June 23, 2020

Local Attorneys Selected for Ground-Breaking Program to Advance Racial Equity

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Thomas Navin, Development Director
Phone: (413) 727-7115
Email: tnavin@cla-ma.org

Community Legal Aid, a non-profit organization that provides free legal services to low-income and elderly residents of Central and Western Massachusetts, is pleased to announce that four of its staff members have been selected to participate in the 2020 Racial Justice Institute, a leadership program organized by the Shriver Center on Poverty Law. The Institute is a ground-breaking program designed to equip, train and coordinate anti-poverty advocates to affirmatively advance racial equity.

As our communities simultaneously battle COVID-19 and the systemic inequities and structural racism endemic in our society, Community Legal Aid continues strengthening its commitment to fighting for racial justice. Community Legal Aid believes that all citizens must actively work together to create a culture that values justice and a communal process that achieves it. Through its Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, the organization works with its staff and community partners to identify systemic barriers, including those that are race-based, facing its clients and to craft creative, effective solutions.

The Racial Justice Institute’s training will help Community Legal Aid’s staff tackle issues stemming from structural racism and inequity which harm the communities where they live and work. The advocates from Community Legal Aid selected to participate are: Daniel Bahls, Staff Attorney Housing Unit and Veterans Medical-Legal Partnership; Alyssa Golden, Staff Attorney Re-Entry/Housing Project; Nina Harrison, Racial Justice Fellow; and Weayonnoh Nelson-Davies, Managing Attorney of Worcester and Fitchburg Offices. After seven months of intensive training provided by the Racial Justice Institute, these advocates will join a national network of over 200 Institute alumni advancing race equity throughout the country.

For more information about the Institute click here.

About Community Legal Aid:

Community Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to the low-income and elderly residents of the five counties of Central and Western Massachusetts (Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester), and maintains full-time offices in Worcester, Fitchburg, Springfield, Northampton, and Pittsfield. Community Legal Aid works to assure fairness for all in the justice system, protecting homes, livelihoods, health and families. Our client communities continue to need our services and we are committed to meeting those needs. For more information on Community Legal Aid please visit www.communitylegal.org.