HOPE Public Interest News for the Week of October 22, 2012
Please read below for upcoming events on campus, opportunities in the community, and other announcements.
Featured
Monday, October 22nd, Private Practice in the Public Interest, Enhancing Your Career and the Community through Pro Bono Work, 12:30 pm, Faculty Meeting Room, 4th Floor Law Library. A panel discussion celebrating pro bono and public interest law. RSVP here.
Monday, October 22nd, Gideon’s Trumpet Screening, 5:30 – 7:30 pm, D201, Library Reading Room. Join HOPE and Miami-Dade Public Defender Carlos Martinez to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Gideon v. Wainright, the seminal case on the 6th Amendment right to counsel, for a screening of Gideon’s Trumpet. Following the screening, students will have a chance to speak with Carlos Martinez and participate in an ongoing project to determine whether criminal and traffic court defendants in Miami-Dade understand their rights. Please RSVP here for the event or e-mail here.
Tuesday, October 23rd, Reliving Tanzania: Miami Law’s African Probate & Policy Initiative, 12:30 pm, F-109. Join the program director Gretchen Bellamy and students Charles McGinley, Seth DeLong, and Kelsey Bloomenfeld to discuss their initiative in Africa last summer and find out how you can get involved next summer. RSVP here.
Wednesday, October 24th, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Info Session, 12:30 – 2 pm, E-265. VITA volunteers help people with basic tax returns, particularly those with moderate income and fixed income, individuals with disabilities, non-English speaking and elderly taxpayers. No prior tax experience is needed. Come to this informational meeting to learn how you can get involved with VITA. RSVP here.
Events on Campus
Thursday, October 25th, Guardian Ad Litem Informational Session, 12:30 pm, F-302. Join the Child Advocacy and Family Law Society for this informational session. Issa Hosein, the Community Outreach Liaison, will speak about the training involved, the commitment to the children-clients, and the challenges and benefits of being a Guardian Ad Litem. As a Guardian Ad Litem, you will have the opportunity to work with and work for children and gain experience speaking in court, and you can use the training and the work with your clients to log pro bono hours. Information here.
Tuesday, October 30th, Panel Discussion: “Housing Under Water,” 12:30 pm, F-408. Educate and inform the local community of the vital roles that nonprofits and community development corporations have in providing and increasing affordable housing opportunities. Explore legal issues representing low-income and traditionally disenfranchised families in foreclosure proceedings. Speakers: Dennis Russ, Miami Beach Community Development Corporation; John Little, Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc.; and Charles Elsesser from Florida Legal Services. RSVP to UM HOPE.
Tuesday, October 30th, Election Protection Training at the University of Miami School of Law, 5:30 pm, F-209. Join the nation’s largest non-partisan voter protection coalition. Sign up here.
Events off Campus
Thursday, October 25th, Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office: Redemption Workshop, Betty T Ferguson Complex, 3000 NW 199 Street, Miami Gardens, FL. Partner with lawyers to assist with the seal and expunge process for individuals charged with a crime in Miami-Dade County but not convicted. Contact UM HOPE for more information.
Thursday, October 25th, Americans for Immigrant Justice. 6 pm, Sabadell United Bank, 1111 Brickell Ave., 30th Floor. RSVP by October 22 to Shawn Joost. Join Americans for Immigrant Justice for cocktails & hors d’oeuvres.
Thursday, October 25th, Habitat Young Professionals: Latte & Learn, 6:30 pm, LA Sweets, 5701 Sunset Drive, Suite 152. Join HYP for the first advocacy event talking about the cause of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Miami and its direct contributions to our community. If you have any questions, contact Miami Habitat.
Saturday, October 27th, Midnight to Midnight Mega Pet Adoption Event, Tropical Park, 7900 Bird Rd. This wonderful event starts Friday night, October 26, at 11:59pm, and lasts until Saturday night, October 27 at 11:59pm. There will be more than 800 homeless animals eager to find a forever home. The marathon adoption of puppies and kitties will kick-off the festivities at midnight and then continue non-stop with hundreds of wonderful pets and discounted adoption fees. For information, click here.
Announcements & Opportunities
Empowered Youth. Please join the Child Advocacy and Family Society in mentoring and tutoring the young men of Empowered Youth. Mentors are needed on Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:00-9:00 PM at the Belafonte Tacolcy Center in Liberty City. Tutors are needed on Saturdays at 11:00 AM on the Bricks.
Kristi House. Kristi House provides therapy for sexually abused children, as young as two and as old as 18 years. If you want to volunteer, please contact the Kristi House Volunteer Coordinator Abegail De La Fuente. Volunteers are needed Monday- Friday, 8:30am-5:30pm: Waiting Room Ambassadors (you can color with the children, read books, make bracelets etc.) Peak hours are after school 2:00-5:30pm.
The Center for Reproductive Rights announces Fellowship and Summer Internship Openings.
Soros Fellowships for New Americans Program. This prestigious fellowship provides up to two years of financial support for graduate studies in the U.S. The deadline is November 9th. Please visit the website for more information.
2013 Summer Legal Internship at the Southern Poverty Law Center. Offered in FL, GA, LA, MS, and AL. Visit the website for more information.
Donate LexisNexis points to HOPE! You can donate $4 to HOPE with 230 LexisNexis points! Don’t let those points go to waste. All funds will go to support public interest fellowships and scholarships. E-mail Ana Ramirez for details.