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What are the nominee’s specific achievements that have demonstrated the ability to promote and achieve social justice in Marin? State why these achievements are considered extraordinary and how the nominee overcame obstacles.

Legal Aid of Marin is an organization that has expanded the concept of social justice by changing the framework of social justice. With the help of their newest Executive Director, Paul Cohen they have started a number of valuable programs for our community.

Medical-Legal Partnership, a joint partner-ship between Legal Aid of Marin and the Marin Community Clinics was launched just this last February. The partnership provides patients of the Clinics access to justice through referrals initiated by the medical staff. The goal is to address the health of the patients including those legal issues that may be negatively impacting the patient’s health. The clients may not have even thought of obtaining the other service without the partnerships connection. Legal Aid of Marin provides these services at the clinics on Tuesday afternoons in Novato and Wednesday afternoons in Greenbrae. They plan on expanding these services to San Rafael at the new Clinic offices on Kerner Boulevard once they open in 2008.

Bi-national Health Week. This is an outreach opportunity to bring health issues and services to the disadvantaged and underprivileged of Marin County. The 2007 events were held at the Bahia Vista School in the Canal, the San Geronimo Community Center, the Marin City Health & Wellness Center, the Dance Palace in Point Reyes Station and at the Novato Salsa Festival. Legal Aid participated with the twelve agencies that comprise the Marin Justice Center. This month long celebration represents a unique opportunity to engage the community.

Responding to the needs of our community with the current financial crisis the “Sub-Prime” loans have created, Legal Aid put together a workshop, both in English and Spanish, to address the fears of their affected clients. Fears such as, will I be put in jail if I don’t make my payments on time, were addressed among other concerns. This first workshop had a great response so Legal Aid is planning one or more community workshop(s) in conjunction with the Marin Justice Center.

Homeless Outreach Project. This project is designed to bring free legal services to individuals and families on a regular basis in coordination with the agencies that serve the homeless most directly (Ritter Center, Homeward Bound and the St. Vincent DePaul Society). Legal Aid of Marin participated in the Marin Homeless Count when over 1,200 homeless individuals and families were counted. Legal Aid offered legal services as an incentive to participate in the Count. This was held at St. Vincent De Paul’s Dining Hall in San Rafael on Jan. 31, 2007. They organized over twenty volunteers to provide legal services to those who participated. Thirty three individuals received free legal advice that day with follow-up. Nine citations or misdemeanors were expunged as a result of the participation of the Marin Public Defender’s Office. They also helped organize the first Marin Project Homeless Connect held on Dec. 5, 2007 serving forty-five individuals on that occasion. The majority of those cases were resolved within a few weeks of the event and many were successfully referred to the volunteer attorneys that participated.

The immigrant population has also benefited from the legal services of Legal Aid of Marin. They are part of a team that responded throughout Marin County to the raids or the fear of raids by immigration authorities. Legal Aid served a total of 1,250 clients in 2006 and over 1,400 clients in 2007. Approximately 35% of those clients were Latino or other ethnic immigrants. They are seeing and helping more people each day. Almost half of Legal Aid of Marin’s staff is bi-lingual in Spanish and English with many others taking Spanish language classes. This is being encouraged and supported by management, making them more accessible and valuable to the immigrant population.

Toys for Joys. This was held in San Geronimo for children under 14. Donated toys were handed out to the local less fortunate children. Paul Cohen participated this last year, giving him the opportunity to get to know the ranchers and let them know what services are available to the ranch workers through Legal Aid of Marin in an approachable manner. Cio Hernandez was also involved.

Older Adults Get Special Attention in how they qualify for Legal Aid’s services and the way their legal matters are pursued. Financial elder abuse is brought to their attention and they have the option of making a referral to the appropriate authorities, bringing the matter to the Financial Abuse Expert Team co-created by Legal Aid or pursuing pro bono counsel to be retained by the older adult. Legal Aid also participates in the education of the community through Seniors Against Investment Fraud. This program reached over 800 older adults in Marin in 2007.

Overcoming Obstacles- They overcome their obstacles by addressing the issues they face directly such as immigration, racism and classism. Paul Cohen feels their greatest need is a strategy to address the special needs of the immigrant population. This would help level the playing field in Marin.

Feasibility Study Concludes- Legal Aid of Marin conducted a feasibility study to determine the best way to assist immigrants and the community to engage in civic participation. The strongest prospect is the creation of a dignified physical space(s) for workers to receive current and accurate information about available resources, participate in customized education and training related to community integration and civic participation (e.g., vocational, employment, literacy, health, legal), and share and exchange ideas and concerns.

All of the above is a demonstration of over- coming obstacles in a county where many of the people needing their services are not recognized by the general public.

What role did the nominee play in promoting social justice to address a critical community issue? What is different in the Marin community as a result of the nominee’s work?

They provided another place besides Canal Alliance for the immigrant community to go for legal concerns. Legal Aid of Marin focuses on the civil rights of people. They help those facing their fears and legal dilemmas. They take the hosting approach, providing information in a format that is easy to understand and fits the needs of the community, with affordable resources.

How have the nominee’s achievements advanced the mission of the Marin Community Foundation?

Legal Aid of Marin’s mission is to improve social justice, economic opportunity and to assure due process and equal protection of the law, by providing low-income and vulnerable Marin residents with access to high-quality, effective legal services, including direct representation and pro per support services, as well as through affirmative litigation. They help people have a voice, in particular those that normally would not know how to stand up for themselves, and demand social justice.

4) Have the nominee’s achievements in promoting social justice received any other type of significant recognition? Why do you feel this award would be an appropriate form of recognition?

Legal Aid of Marin was one of twenty organizations nominated in 2007 for the Center for Volunteer and Non-Profit Leadership’s Heart of Marin Awards in the category of Achievement in Non-Profit Excellence.

Legal Aid has also been recognized twice by the Marin County Human Rights Commission as part of their Humanitarian Award. The first time was for Roy Chernus, the former Executive Director, for his tireless work in the community and particularly in advocating for affordable housing. This year, the Commission is recognizing Paul Cohen for his role in the creation of the Marin Medical-Legal Partnership.

Any recognition that would increase the visibility of promoting social justice is desperately needed in Marin. The Marin Community Foundation’s Beryl Buck Award for Achievement is one of the most prestigious awards and would secure the respect this organization needs and deserves.