From the Desk of...
Michelle Williams Court, Director of Ligitation
Responsiveness to the needs of low-income Los Angelinos has always been a hallmark of Bet Tzedek. With the ever changing and growing needs of our community, the ability to improve and adapt is extremely important. This winter and spring, Bet Tzedek has been busy assessing, meeting and planning for these needs through the expansion of key programs and engaging in an exciting strategic planning process.
Bet Tzedek recently embarked on a facilitated strategic planning process designed to assess current service delivery and plan for the future. This endeavor is an all-inclusive one, requiring meaningful involvement by our board, staff, volunteers and community partners. Ably facilitated by Gayle Northrop of Northrop Nonprofit Consulting, our strategic planning working group consists of our facilitator, select board members, Bet Tzedek management and Bet Tzedek staff members. This team has been hard at work designing the strategic plan itinerary, conducting interviews and focus groups and collecting information to inform two retreats that will be held this summer. At the end of this process, we expect to have developed a written strategic that will serve as a roadmap for changes, expansion and growth in the immediate and mid-range future.
Focused strategic planning is an important component of any healthy organization. So too is the ability to quickly meet changing needs. The changes brought about by the conservatorship reform legislation Bet Tzedek co-sponsored last year are due to be implemented, many of them as early as this summer. In addition, the needs of the caregiver community continue to explode. In recognition of these rapidly expanding needs, Bet Tzedek has significantly expanded our Caregiver Project concurrently with the strategic planning process. Last fall, long time Bet Tzedek staff attorney (and former volunteer) Yolande Erickson joined the project to focus exclusively on representing caregivers needing to obtain conservatorships and on local systemic issues surrounding the conservatorship process. In addition, Bet Tzedek opened a self-help conservatorship clinic in partnership with the Los Angeles Superior Court. Through the support of the State Bar Trust Fund, we were able to hire another attorney to staff the clinic, which provides much-needed technical assistance to self-represented litigants.
This is a very exciting time for all of us in the Bet Tzedek community. Our conversations with volunteers, community partners and other stakeholders have been particularly enlightening and exciting. In the months and years to come, there will continue to be many opportunities to participate in the exciting work we do. Thank you to all of you who have and will volunteer your time, expertise and resources to make Bet Tzedek the wonderful organization it is today. And thank you for your continued support and participation in what is truly an important time for our House of Justice.
Upcoming Events:
Runaways, Pirates and Divas: The Life of a Studio GC
An MCLE hosted by Bet Tzedek
June 5, 2007
More info >>
The Justice Ball 11
July 28, 2007
@ the Lot
West Hollywood
More Info >>
Volunteers Needed!:
German and Hungarian Translators
More info >>
Job Openings:
Attorney: Holocaust Restitution
Required CA Bar (or foreign equivalent) +
6 months Experience German Government. Job/Interview location: LA, CA BET TZEDEK
FAX: (323) 939-1040
Union Position
$3,717-$5,225/mo
New Staff:
Michelle Gonzalez
SOVA Advocate
Sheryl Hayashida
Staff Attorney - Self Help Clinic
Lisa Hoffman
Holocaust Services Advocate
Deyone Lane
Executive Assistant, Human Resources
Spotlight: Becky Monroe and Kevin Kish, Yale Law Super-Team
When Becky Monroe needs an expert second opinion on an urgent human trafficking case, she takes a short walk down the hall and talks to Kevin Kish. Today, they are the pioneering legal activists of Bet Tzedek’s Employment Rights Project—yet when they graduated from Yale Law, neither ever realized how closely their professional lives would intertwine.
After stellar law school careers, Becky and Kevin were top recruits at some of the nation's most prestigious private law firms. Yet because of the internationally unique work being undertaken through the Employment Rights Project, both of these exceptional attorneys chose to pursue life-changing work at Bet Tzedek. Alone among Los Angeles’ public interest firms--and in a very select minority of organizations nationwide--the ERP Project advocates for the rights and safety of low wage workers who endure minimum wage and overtime violations, hazardous working conditions, discrimination, and retaliation for speaking up.
Today, Becky Monroe is the Director of this innovative project, and Kevin Kish is the honored recipient of a two-year Skadden Fellowship that will support his advocacy for workers’ rights. Together with other Bet Tzedek advocates, they reach more than 500 low-income workers every year. Because of Becky and Kevin and the rest of the ERP team, workers in L.A. have won the right to collect nearly $4 million in earned wages over the last six years.
Equal Access to Hope and Healing
When Brandon was 19, he lost his parents in a car accident. The emotional losses he endured impacted every aspect of his world--inlcuding a relapse of the severe chronic depression he'd grappled with throughout high school. He desperately needed time away from his job as a security guard to seek the care he needed. However, State disability insurance benefits only allowed for only three weeks away from work.
With his benefits about to be terminated and unable to return to work, Brandon felt more alone than ever before. He was desperate and exhausted and teffified of losing the job and benefits he needed to survive. He knew he didn't have the specialized skill to appeal his case, and he could never afford the cost of a private attorney.
When he met with Bet Tzedek law clerk Jaclyn Rosenson, Brandon at last had someone by his side. Jaclyn helped Brandon explain his circumstances to the court, and fought vigorously until the pair succeeded.
Today, Brandon's state disability insurance benefits are reinstated, and he has the health care and benefits to help his recover. Jaclyn has shared what she's learned with other attorneys working to ensure that low income people with mental health issues receive the care and benefits to which they're entitled.
Bet Tzedek Sabbath, A Weekend of Awareness, May 11 - 13
On the weekend of Friday, May 11th to Sunday, May 13th, we are excited to celebrate Bet Tzedek Sabbath, a Weekend of Awareness, in coordination with local clergy. Bet Tzedek Board members and staff will visit Los Angeles congregations and speak to congregants about Bet Tzedek’s free legal services and volunteer opportunities.
This year, nearly twenty Southland synagogues and churches (listed below) will participate in Bet Tzedek Sabbath, helping us to reach nearly 10,000 congregants. We hope to see you at one of these services.
Bet Tzedek Sabbath Participants:
Adat Ari El
Beth Jacob of Beverly Hills
B’nai Horim
Congregation Kol Ami
Congregation Mishkon Tephilo
LA Hillel Council
Leo Baeck Temple
Nachshon
Ohr HaTorah
Sinai Temple
Temple Aliyah
Temple Beth Am
Temple Emanuel
Temple Isaiah
Temple Israel of Hollywood
Temple Judea
UCLA Hillel
USC Hillel
Valley Beth Shalom
(In formation)
More Information:
If you need any further information about the event, please contact Matt Scelza, Bet Tzedek Development Director, at (323) 549-5813 or mscelza@bettzedek.org.
$2.7 million raised. 1,434 attendees. Three outstanding honorees. One memorable evening.
Bet Tzedek’s 19th Annual Dinner Gala set an astounding new $2.7 million fundraising landmark for legal services organizations in the U.S. Nearly 1,500 guests packed the ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza to celebrate Bet Tzedek’s pioneering accomplishments.
The evening also recognized the innovative contributions to public interest law and social justice undertaken by three distinguished honorees: Marc H. Gamsin (The Luis Lainer Founder’s Award), the Milken Family Foundation (The Rose L. Schiff Commitment to Justice Award) and Spencer Lord (The Jack H. Skirball Community Justice Award).
Rabbi Uri Herscher movingly described the life of his friend Jack Skirball. The Skirball Community Justice Award will be awarded annually to the Bet Tzedek employee who most embodies the values of Jack Skirball.
Jay Wintrob introduced his friend Marc Gamsin, while Art Bilger did the honors for Mike Milken, who accepted on behalf of the Milken Family Foundation.
We’ll see you on January 22, 2008 for next year’s 20th Annual Dinner Gala.
Bet Tzedek Gets A Facelift
In our continuing efforts to deliver the most thorough and valuable information possible, we are redesigning our Bet Tzedek website to service even more people in our community including advocates and clients who increasingly look to the internet for help. We are expanding our base of legal information available online and will now be offering enhanced and comprehensive information on our programs and services, including dowloadable consumer guides and legal forms.
The new website is expected to launch in June 2007. Look for the email announcement and we'll invite you to take a tour - we know you'll love it!
This month, Bet Tzedek's pioneering work has been recognized with grants in support of the following innovative projects:
The Annenberg Foundation
($50,000 in support of Senior Legal Services)
The Archstone Foundation
($50,000 in support of Nursing Home Advocacy Project)
Jewish Family Services Alleviating Jewish Poverty Initiative
($50,000 in support of legal clinics at SOVA food pantries)
Runaways, Pirates and Divas: The Life of a Studio GC
Where: Fox Studios (10201 W. Pico Blvd. LA 90035)
When: June 5, 2007 (6pm reception; 7pm Panel Discussion)
Who:
Maren Christensen, NBC/Universal
Scott Packman, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Gary D. Roberts, Fox Entertainment Group
John Schulman, Warner Bros.
Leah Weil, Sony Pictures Entertainment
What: A panel discussion on the professional responsibility of attorneys and Q&A session with five of the entertainment industry's leading lawyers.
How much: $75 for the MCLE event; $150 for the Pre-Reception and MCLE
Attendees will receive .5 hours of ethics credit and .5 hours of general MCLE Credit.
Bet Tzedek is a State Bar of California approved MCLE provider
Welcome New Board Members
Gerald S. Freisleben,
President
Foley Freisleben LLC
During a career spanning nearly 20 years, he has directed corporate counseling, investor relations and communications programs for a wide range of prominent corporations and nonprofit organizations. He additionally has a deep breadth of background in issue- and crisis-management communications across a continuum of industries, and as the strategist of initiatives to build or restore organizational reputations and brands. Freisleben provides communications counsel in support of litigation, transactions, restructurings, labor relations and product recalls, among other matters.
The firm that bears his name serves clients in industries that include: financial services, real estate development, the professions, health care, restaurant and hospitality, gaming and entertainment, Internet and advanced technology, and nonprofits. Current and past clients include: Bank of America Investment Real Estate; Boeing Capital Corporation; two subsidiaries of The Prudential; Mandalay Casinos & Resorts; First Regional Bancorp; Calavo Growers; Pinkerton; and Dick Clark Productions. The company also led key reputation-management assignments for Sizzler International in the aftermath of an e. Coli outbreak at a number of the restaurant chain’s units.
Prior to establishing his own consultancy, Freisleben rose to a senior executive post in the Los Angeles office of a leading international public relations agency, where he directed the corporate/business-to-business practice group and became the youngest vice president in that firm’s history. His investor and corporate relations clients were Pittston Co. and its subsidiary, Burlington Air Express (now BAX Global), Western Federal Savings and Loan, Price Waterhouse (now Pricewaterhouse Coopers), Western Airlines, First Brands division of Union Carbide and MTM Enterprises. He also worked on issue-oriented corporate communications programs for companies such as Bristol Myers Squibb related to its over-the-counter introduction of ibuprofen.
Freisleben is the recipient of numerous awards for his professional work, including the 2006 Bronze Anvil Award from the Public Relations Society of America for the outstanding corporate annual report in the United States. He served as a member of the marketing advisory board of the Jewish Community Foundation, one of Southern California’s largest grant-giving philanthropies and on development and the major-gifts committee at Curtis School. Previously, he was active on the board of Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Youth Foundation, assisting the department in the creation of a program to counsel and aid victims of gang violence and their families.
Freisleben earned an A.B. degree in English literature from the University of California at Berkeley, where he had the distinction of delivering the commencement address to his graduating class.
Jeffrey Sklar, Esq.
Loeb & Loeb LLP
Jeffrey A. Sklar is an attorney in the Corporate Department of Loeb & Loeb LLP (Loeb). Sklar practices in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, commercial finance and real estate transactions. His clients range from businesses raising initial rounds of financing to major institutions.
Sklar has been actively involved at Bet Tzedek since 2002, helping raise more than $1.2 million through Bet Tzedek's summer concert event, The Justice Ball. Sklar served as a member on The Justice Ball planning committee for one year before stepping into a leadership role in 2003 as an event co-chair.
Before joining Loeb in 2003, Sklar was a member of the Corporate Department of Alschuler, Grossman, Stein & Kahan LLP. Prior to his career in law, Sklar worked as a Marketing Manager for SunAmerica and as a Communications Manager for George magazine.
Sklar graduated with a B.A. in Journalism from Michigan State University in 1994. He received his J.D. cum laude and Order of the Coif from Loyola Law School of Los Angeles in 2001. Sklar lives in the Los Angeles area with his wife and two children.
Leah Weil, Esq.
General Counsel
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Leah Weil is Corporate Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE). Appointed General Counsel on April 1, 2001, Ms. Weil is the Company’s most senior legal advisor and the head of its law department. Ms. Weil oversees all legal matters relating to SPE and its operating divisions worldwide, including motion pictures, television, home entertainment and digital entertainment. In addition, Ms. Weil oversees the Company’s Labor Relations and Music Affairs departments and serves as the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer.
Ms. Weil joined SPE in 1996 and served as Senior Counsel. She was promoted to Vice President, Legal Affairs, in 1997; to Senior Vice President, Legal Affairs and Deputy General Counsel, in 1998; and to Executive Vice President, Legal Affairs, in 2000.
Before joining SPE, Ms. Weil was in private practice in her own firm. Prior to forming her own firm, Ms. Weil was with the Los Angeles based law firm Hill, Wynne, Troop and Meisinger, where she served as outside counsel to SPE and its predecessor companies on corporate transactions.
Ms. Weil graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles. She received her J.D. degree cum laude from the University of California’s Hastings College of Law. Ms. Weil lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband and two children.