Dear Friends,
 
We are halfway through 2022, with much to look forward to for the rest of the year!

The best news first - MidPenn Legal Services will be launching its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative under a Justice and Equity Center! We are grateful for the financial support that we have received from local funders that will allow us to undertake this exciting initiative. MidPenn’s Justice and Equity Center will balance the scales through a sustainable approach to health and wellness within underserved communities within our service area. As a non-profit law firm with the mission of serving marginalized and vulnerable populations, it is incumbent upon us to not only implement effective management practices, and provide high-quality legal services, but also to hold ourselves accountable to the communities we serve. We recognize that staff and board diversity will improve organizational performance, and diverse and inclusive teams make better decisions. However, the cultural transformation necessary to address our nation’s growing diversity, and the corresponding lack of equity, will happen only if new behaviors and organizational practices are included in everyday operations including service delivery, management, and stakeholder engagement. To that end, MidPenn is committed to building its organizational capacity for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The Justice and Equity Center will be launched at the upcoming Access to Justice Happy Hour event on September 22, 2022, at the Hershey Brewery and Vineyards. Make sure to Save the Date and register to attend Access to Justice Happy Hour!

On a final note, if you have been following us through emails, newsletters, or online, you might have noticed we are continuing to reach each of you with informative and educational webinars on tax, housing, or family law topics. Please continue to follow our digital platforms to stay updated on the current events and happenings. Finally, best wishes for a wonderful summer and I look forward to seeing you all in person at the Access to Justice Event this fall!

Rhodia D. Thomas, Esq.
Executive Director
Low Income Tax Payer Clinic

MidPenn's staff attorney from the Low Income Tax Payer Clinic (LITC) has successfully negotiated two recent Offers in Compromise for clients struggling with past IRS debt. John had accumulated $35,000 of tax debt spanning as far back as 2009. John had worked all of his life in carpentry as an independent contractor, but recent health issues forced him to work less and thus, take in less income.  Our staff worked with John in gathering relevant financial information and submitted an Offer in Compromise to settle his $35,000 tax bill. In June 2022, the IRS accepted the Offer in Compromise for $1,881, a savings of nearly $33,000.
In another case, Jaime, a single client with three children owed the IRS $6,700 which resulted from an audit that occurred in 2016. Jaime had been laid off from work in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in September 2021 her unemployment compensation benefits expired. Jaime and her three children were surviving on a small amount of child support from the children’s father, food stamps, and rental and utility assistance. The LITC filed an Offer in Compromise to settle her IRS income tax debt, offering a payment of $160 to settle the remaining balance owed. The IRS accepted this Offer in Compromise in July.

For more information on Low Income Tax Payer Clinic, please go to https://www.midpenn.org/what-we-do/.
Congratulations to
MidPenn Board President, Michael Pykosh, Esq.
on being one of "The 2022 Law Power 100"

Michael Pykosh heads the board of MidPenn Legal Services, a Central Pennsylvania nonprofit that provides free services to low-income residents and victims of domestic and sexual abuse. Pykosh is a longtime partner in Dethlefs Pykosh & Murphy, a Camp Hill-based firm. He is also a trustee and former chair of the Cumberland County Bar Foundation and the solicitor for Monroe Township and several zoning boards, with extensive experience in real estate, land development, and municipal affairs.
Advocacy

On June 30, 2022, MidPenn closed out the fiscal year 2021-2022. In the course of that year, we handled 9,700 cases for individuals living within our 18 county service area. Our representation benefited the lives of 17,439 adults and children and provided an economic boost of $3,229,882.70 to the local economy. Below is a breakdown of the type of advocacy we handled during the fiscal year:

Consumer: 711 Employment//Expungement: 291 Family: 2,031
Public Benefits: 845 Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault: 2,510 Housing: 2,886
Tax Controversies: 169 Miscellaneous: 257
HOW ARE WE DOING?

When MidPenn advocates complete a case, they send a survey to the client to get their input on the quality of work they received.

MidPenn's Lancaster Office recently received an appreciation letter from a recent client. We love when our clients send us lovely notes like this one!
Across MidPenn's Offices

MidPenn's Reading office has moved to a new location in May 2022. Staff is enjoying their new space at 35 N. 6th Street, Mezzanine Suite 101, Reading, PA 19601.
MidPenn was awarded a grant from the Interest on Lawyer Trust Account Board for the Safeguarding Against Financial Exploitation (SAFE) Project.

This special project initiative funds an attorney whose focus will be on protecting vulnerable seniors and disabled individuals from financial exploitation. This attorney will provide legal advice and representation in Power of Attorney cases. They will also conduct educational programs related to Power of Attorney documents and assisting/identifying at-risk individuals.
We Are Hiring!

MidPenn has job openings for attorneys and support staff throughout our service area. If you are interested in a career in legal services go to the Career page on our website.
Congratulations to retired MidPenn Staff John Mitton, Esq. and Carolyn Sexton. At the York County (PA) Bar Association/York County Bar Foundation's Annual Recognition Dinner, John was presented with the PBA Civil Legal Aid Attorney of the Year Award, and Carolyn was presented with the PBA Pro Bono Partner Award for their distinguished careers and dedication to the provision of legal services.
Donor Spotlight

Thank you to everyone who contributed to Pursuing Justice Improving Lives Campaign!
Board of Directors
Michael J. Pykosh, Esq., President 
James P. DeAngelo, Esq., President-Elect - Justine Boatwright, Vice President
Jerry A. Philpott, Esq., Treasurer - Lee Rager, Sr., Secretary
Yaqinah Abdurrahman - Susan E. Bardo - Adam D. Boyer, Esq. - Joy Burton 
Ian M. Ehrgood, Esq. -  Andrew F. Fick, Esq.- Michael M. Kipphan, Esq.
Michael Mogill, Esq. - Thomas D. O'Shea, Esq. - Sheila V. O'Rourke, Esq.
Crystal Roan - Debra A. Smith, Esq. - Kathleen Pratt Swartz
Suzanne M. Trinh, Esq. - Amanda Sholtis, Esq. - Lurnetta Young-Hollins
Administration
Rhodia D. Thomas, Esq., Executive Director
Laurie Baughman, Esq., Deputy Director for Legal Advocacy
Carrie Bowmaster, Esq., Deputy Director for Operations
Elizabeth Truntz, Director of Finance - Shawn Geesaman, Director of Technology
Eliz Nestorov, Director of Development - Valerie West, Esq., Director of Compliance
MidPenn Legal Services is a private, nonprofit law firm providing free civil legal services to residents in these Pennsylvania counties: Adams, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Centre, Clearfield, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Perry, Schuylkill and York. Contributions to MidPenn are tax-deductible as allowed by law. MidPenn Legal Services is a tax-exempt corporation under Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3). The official registration and financial information of MidPenn Legal Services may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1 (800) 732-0999..Registration does not imply endorsement. MidPenn may not expend funds for any activity prohibited by the Legal Services Corporation Act, 42 U.S.C..2996 et seq. or by Public Law 104-134. Public Law 104-134 §504(d) requires that notice of these restrictions be given to all funders of programs funded by the Legal Services Corporation.