Thank you to our 2015 grantors!
The Rhode Island Center for Justice thanks its inaugural grantors for their support in this critical time!
Our deepest gratitude goes out to:
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development
The Dexter Donation Fund
Rhode Island Association for Justice Endowment Fund
The United Way of Rhode Island
Through our partnerships with community groups, we are working in areas where legal need is greatest and giving new lawyers the training and mentorship they need as we seek to increase access to justice for low-income Rhode Islanders. Without the generous financial support of individuals and these foundations our work would not be possible. Consider that in the first year the Center for Justice has:
- Launched three pilot programs in partnership with community groups:
- The Wage Justice Project, an initiative with Fuerza Laboral to help workers fight back against workplace exploitation and wage theft;
- The Lifeline Project, working with the George Wiley Center to prevent utility termination for medically vulnerable Rhode Islanders;
- The Tenant Advocacy Project, a collaboration with the Community Action Partnership of Providence (CAPP) to ensure safe housing for our clients.
- Provided legal assistance including consultations, brief advice and counseling, and full legal representation to more than 300 low-income households.
- Claimed over $200,000 in unpaid wages and benefits on behalf of low-wage workers who have suffered minimum wage and overtime violations.
- Pioneered the exercise of consumer rights in utility termination proceedings before the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers and through appeals to Rhode Island Superior Court.
- Filed a major lawsuit against the public utility and state regulatory agency on behalf of low-income, medically vulnerable utility consumers whose rights have been violated.
- Represented immigrant children deemed eligible for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, preventing them from being deported back to countries torn by violence, abuse, and poverty.
- Bolstered the capacity of our community partners by adding legal services to their toolkits.
- Recruited paid post-graduate fellows from Brooklyn Law School and Columbia Law School, expanding our capacity to serve the Rhode Island community while training more new lawyers in public interest law.