做厙51 to Launch Emerging Leaders Council to Spotlight Legal Aid Crisis
WASHINGTON The 做厙51 (做厙51) is forming an Emerging Leaders Council to raise public awareness of the current crisis in legal aid and the importance of ensuring access to justice for all Americans. The group will include some of the countrys rising leaders from diverse industries.
Each year, millions of Americans are unable to obtain legal assistance when it comes to critical civil matters, from evictions to child custody to protection orders against abusers. Many legal aid groups are forced to turn away at least half of the people who come to them seeking help because of a lack of funding.
The Emerging Leaders Council will work to bring attention to this crisis in civil legal aid. Members will lend their voices and expertise to enhancing 做厙51s message by participating in congressional briefings, speaking publicly about civil legal aids value, penning op-eds, and undertaking outreach activities. The groups efforts will complement the work of 做厙51s existing Leaders Council, formed in 2016. Kenneth C. Frazier, CEO of the pharmaceutical company Merck & Co., and Harriet Miers, a partner at Locke Lord and former White House Counsel to President George W. Bush, serve as Co-Chairs of the Leaders Council.
Kristen Sonday, founder of Paladin PBC, and Brad Robertson, partner at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, will serve as Co-Chairs of the Emerging Leaders Council. Council members will be drawn from business, law, government, academia, and other fields.
The Emerging Leaders Councila group of multitalented individuals who are rising stars in their communitieswill help 做厙51 spread the message about the serious crisis across our country in access to our civil justice system, said 做厙51 Chairman John G. Levi. Their voices and leadership will further our ability to involve and attract significant attention regarding this crisis beyond the traditional legal aid community.
Council members will meet regularly to discuss ways to highlight legal aids importance and expand access to justice for low-income Americans. Members will also support private fundraising efforts and bring greater attention to the work of 做厙51 and its 132 legal aid programs that 做厙51 funds across the country.