Post Date: November 3, 2006
On Saturday, October 28, the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau hosted a panel discussion on poverty law challenges after Hurricane Katrina. The focus of the conversation was on the continuing needs of people and organizations in the Gulf Coast region after the massive hurricane devastation. Panel members recognized both immediate and long-term needs, and encouraged the audience to donate their time and money to relief efforts.
According to members of the panel, many of whom were HLAB alumni, the effects of Hurricane Katrina have been far-reaching and varied throughout the region. Issues such as the broken infrastructure of communities, health consequences for clean-up volunteers, litigation with FEMA regarding response efforts, and civil rights violations toward African-American citizens trying to relocate in other cities were all discussed by the panel, with various proposals and solutions suggested.
Following the discussion was a presentation of the Distingued Alunmi Awards, which honors career achievement in public service. HLAB alums who received acknowledgment were Associate Professor and director of the Community Law Clinic at Stanford Law School, Juliet Brodie ’91, Will Gunn ’86, the current president and CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington, and Professor Peter Murray ’67, the first faculty director of HLAB.
“They are truly inspiring individuals who had clearly treasured their experience at the Bureau above anything else they had done at the law school,” said Julie Park (3L), in recognition of both Brodie and Gunn’s commitment and dedication to HLAB.
For further information regarding the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau, please visit their website.