked of the state of Georgia would lead to better outcomes by all accepted standards of care and would cost the taxpayers less.
So why was this even a fight? Because governments often need to be prodded to change outdated practices. Even though the Americans with Disabilities Act had passed in 1990 and people had been successfully using community based services in some states since the 80’s, Georgia and many other states remained committed to institutions. State institutions often had strong employee unions and they did not want to lose lucrative state jobs to small private providers where pay and hours might vary. In addition to the state institutions the freedom of people with disabilities was also held hostage to nursing facilities, a multi-million dollar industry that was and is reliant on large government payouts. Governments act when there is pressure and lobbyists for corporate and union interests can exert a lot of pressure on states.
Individuals with disabilities, individuals like Lois and Elaine, could not fight against these substantial interests...not alone anyway. Enter their personal super heroes. The lawyers from Atlanta Legal Aid Society. Using what we call the “integration mandate” of the Americans with Disabilities Act in a classic “David versus Goliath” action, these lawyers made sure that the Supreme Court, and eventually the entire country, heard the pleas of these two women. The court agreed that locking people up for the convenience of government, union, corporate or any other interest is NOT OK and as a result of these two brave women, and some very smart legal aid lawyers, America is now a different place for people with disabilities. The highest court of the land has said that states must not simply lock people away for convenience. While states are not required to offer any services, if they choose to do so (and all states have chosen to do so) that they must provide services in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of the individual. For most people like Elaine and Lois that setting is in neighborhoods across America. It has been 20 years since this landmark decision and the Atlanta Legal Aid Society, and 133 other grantees of the Legal Services Corporation continue to serve low-income clients every day. They still help abused women get protection orders, deal with evictions, benefits and the myriad of other daily necessities legal aid lawyers attend to on behalf of millions of low-income Americans. They change the lives of people every day and sometimes the life they change ends up changing the world.
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NLADA's 2019 Exemplar Awards Dinner
presented the
Social Justice-Themed Art Auction
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FIRE SALE!
If you didn’t have an opportunity to participate in NLADA’s first ever social justice art auction but are interested in an evocative piece for your home or office, today is your lucky day! Unsold pieces are now available at deeply discounted rates. It is first come, first serve, so act now!
Here is a little refresher. These pieces were featured in NLADA’s social justice art auction held at the InterContinental Washington, DC – The Wharf on June 12
th
. The artwork depicted justice issues ranging from incarceration to political protest. All pieces were generously donated by artists from across the country, and funds raised will directly support NLADA’s mission of expanding access to counsel and safeguarding justice for all. Art can be a transformative force in the pursuit of equal justice for all, and we hope you are as inspired by these powerful works of art as we are!
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"A Stricken Lament to Justin Chisum"
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Explore our complete
art catalogue
and learn about remote bidding.
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Catherine Harris (Grandmother “LOVE”)
Where "GOD" is; "LOVE" is & Where “LOVE” is; “GOD” is
617-233-5577
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I SURVIVED
Does My Life Puzzle You?
The Pain, The Rain, The Hurricane
I SURVIVED
There are no other storms like Hurricane on earth
I SURVIVED
l am the Indescribable Gift
I SURVIVED
The Missionary with a vision
I SURVIVED
Extremely large, powerful and destructive storm with very strong winds that occurs, especially in my life.
I SURVIVED, I SURVIVED
You have no clue, you will never understand my pain, rain & hurricane
I SURVIVED, I SURVIVED
Did you not think that I would not live to tell about your lies
I SURVIVED, I SURVIVED
As quoted by my spiritual sister Maya Angelou; "Still I Rise"
I SURVIVED
In spite of danger and hardship
I SURVIVED
I continue to live to love my family
I SURVIVED
I can hear the echo from my Master saying to me "PULL THROUGH, GET THROUGH, you did it, you survived."
Sit back and rest now, let me put a finishing touch on your life in spite of the lies, you SURVIVED
I SURVIVED
I am your Master, you are my Ambassador, an accredited diplomat sent by me, your Father God, your Master. You SURVIVED , you can rest, no more lies
I SURVIVED
The additional pain and suffering.
I SURVIVED
Goodbye PAIN, Goodbye RAIN, Goodbye Hurricane
I SURVIVED
I have now reached my new aim.
I SURVIVED
The Echo, The Echo I keep hearing, no more tears, victory is here. I SURVIVED, JUSTICE is here, Change is here.
I SURVIVED
Rethink, Retool, Rebuild, from the Hurricane
I SURVIVED
Echo, the Echo I keep hearing, You were obedient, you took the beatings, I will now help you to Master your dreams. You Survived my Missions.
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What is Self-Care, and why it's so important to our daily lives?
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SELF-CARE
(definition)
Is any activity that we do deliberately in order to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health. Although it's a simple concept in theory, it's something we very often overlook. Good self-care is key to improved mood and reduced anxiety.
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In an effort to better promote and exercise Self-Care...
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Take the SELF-CARE CHALLENGE and PLAY
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ARE YOUR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DUES PAID?
For inquiries about renewing your membership or how to join NLADA please contact
membership@nlada.org
.
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Help us expand our community to your colleagues and peers!
Your Chair, Regina Kelly CHALLENGES YOU to bring in 5 members or more for additional chances of
FREE
memberships with the offer above.
Sign up two new client members and your next membership is on us!
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New Client Member Resources
Did you know NLADA has a special membership category just for clients?
Through a NLADA membership, clients engaged in the world of equal justice can take advantage of all of NLADA’s standard member benefits, along with our specially-curated content and engagement opportunities just for clients, including:
- Curated news and information.
- Access to the free Client Member listserv (OPEN NOW!).
- Opportunity to engage through the NLADA Client Council and weigh in on important issues facing clients across the country.
- Tailored programming at the Annual Conference.
- Steep registration discounts.
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SAVE THE DATES!
Upcoming NLADA Events
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