9 Ways Law Firms Can Still Be Involved Despite Inclement Weather

Unfortunately, MLK, Jr. Day is not getting a warm welcome in much of the United States today due to erratic weather conditions affecting a large percentage of the population. From Winter Storm Izzy on the East coast to Tsunami conditions on the west coast, as well as record snowfalls and wind chill alerts occurring in much of the Midwest, many MLK day events are sadly being canceled or postponed. Law firms across the country – excited to spend this workday volunteering in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, took to social media today in frustration and disappointment when such great intentions didn’t come to fruition. So, Woven Legal has put together nine ways in which you could still contribute today: by attending events virtually, through a donation made online, or perhaps by getting the ball rolling and signing up to participate in future volunteer opportunities when weather conditions may be safer and more accommodating.

NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.

The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. is America’s premier legal organization fighting for racial justice. Through litigation, advocacy, and public education, LDF seeks structural changes to expand democracy, eliminate disparities, and achieve racial justice in a society that fulfills the promise of equality for all Americans. LDF also defends the gains and protections won over the past 80 years of civil rights struggle and works to improve the quality and diversity of judicial and executive appointments. LDF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.”

Rehabilitation Enables Dreams (RED) – Stop Recidivism Now

Read Founder/Attorney David Lee Windecher’s book by clicking HERE.

I read David’s book in 2016, shortly after our initial meeting in Atlanta. I found it impactful; it expanded my understanding of what it means to be an immigrant child growing up on the streets of Miami, and I have since shared the book with many of my friends and colleagues. Here’s my short synopsis: Arrested 13 times and after spending 7+ months as an incarcerated juvenile, David, a skinny immigrant kid, succumbed to the pressures of joining a Miami gang for the protection it provided, eventually dropping out of school and adopting the street name Red. But, despite being surrounded by – or perhaps because of – a culture of violence and lawlessness, David harbored a dream of becoming a lawyer and fighting for those who didn’t have the resources to seek justice for themselves. With Olympic-level drive and fierce determination, David secured his GED in 1998, followed by a (Summa Cum Laude) undergraduate degree in 2005, and completed his JD from John Marshall Law School in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2012. David was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 2012 and the Florida Bar in 2014. He has been recognized many times both personally and professionally, some of which include the following: Recipient of Martindale-Hubbell’s Client Distinction Award, 2013, 2014, 2015; awarded “40 Under 40” by Atlanta Business Chronicle and Georgia Trend Magazine; a frequent guest and/or legal analyst speaking on television and radio programs (regionally/nationally). And, his law practice specializes in criminal defense, juvenile law, and expungement procedures. Help David and his team fight recidivism today by donating, mentoring, guest writing, or becoming an advocate.

Homeboy Industries

Founder, Executive Director, and NY Times Bestselling author, “Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion.”

Homeboy Industries is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that utilizes a combination of donations and revenue from various social enterprise businesses to fund its innovative model of therapeutic wraparound services and job training. Located in downtown Los Angeles, Homeboy Industries provides hope and job training for formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated people so they can redirect their lives and become contributing members of society. Established in 1988, this forward-thinking approach to helping those seeking transformation has helped the organization become the most successful re-entry program in the world.

Big Brother/Big Sisters

Sometimes the best thing a child can have is a friend. An adult to look up to, speak with on a personal level, and confide in, and who can help with everyday things. Big Brothers Big Sisters is on a mission to inspire children’s passions and encourage them to achieve success in life.

New Profit

New Profit is a venture philanthropy organization that backs breakthrough social entrepreneurs advancing equity and opportunity in America.

The King Center Memorial and Programmatic Nonprofit

Established in Atlanta in 1968 by Mrs. Coretta Scott King, The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (“The King Center”) has been a global destination, resource center, and community institution for over a quarter-century. Nearly a million people each year make a pilgrimage to the National Historic Site to learn, be inspired, and pay their respects to Dr. King’s legacy. The King Center is a 501(c)3.

Moms Demand Action gun violence

Moms Demand Action is a grassroots movement of Americans fighting for public safety measures to protect people from gun violence. We know that gun violence is preventable, and we’re committed to doing what it takes to keep families safe. We pass stronger gun laws and work to close the loopholes that jeopardize the safety of our families. We also work in our own communities and with business leaders to encourage a culture of responsible gun ownership.

Southern Christian Leadership Conference

In the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) is renewing its commitment to bring about the promise of “one nation, under God, indivisible” together with the responsibility to activate the “strength to love” within the community of humankind.

SCLC’s focus is to educate youth and adults in personal responsibility, leadership potential, and community service to ensure economic justice and civil rights and eradicate racism wherever it exists.

Morehouse College

The Alma Mater of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Wikipedia describes Morehouse College as, “The largest men’s liberal arts college in the U.S. Morehouse has been home to 11 Fulbright Scholars, five Rhodes Scholars, and five Marshall Scholars, and is the alma mater of many African-American civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr. and Julian Bond, World Series MVP Donn Clendenon as well as entertainment icons Spike Lee and Samuel L. Jackson. Among Morehouse alumni, traditionally known as “Morehouse Men,” the college has graduated numerous “African American firsts” in local, state, and federal government as well as in science, academia, business, and entertainment.”

Equal Justice Initiative 

EJI challenges racial and economic injustice and provides legal representation to people who have been illegally convicted, unfairly sentenced, or abused in jails and prisons. Founded in 1989 by Bryan Stevenson, a widely acclaimed public interest lawyer and bestselling author of Just Mercy, EJI is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. 

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