Breast Cancer-Impacted Clients Share Their Stories
Posted: October 30, 2020 Filed under: Our Legal Lifeline | Tags: Attorney, breast cancer, breast cancer awarenss, breast cancer survivor, bronx housing court, Legal Leave a commentThe Family Center’s Legal Wellness Institute works with breast cancer patients, survivors and affected families all year long. But we wanted to take a moment at the close of this Breast Cancer Awareness Month to highlight our legal work with women and families coping with the illness through our Maite Aquino Program and Judge Judith Kaye Project. These programs are made possible thanks to the generous support of the Judges and Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert (JALBCA). Here’s what three of our clients had to say about the impact of our services:
[The Family Center’s] Maite Aquino Program has provided me with legal representation in Bronx Housing Court. My attorney has met me at my doctor’s office. She even appeared on my behalf in Court only days before the system shut down due to COVID… While I would not wish my breast cancer and housing nightmare on anyone, I do wish more of the world knew about the impact of The Maite Aquino Program. Because of JALBCA and Maite Aquino’s legacy, my family and I had a safe home during the COVID pandemic. I am grateful to have remained COVID-negative – something that might have been impossible in the shelter system.” – Patrice, Breast Cancer Patient
My life was literally devastated by breast cancer. About two months after my surgery I called The Family Center. They were able to provide me with an attorney through the Judge Judith Kaye Project…. My attorney Lauren saved me in so many ways… Lauren was more than just an attorney… She was also able to refer me for at-home counseling [through The Family Center] and my counselor Sabina came to see me weekly. She helped me at my weakest and lowest points…. I have been through 9 surgeries in the past 3 years. Because of The Family Center I had support every step of the way. I’m still healing. I’m back at work. I graduated culinary school this June. Every day I’m thankful. My journey to health has been a long, hard, challenging experience. My mom says ‘Daughter, no matter what, you be the soldier on the battlefield.’ I’m here today to tell you that I have evolved into a warrior. – Bertina, Breast Cancer Survivor
[My daughter] at the age of 29 was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. Prior to her passing away, we were introduced to The Family Center. There’s so much that they have done for me that I could not have done on my own, as far as legal papers, going to the courts, getting legal guardianship [of my granddaughters], they found a support group for the kids and myself for bereavement. This is a good thing. This is really an excellent organization. – Melva, Mother and Grandmother
How A Zipcar Partnership Helps New Yorkers
Posted: March 7, 2019 Filed under: Our Legal Lifeline Leave a comment
Max with a Zipcar that helped him more efficiently and effectively serve The Family Center’s clients throughout all NYC’s five boroughs.
A few months ago The Family Center received a call about a woman who had recently suffered from a stroke and was temporarily severely handicapped in her ability to communicate, remember, and travel. She was receiving care at home and her mother was taking care of most of her affairs on her behalf. The client lives in an apartment in a remote area section of Staten Island inaccessible by train or ferry. Luckily, thanks to Zipcar, a Family Center Legal Wellness Institute (LWI) paralegal and staff attorney were able to drive out to the client’s home to help her execute a Power of Attorney to allow her mother to handle her legal and financial affairs more easily. On our visit, though, we recognized that the client had several other legal issues for which she needed the help of an attorney. Most importantly, was a family law issue involving her young children. We immediately began gathering the information we needed for a petition in Family Court, which is now pending. We continue to drive out to the client for meetings in her home as needed, to obtain documents and have client sign and review court filings. Because we were able to meet the client and sit down with her in person, we were able to gain a more complete picture of the case and identify additional legal issues with which she needed assistance. Ultimately, by using Zipcar to drive out and meet with the client at her bedside, our LWI attorney and paralegal have been able to provide this client with extensive legal services even though she is home-bound in an inaccessible location.
Max’s selfie with a Zipcar!
The Family Center LWI has also been working for close to six months with a client who is living with and fighting recurrent cancer. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatments. Unfortunately, through no fault of her own, she’s had some problems with her Medicaid coverage over the past few months, which have exacerbated the emotional stress associated with fighting cancer, in addition to threatening her access to lifesaving medical treatments. The client, who lives in a remote part of Queens, is unable to take public transportation due to her illness and the debilitating effects of her treatment. Thanks to Zipcar, LWI attorneys have been able to go to her to obtain the documentation necessary to fix the issues with her medical coverage, making sure that she’s getting both the care she needs and the assurance that she doesn’t have to worry about the stress of travel in order to get legal help.
Without the help of Zipcar, it would be nearly impossible for us to reach clients like these to provide the legal services they need to maintain their health, their homes, and their families.
-Maxwell Fineman, Family Center Legal Services Coordinator
Pro Bono Week Spotlight on Legal Intern Dahlia Romanow
Posted: October 26, 2018 Filed under: Our Legal Lifeline, Visionary Volunteer | Tags: #consumerdebt, #gender, #probono, Attorney, Law, Legal, Transgender Leave a comment
In honor of National Pro Bono Week, we’d like to introduce one of our fantastic legal volunteers.
Dahlia Romanow has been a legal intern in The Family Center’s Legal Wellness Institute (LWI) since May.
Dahlia is currently in her second year at NYU School of Law. Dahlia was a full-time legal intern over the summer and decided to volunteer with us again this fall part-time while she continues her studies.
Before moving to New York for law school, Dahlia received a bachelor’s degree in classics at Smith College. She then spent two years working as an AmeriCorps Legal Advocate at South Coastal Counties Legal Services Inc., a nonprofit legal service provider in the Fall River area of Massachusetts. In this position, Dahlia gained valuable experience, helping clients with issues relating to family law, consumer debt and bankruptcy, and housing court.
Dahlia has a strong commitment to pro bono legal assistance. At NYU, Dahlia also currently serves on the boards of two student groups: The Identity Documents Project, which helps trans and gender non-conforming New Yorkers update their federal and state legal documents to ensure they match their names and genders; and the HIV Law Society.
In her time volunteering with LWI, Dahlia has particularly enjoyed getting to apply the skills she’s learned in law school in a real-world setting – including drafting motions that have been filed in court (and won!). She also has also enjoyed getting to see cases through to successful completion, including a name change petition that she took the lead on, which was recently granted.
Dahlia was drawn to the Legal Wellness Institute’s holistic approach to direct legal services and has enjoyed working with clients and gaining experience in many areas of law. Having lost her father unexpectedly at age 18, Dahlia also has a strong personal connection to The Family Center’s work.
Pro bono legal volunteers play a vital role in helping LWI serve more than a thousand vulnerable New Yorkers each year. The staff and clients of The Family Center’s Legal Wellness Institute thank Dahlia and all of our other pro bono volunteers for their time, energy, and talents.
The Family Center Attends JALBCA’s Symposium on Cancer and Capitalism
Posted: March 29, 2018 Filed under: Executive Director's Corner, Our Legal Lifeline Leave a comment
From left to right: Vivienne Duncan, Director of the Cancer Advocacy and Elderlaw Projects at City Bar Justice Center; Caroline Bersak, Family Center Legal Wellness Institute Assistant Director; Luisa Kaye, Co-President of JALBCA, daughter of Judith Kaye, for whom The Family Center’s Judge Judith Kaye Project is named; and Ivy Gamble Cobb, The Family Center Executive Director
On Wednesday, March 28th, the Judges and Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert, also known as JALBCA, hosted The 22nd Annual Ellen P. Hermanson Memorial Symposium. The Family Center is deeply grateful for the support that our breast cancer -affected clients and their families have received from JALBCA over the years, so we were delighted to attend this Syposium on “Cancer and Capitalism: Who Will Stand Guard in the Cancer Wars?” In addition to the Symposium’s informative panel discussions, The Family Center enjoyed meeting Claire Gutekunst, JALBCA’s new Executive Director.
JALBCA funds both The Judge Judith Kaye Project and The Maite Aquino Program at The Family Center. These programs address the impact of breast cancer and its treatment on vulnerable New Yorkers and their families, primarily community members of color who are living on incomes below the poverty line. Since 2008, JALBCA has generously supported thousands of breast cancer -affected New Yorkers through The Judge Judith Kaye Project and The Maite Aquino Program.
The Family Center is proud of our partnership JALBCA!
From left to right: Family Center Board member Marika Pritchett-Casey, Executive Director Ivy Gamble Cobb and Legal Wellness Institute Assistant Director Caroline Bersak
From left to right: Family Center Board member Marika Pritchett-Casey, JALBCA Executive Director Claire Gutekunst, and Family Center Executive Director Ivy Gamble Cobb
A TFC Alum Shines in Miami
Posted: February 14, 2018 Filed under: Our Legal Lifeline, Visionary Volunteer | Tags: #miami, #studentlife, Law, Legal, NYC, volunteer Leave a comment
The Time of Shining Lights
Posted: December 28, 2017 Filed under: Our Cherished Children & Families, Our Legal Lifeline Leave a commentEvery year, Family Center staff and supporters work diligently during the holidays to ensure that our client families have an extra special season. Recently, hundreds of clients attended The Family Center Annual Holiday Party, which is a culmination of our Toy Drive.
This year, following our Toy Drive, a staff member in our Legal Wellness Institute received this message from a parent:
I picked the toys for my children up. My children are enjoying it very much. You put a shining light in their heart in the time of shining light.
This message brightened our day at The Family Center and we simply had to share it with YOU, our supporters. We are grateful to everyone who donates to the Toy Drive and to all our initiatives throughout the year!
2017 National Pro Bono Celebration
Posted: October 24, 2017 Filed under: Our Legal Lifeline | Tags: celebrateprobono Leave a commentEvery year, The Family Center’s Legal Wellness Institute (LWI) benefits from thousands of pro bono hours and work done by talented law students, graduates and attorneys. Through our Proficio Project, we provide an opportunity for recent law school graduates to fulfill their 50 Hour Pro Bono Requirement for New York State Bar Admission. Often, this is their first exposure to public interest work. Volunteers assist LWI’s team in all of our practice areas, and have the opportunity to see first-hand the value of their work as they meet with our clients in the office and in home and hospital visits.
For the 2017 National Pro Bono Celebration, we asked Proficio volunteers, Sidrah Syed and Gleny M. Peña about their experiences at LWI.
Pro Bono Spotlight: Sidrah Syed, Esq.
“During my time volunteering at LWI, I enjoyed learning about the wide range of issues and practices that touch clients’ lives. Working on a particular client matter, I sat with an LWI attorney and learned exactly what was needed to draft a will and make sure that it was properly executed. It was really interesting to work on that project. Currently, even though I don’t draft wills in my practice now, I work with individuals and families affected by 9/11. My experience at LWI informs my work. I would highly recommend this experience to others because of the really collegial work environment and the practical, hands’on approach to assisting the community.”
Sidrah graduated from Rutgers University School of Law in 2016. Currently, she is an associate at Turley, Hansen & Rosasco, LLP.
Pro Bono Spotlight: Gleny M. Peña
“I came to volunteer at LWI because I wanted to work with an organization that gave back to the community by providing legal services. I enjoyed having the opportunity to meet and work with clients and see how our work impacted them, personally. From my time volunteering with LWI, I learned the extraordinary importance of not just being a good advocate, but also of treating clients with compassion and understanding. I would absolutely recommend this experience to others who want to create a meaningful impact with their pro bono work!”
Gleny graduated from St. John’s University of Law School in 2017. She currently works in the legal department of a property management company.
We want to thank all our volunteers as part of the 2017 National Pro Bono Celebration!
Five Ways Legal Services Can Promote Mediation, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Settlement…
Posted: October 18, 2017 Filed under: Our Legal Lifeline | Tags: #mediation Leave a comment
Five Ways Legal Services Can Promote Mediation, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Settlement…
- Recommend ADR to clients in all appropriate proceedings, early;
- Listen, educate and advise clients as to ADR options after formal litigation has begun, whenever possible;
- Refer to and utilize court-annexed and Community Dispute Resolution Centers, where available;
- Educate interns and pro bono volunteers to problem-solve client disputes and issues;
- Sponsor Mediation Week.
My Father & Al Capone
Posted: June 16, 2017 Filed under: Executive Director's Corner, Our Legal Lifeline Leave a commentI have two sons. My oldest is six and he is in elementary school. When I see him with his friends on the playground, I am reminded of how difficult it is to be a child, any child, and trying to find your place in the world. There’s a lot to learn. When I was a child in elementary school, kids seemed to belong to very distinct groups and, at times, I didn’t fit in with any of them.
My father was an interesting and sometimes confounding role model. He seemed to be someone who had found his place in the world and had done so early. He was never out of place. He did not seem to suffer from the least bit of self-consciousness. Ever. He was an accountant and a partner at a large firm. He could talk with anyone about anything. I had seen my father begin conversations standing in line for coffee or at the grocery store. He could talk about the weather, politics, sports, traffic, cars, money, economics, dance and more. Sometimes, he spoke in a loud voice in very quiet places. He told weird jokes. What I noticed most often was that people responded well to him. As a child I found this astounding. There were times when I felt embarrassed by his behavior in a way that all children, at a certain age, are completely and unjustly horrified by their parents.
When I was in fourth grade, my father came to my class for career day. He was coming to talk to ten year-olds about accounting. In fourth grade, I knew very little about accounting other than it had to do with numbers. Also, I suspected it wasn’t a scintillating topic. Worse, my father’s appearance had been preceded by the teacher’s nephew, a NAVY jet pilot, who had spoken the week prior. Anyone would have found that a hard act to follow.
On the day of his talk, my father barreled into class and sat on the teacher’s desk. He was beaming. As our teacher introduced him as my dad, I sank a little lower in my seat.
He began by discussing Al Capone, the notorious mobster. He noted that after many failed efforts by the police and the FBI to prosecute Capone, it was ultimately a group of accountants who brought him down – for tax evasion. He talked about his work and how he was an adviser to individuals, companies and governments – some of them quite local, and included the towns where my classmates played soccer and baseball. He was riveting. At the end of class the teacher asked who wanted to be accountants when they grew up and, both surprisingly and not, several kids raised their hands.
I wasn’t one of them. When the teacher asked me directly what I wanted to be when I grew up I said I didn’t know. I needed more time to figure it out. But, in that moment, what I learned from my father was that there were many paths to becoming who you would ultimately be. By his own happy admission, my father’s path was not a straight one but it was a successful one. In thirty minutes, thirty five years ago, he conveyed something that has stayed with me for my entire life. The answer wasn’t necessarily about finding what worked for everyone else. What mattered most was that you worked hard at something with which you could feel satisfied, whatever it might be. Be true to yourself, and in that way find delight in any number of things – apparently even in unappealing things such as accounting or standing in line for coffee. Then, you would find your place. That was what he did. That was something I could do.
These days I know who I am. Someday soon, I may have the privilege of speaking to my sons’ classes about my work. I can’t wait to give them a glimpse into what I do when I mysteriously leave the house in a suit every morning.
Happy Father’s Day.
-Adam Halper, Director of The Family Center’s Legal Wellness Institute
TFC Attorney is a Front Line Hero
Posted: May 5, 2017 Filed under: Our Legal Lifeline Leave a comment
Lauren (right) with LWI Assistant Director, Caroline, after receiving her award.
On Tuesday, April 18th, Family Center Attorney Lauren Groetch was recognized by New York Nonprofit Media (NYN Media) for the outstanding legal counsel and representation that she provides to NYC residents through our Legal Wellness Institute. NYN Media inducted Lauren into their 2017 Front Line Heroes class, and The Family Center could not be prouder of Lauren and this acknowledgement of her dedication, commitment and hard work! As part of the awards ceremony, NYN Media produces a program with honorees’ bios and answers to questions that reveal their value to NYC residents and communities. Below is the program excerpt that featured Lauren.
Lauren Groetch is a staff attorney for the Legal Wellness Institute at The Family Center, where she represents vulnerable New Yorkers on matters related to family and matrimonial law, trusts and estates, benefits and housing law. Groetch is a graduate of the New York University School of Law, where she was named a Hermann Biggs Health Policy Scholar and served as the executive editor for the New York University Review of Law and social Change. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia.
What or who most inspired you to do the work you’re doing now?
LG: My whole life, I’ve been surrounded by powerful women who draw strength from doing work that they find meaningful and fulfilling. I’ve been lucky enough never to have been disabused of the idea that I should, and could, do the same.
What is the most challenging thing you’ve had to do in your job -or for a client?
LG: The wheels of justice turn slowly, and the wheels of bureaucracy even slower. For my clients with life-limiting illnesses, time is always of the essence. I work hard to get my clients what they need as quickly as possible, often with success. But my clients face so many mountains and I can’t move them all. It’s challenging to advocate for very sick clients within institutions that aren’t designed -and often aren’t able- to provide quick relief.
What career accomplishment has brought you the most joy so far?
LG: When I meet clients, they’re staring down frightening diagnoses, devastating loss and profound uncertainty.
I’m here to resolve legal problems, but my job is also to protect my clients’ dignity; to help them feel heard and respected; and to remind them of their own power in circumstances that would make anyone feel helpless.
When a client comes to me feeling ineffective and forgotten, and leaves feeling strong and important, that’s a huge accomplishment for me.
Family Is Our Middle Name 