NEWS & MEDIA CENTER
Petersburg Community Members Protest School Budget Cuts
Members of the Petersburg Advocates for Children, the City Wide PTA, and the Petersburg Right to Education Campaign gave public comment at last night's school board meeting to speak out against impending cuts to the local school budget. Community members aired their concerns about cuts at the state level -- which will have a devastating effect on school systems such as Petersburg that rely heavily on state support -- as well as local decisions about maintaining low teacher/pupil ratios, ensuring that school buildings are well-equipped for larger class loads, and ensuring access to a healthy breakfast for many low-income children. The press took note of the community's input, further cementing Legal Aid's belief that strong community engagement is one of the most powerful tools for turning around struggling schools.
To read more about last night's school board meeting and the budget cuts faced by the Petersburg City Public Schools, click on the following links:
"School board considers tough budget options," Petersburg Progress-Index (Feb 18, 2010)
"Petersburg schools will eliminate 46 jobs to save $2.6 million," Richmond Times-Dispatch (Feb 18, 2010)
Block to Join Law School Faculty; Ciolfi Named New Legal Director of JustChildren
There are changes afoot at JustChildren. In June, we will be bidding a fond farewell to Andy Block, the founder and Legal Director of the JustChildren Program, who will step down after more than 12 years in the position. He will take a new job at the University of Virginia School of Law as the Director of the Child Advocacy Clinic. He will be replaced by Angela Ciolfi, who has worked for JustChildren since her days as a law student back in 2001.
To read the full press release, click here.
To read about it in the C-ville, click here.
Migrant Tree Planters Find Justice - $2.75 Million Settlement
In one of the largest settlements of its kind, an Arkansas forestry company has agreed to pay $2.75 million to settle the legal claims of more than 2200 foreign guestworkers represented by the Legal Aid Justice Center's Immigrant Advocacy Program who say they were cheated out of the wages they earned planting trees for the company.
This is a huge win for the workers, represented by our attorneys Tim Freilich and Erin Trodden, and former Legal Aid Justice Center attorneys Mary Bauer, Jim Knoepp, and Andrew Turner (now at the Southern Poverty Law Center). Farmworker Justice and two private law firms also served as co-counsel.
Read the full press release here.
Read the Daily Progress article here.
Read the New York Times briefing here.
Read the C-Ville Weekly article here.
Parole Class Action Filed by VIP Project
On February 3, 2010, eleven Virginia inmates filed a class action in federal court in Richmond to challenge the Virginia Parole Board’s denials of parole for inmates convicted of violent offenses solely because of the nature and circumstances of their crimes. Virginia law requires the Board to consider several factors including the prisoner’s behavior and rehabilitation while incarcerated. The Parole Board places almost exclusive emphasis on the nature of the crime and fails to consider the other factors. Read about the case here.
Read the Washington Post article about the case here.
Campaign to Help Virginia Now, 2010
Last year, Virginians like you partnered with the Campaign to Help Virginia Now and asked the Virginia General Assembly to support unemployment modernization. Unfortunately, misrepresentations dominated the debate and the measure failed in a close vote. This year, the General Assembly is revisiting the issue. We are redoubling our efforts and need your support.
To see video footage of the 2009 General Assembly debate on unemployment modernization, and where it went wrong, CLICK HERE.
To Take Action, CLICK HERE.
Working Together: Third Annual Conference On Senior Care - Register Now !!
The Community Partnership for Improved Long-Term Care will host a conference for caregivers of the elderly: "Working Together: Third Annual Community Conference on Senior Care" on February 16-17, 2010. The Community Partnership for Improved Long-term Care is organizing the conference with co-sponsors The Alzheimer's Association, Central and Western Virginia chapter, Blue Ridge Long-Term Care Associates, and the Jefferson Area Board on Aging (JABA). This conference builds on the two prior successful caregiver conferences organized by U.Va. Geriatrics and partner organizations. This year's conference is being made possible in part by a training grant from the Virginia Center on Aging. Read more
Crystal Shin Awarded UVa Law's Powell Fellowship to Work with JustChildren
The University of Virginia School of Law has awarded the 2010 Powell Fellowship to third-year law student, Crystal Shin. Ms. Shin will use the Powell Fellowship to advocate for increased educational opportunities for court-involved youth. Ms. Shin is the fourth Powell winner to come to the Legal Aid Justice Center.
Click here to learn more about Ms. Shin and her project.
Access to Medication for Individuals with Mental Health Impairments Limited
Legal Aid Justice Center executive director, Alex Gulotta, comments on the reductions in access to medication for individuals with mental health impairments. Read the full story here.
Fluvanna Correctional Center Under Scrutiny
The Virginia Institutionalized Persons Project director, Helen Trainor, and long-time volunteer, Cynthia Neff, speak out on conditions at the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women. Read their comments here.
It's That Time of Year - Donate to the Legal Aid Justice Center !
As the year draws to an end, consider a gift to the Legal Aid Justice Center. Your gift will help bring justice and fairness to our low-income neighbors. It just takes a couple of clicks. Donate here.