HOPE Public Interest News for Week of March 19, 2012
Please read below for upcoming events on campus, opportunities in the community, and other announcements:
Events on Campus
Tuesday, March 20th, Fulbright Program Info Session with Alumni Ambassador, 5:30 pm, UC Flamingo Ballroom A: Click here for details.
Tuesday, March 20th & Wednesday, March 21st, National Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence Hearings, Robert and Judi Prokop Newman Alumni Center: Click here for details.
Wednesday, March 21st, From the Trenches: Working for International Organizations & the US Government Abroad, 12:30 pm, D201: Click here for details.
Thursday, March 22nd, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, 12 – 2 pm, Student Lounge: Stop by and have your taxes prepared by VITA volunteers. Email UMVITA for more information.
Coming up next week…plan ahead!
Monday, March 26th, Designing for Diversity: Affordable Housing for America’s Changing Demographic, 6 pm, Glasgow Lecture Hall: The Office of Civic and Community Engagement cordially invites you to the next event in their Focus on Affordable Housing Initiative. Click here for details.
Tuesday, March 27th, Immigration Law and Utilizing Miami Law’s Externship Program, 12:30 pm, Faculty Meeting Room: HOPE invites you to hear 3L, Gracia Cuzzi, speak about her summer as a HOPE Fellow at Americans for Immigrant Justice (AIJ) and fall semester in Mexico City, where she worked for a migrant rights non-profit founded by an American attorney. Come learn about immigration law, community outreach and unique opportunities to engage in human rights in Miami and abroad.
Tuesday, March 27th, Public Interest Leadership Board Info Session, 12:30 pm, F108: Do you want to be involved in a board that is dedicated to public interest leadership? Are you interested in fostering community development and challenging societal inequities? Come learn about how you can get involved in the PILB.
Tuesday, March 27th, Hot Coffee Film Screening and Reception, 6:30 pm, Cosford Cinema: Hot Coffee reveals what really happened to Stella Liebeck, the Albuquerque woman who spilled coffee on herself and sued McDonald’s, while exploring how and why the case garnered so much media attention, who funded the effort, and to what end. Click here to RSVP.
Wednesday, March 28th, Public Interest Lecture Series featuring Evian White of LSGMI, 12:30 pm, A110A. Click here to RSVP.
SAVE THE DATE! Thursday, April 12th, Public Interest Recognition Reception, 6 pm, Law School Bricks.
Events in the Community
Thursday, March 22nd, Small Claims Court Clinic, 5 pm, Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc.: Law students have the opportunity to conduct client intake and sit side-by-side with attorneys assisting low-income individuals, who cannot afford an attorney, with initiating their own small claims case. (Spanish and Creole interpreters are also needed.) Email Daniela Gordon if interested.
Thursday, March 22nd, Girls Like Us: Fighting for a World Where Girls are Not for Sale: A Memoir, 6:30 pm, Books & Books Coral Gables: Click here for more details.
Thursday, March 22nd, Comedy Night Benefitting Empowered Youth, 7 pm, Coconut Grove Improv: Please support the Empowered Youth Neighborhood Program at this special comedy night. Go here and click on the “Buy Now” button to buy your tickets. See here for details.
Sunday, March 25th, Walk MS Coral Gables, 9 am, Park at City Hall: The goal of Walk MS is to create awareness, raise funds for local programs and cutting edge research for a cure! Click here for more details.
Tuesday, March 27th, Guardian ad Litem Info Session, 12 pm, 601 NW 1 Ct., Miami: Each day children are removed from homes that are physically and emotionally unhealthy. Guardian ad Litem volunteers speak up for these children in court and help ensure that they end up in a safe, permanent home. RSVP here.
Thursday, March 29th, Pairings: Celebrating Artists & Chefs, 7 pm, LegalArt, 1035 N. Miami Ave, Suite 200, Miami, FL: Click here for details.
Announcements
Outstanding Community Partner Award nominations are being accepted! Nominate your supervising attorney to be recognized for their outstanding mentorship and contributions to the legal community at the Annual Public Interest Recognition Reception on April 12th. Community partners, external to the Miami Law community, are eligible. Submit a nomination via email to UMHOPE in 500 words or less describing why your supervising attorney is deserving of this recognition.
Public Interest Service Student Awards: Nominations are now being accepted for the Exemplary Service to the Poor and Innovative Service in the Public Interest Awards. For descriptions of these awards and details about the nomination/application process, please see the attached or visit the HOPE website. Nominations are due by 5:00 pm on Wednesday, March 21st via hand-delivery to the HOPE office or via email to UMHOPE.
Public Interest Leadership Board (PILB) applications are available! Do you want to be involved in a board that is dedicated to public interest leadership? Are you interested in fostering community development and challenging societal inequities? The PILB is accepting applications through Friday, March 30, 2012. Applications are available outside the HOPE office and online here.
Florida Legal Services is in need of foreign language speakers for Unemployment Compensation Foreign Language Test Calls. Email Daniela Gordon for more information.
Legal Service of Greater Miami is seeking a law clerk. Applicants should be able to commit at least 12 hours a week. Placement runs from February to May. Email UMHOPE if interested.
Planned Parenthood Global is seeking energetic, hard-working, and detail-oriented interns and volunteers. Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading sexual and reproductive health care provider and advocate. Interns/ volunteers will have the opportunity to become familiar with key players in the international sexual and reproductive health community and will learn about PPFA’s international work. Email Daniela Gordon if interested.
Community Service Opportunities
Saturday, March 31st, Rockin’ on the Green Event, Ransom Everglades High School: Volunteers are needed at this annual fundraiser benefitting the Children’sBereavementCenter. Volunteers will be asked to assist from either 6 – 9 pm or 8:30 – 11:30 pm. Volunteer responsibilities will include assisting guests at check-in, monitoring auction items, relocating auction items, assisting guests locate their winnings and check-out. If you are interested in volunteering at the event, please email Kathy Kramer.
Friday, April 6th, Thanksgiving in April, 10 am – 1 pm, Miami Rescue Mission: Email Daniela Gordon to volunteer.
Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC) is looking for volunteers for its naturalization project which will include monthly citizenship clinics. Email UMHOPE if you are interested in getting involved.
Volunteers are needed at Kristi House: Kristi House provides therapy for sexually abused children, as young as two and as old as 18 years. Monday – Friday, 8:30 am-5:30 pm: Waiting Room Ambassadors (you can color with the children, read books, make bracelets etc.) Peak hours are afterschool 2:00 – 5:30 pm. Other volunteer activities include: public speaking, fundraising, special events and in-kind donation drives. If you want to volunteer, please contact Abegail De La Fuente.
Summer Resources
Equal Justice Works Summer Corps program is open! Students can earn a $1,175 education award to help pay for school expenses or to pay back student loans. Click here for more information.
Pace Law School Summer Skills Program: Click here for details.
PSLawNet has revamped its user guides! Click on the links below:
Miami Law Summer Clinics (applications will be accepted on a rolling basis).