Hispanic Heritage Month: September Newsletter

Hispanic Heritage Month

VOLS celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15) and the history, culture, and achievements of New York City’s diverse Hispanic and Latinx communities. VOLS is proud of our work empowering so many of our neighbors to find justice for their civil legal challenges. This month, we celebrate our Hispanic and Latinx clients’ achievements and resilience in the face of their legal challenges a little bit more! We pledge to continue to refine our services to ensure they are culturally attuned to our clients’ needs. We also celebrate our Hispanic and Latinx team members, pro bono attorneys, and community partners, whose perspectives, skills, and diversity strengthen our client services every day.

Hispanic and Latinx New Yorkers are served throughout all of VOLS’ six programs, in Spanish and English. If you know a New Yorker who could benefit from VOLS’ multilingual resources or specialized programs such as La iniciativa de Extensión Comunitaria para Adultos Mayores, please share our Helpline and email contact information. We hope you enjoy this month’s newsletter, and, as always, thank you for your support of our work!

VOLS se enorgullece de celebrar el Mes Nacional de la Herencia Hispana desde el 15 de septiembre al 15 de octubre. Celebramos la historia, la cultura y los logros de las diversas comunidades hispanas y latinas de la ciudad de Nueva York. VOLS se enorgullece de nuestro trabajo de empoderar a tantos de nuestros vecinos para que encuentren justicia para sus desafíos legales civiles y este mes celebramos los logros y la resiliencia un poco más! Nos comprometemos a seguir perfeccionando nuestros servicios para garantizar que estén en sintonía cultural con las necesidades de nuestros clientes. También celebramos a los miembros de nuestro equipo hispanos y latinos, abogados pro bono y socios comunitarios, cuyas perspectivas, habilidades y diversidad fortalecen nuestros servicios al cliente todos los días.

Los neoyorquinos hispanos y latinos reciben servicios en los seis programas de VOLS, en español e inglés. Si conoce a un neoyorquino que podría beneficiarse de los recursos multilingües de VOLS o de los programas especializados como La iniciativa de Extensión Comunitaria para Adultos Mayores, comparta nuestra línea de ayuda y la información de contacto por correo electrónico. Esperamos que disfrute el boletín de este mes y, como siempre, ¡gracias por su apoyo!


Best,

Abja Midha
Executive Director, Volunteers of Legal Service


Desmitificando el proceso empresarial para inmigrantes

This month, the VOLS Microenterprise Project and VOLS Immigration Project teamed up to present a virtual panel entitled, Desmitificando el proceso empresarial para inmigrantes (Demystifying the Entrepreneurial Process for Immigrants). Conducted in Spanish, the event provided information and advice on the entrepreneurial process for more than 20 entrepreneurs.

Update on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

 On September 13, 2023, Judge Hanen declared the DACA program unlawful. Read VOLS statement on this disappointing decision and its impact on our clients.

Charles Lawrence Keith & Clara Miller Gender-Justice Fund

 VOLS has established the Charles Lawrence Keith & Clara Miller Gender-Justice Fund to support our work helping close the access to justice gap for women and girls. Read the full press release.

 

Project Updates

VOLS Benefits Law Project (BLP) held an unemployment insurance training clinic for pro bono attorneys from Societe Generale focused on the nuances of the striking workers of the Writers Guild of America West (WGA). VOLS BLP conducted the training in response to community need, following inquiries to the Project’s helpline.

VOLS Immigration Project (IP) launched a new community partnership with the African Bureau for Immigration and Social Affairs (ABISA). To kick off this partnership, VOLS conducted a virtual immigration relief screening clinic with ABISA and a team of pro bono volunteers from Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP. VOLS IP also conducted a DACA renewal clinic with the support of pro bono attorneys from partner WilmerHale. We will be conducting an Asylum Application Preparation clinic on September 28, providing application assistance with volunteer attorneys from Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP.

VOLS Incarcerated Mothers Law Project (IMLP) continues to conduct regular in-person clinics with incarcerated mothers at Taconic Correctional Facility and Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. This month we worked alongside teams of pro bono attorneys from Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP and Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobsen LLP to address family law matters and provide advocacy and counsel.

VOLS Microenterprise Project (MEP) conducted an entity formation clinic, presenting on legal basics for new entrepreneurs with pro bono attorneys from Arnold & Porter and Genpact, and hosted by community partner Harlem Business Alliance.

VOLS Senior Law Project (SLP) teamed up with pro bono attorneys from Bloomberg and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP to conduct a Wills clinic, assisting clients with essential life planning documents. We have also created two new guides to help demystify what it means to be an agent and answer some frequently asked questions. When our older adult clients name an agent in a Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney, their agent(s) often have questions about what this means and what is their responsibility. These guides help older adults and their caregivers understand these planning documents, an important part of empowering our clients to take control of their futures.

VOLS SLP Veterans Initiative The NY Veterans Law Working Group, co-chaired by VOLS Legal Director Peter Kempner submitted written testimony to the New York State Permanent Commission on Access to Justice for consideration in the Chief Judge’s 2023 Hearing on Civil Legal Services on September 18, 2023. The Working Group, advocated in support of funding for civil legal services in order to address the challenges faced by low-income veterans, military service members and their families in New York. Read the testimony.

Life Planning clinic presented by VOLS Senior Law Project. Legal Basics for New Entrepreneurs clinic presented by VOLS Microenterprise Project and hosted by Harlem Business Alliance.

Client Success Stories

VOLS Microenterprise Project (MEP) client Robert Petillo is the owner of MY New York, a clothing and apparel online brand he founded while in college and recently started Back Home Brands, a wellness brand featuring Caribbean ingredients like sea moss. VOLS pro bono volunteers advised Robert about cybersecurity best practices, labeling and FDA compliance and internal corporate governance. In Robert’s own words, “I wanted to express my sincere gratitude for taking the time to meet with me. Your willingness to share your insights and expertise has been incredibly valuable, and I deeply appreciate your help. I am truly excited about the opportunity to continue working with you and attorneys.” Check his businesses out at www.instagram.com/mynybrands/ and https://backhomebrands.company.site/!

 

Team VOLS x TCS New York City Marathon

Team VOLS will take on the TCS New York City Marathon on November 5, 2023! As an official charity partner, our team is running to help close the access to justice gap for New Yorkers in need of civil legal services. Visit our fundraising page to make a gift and meet our team!


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Enjoy 20% off Minted’s unique stationery, children’s art, and gifts when you shop using our exclusive discount code, and Minted will donate 15% back to us.



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