The Center for Reproductive Rights’ Asia Legal Program is currently seeking pro bono assistance for a range of projects. The Center is an international non-governmental organization that uses constitutional, comparative and international human rights law to advance women’s reproductive rights. As part of its initiative to litigate cases on behalf of women who have experienced violations of their reproductive rights, the Center will organize the first ever South Asia Reproductive Rights Case Development Workshop in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The Center is currently seeking pro bono partners to collaborate with in developing these country-specific litigation tools for this training. Please feel free to email [email protected] directly with any questions, or if you might be interested in taking on a project. This sheet provides relevant information about projects currently available.
Drum Major for Justice Advocacy Competition
MetLife and the National Bar Association (NBA), announces the launch of the NBA 2012 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major for Justice Advocacy Competition–an event designed to introduce high school junior and senior students of color to oral and written advocacy. The participants of the competition have the opportunity to win over $25,000 in scholarships and prizes.
Find more details about the competition here or follow on Facebook.
AALDEF: Report from 2012 Gala
February 10, 2012 – CNN Host Fareed Zakaria, Yale Law School Professor Jean Koh Peters, and Parkin Lee of The Rockefeller Group were honored with the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund’s (AALDEF) 2012 Justice in Action Awards on February 8, 2012.
Juju Chang, Emmy Award-winning correspondent for ABC News Nightline, and Sree Sreenivasan, Dean of Student Affairs and digital media professor at Columbia Journalism School, were the co-emcees for the banquet, with Daily Show correspondent, actor, and master of satire Aasif Mandvi as the special guest. Chang and Sreenivasan, both long time supporters of AALDEF, began by sharing their highlights of the past year, from Chang’s interviews with celebrities like Celine Dion to Sreenivasan’s ambush by right-wing activist James O’Keefe.
Over 800 leaders in civil rights, law, business, and the arts attended the ceremony at Pier Sixty in New York City. Among the guests were past Justice in Action Award recipients including actor BD Wong, AB Cruz III, Harold Koh, Sandra Leung, and Don Liu. Elected officials and judges were also part of the crowd, including New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, U.S. Circuit Judge Denny Chin, and Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, who currently graces the cover of TIME magazine (leading emcee Sreenivasan to joke that his celebrity factor was compensation for New York Knicks player Jeremy Lin’s absence.)
AALDEF Executive Director Margaret Fung wished the audience a happy lunar new year and reminded them of the necessity of their support. “There are reports of the NYPD’s targeting of Muslims and South Asians under the guise of national security,” said Fung. “Just this week, the Superbowl featured a racist political ad by Republican candidate Pete Hoekstra mocking Chinese people. So in the Year of the Dragon, we have our work cut out for us.”
The power of the immigrant experience in the United States was a theme throughout all three acceptance speeches. “We are creating the first universal nation,” said honoree Fareed Zakaria. “Ten years before I became a citizen, I began using the word ‘we’ to describe the United States. There isn’t a country like this where people from all over the world come and are entirely included in the process.” (View clip on YouTube)
Parkin Lee, former president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Law Foundation and Vice President of The Rockefeller Group, spoke about his childhood growing up in a Chinese hand laundry after World War II. “This country was built on the strength and creativity of immigrants who came here and made lives for themselves,” said Lee.
Honoree Jean Koh Peters, the renowned children’s rights and immigrants’ rights scholar, reminded the audience of the value of public service. “Never let your skill exceed your virtue,” Peters said.
The night ended with Aasif Mandvi’s hilarious and deeply politically incorrect stand-up. “I thought they were filming this portion of the show for Comedy Central, but really it’s for the NYPD,” he began. Mandvi added, “AALDEF is at the forefront of fighting for the rights of Muslim Americans. If you believe that all Americans should live in a free and equal society – and I can’t imagine why you would – then please support the organization.”
Since 1987, AALDEF has awarded the Justice in Action Award to exceptional individuals for their efforts in advancing social justice and human rights for Asian Americans. Past Justice in Action Award recipients include the late civil rights icons Fred Korematsu and Gordon Hirabayashi, David Henry Hwang, Mira Nair, Deval Patrick, Salman Rushdie, Seymour Hersh, Charles Ogletree, Jr., Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, Harry Belafonte, Juan Gonzalez, Margaret Cho, and Yoko Ono.
The Rockefeller Group was a 2012 Justice Circle sponsor.
All proceeds from the Lunar New Year Gala will go directly towards supporting AALDEF’s legal and educational programs in immigrant rights, economic justice for workers, voting rights and civic participation, affirmative action, language access to services, youth rights and educational equity, housing and environmental justice, Census policy, and the elimination of hate violence, police misconduct, and human trafficking.
View video clips from the awards at the Justice in Action webpage >
Please credit the following images to Lia Chang.
For more information, photos, videos, and updates, visit our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter.
Contact:
Ujala Sehgal
(P) 212.966.5932 ex.217
© 646.207.1497
[email protected]
2012 WFPG NY MENTORING FAIR
Wednesday, February 22nd, 6 – 9 p.m.
New York University
Kimmel Center for University Life, 10th Floor
60 Washington Sq. South, New York, NY
Women’s Foreign Policy Group Mentoring Fairs provide an opportunity for students and young professionals to meet with international affairs professionals and learn from their career experiences. Unlike a career fair, the focus is on entering and succeeding in international career fields, not just opportunities at particular companies. This year we are cosponsoring the event with New York University.
Mentors are mid- to senior-level women and men working in international affairs who want to sit down with aspiring leaders to give career guidance and practical advice. Sectors include international development, NGOs, human rights, international law, international health, international business, diplomatic service, the UN, journalism, and communications.
Join as a mentor, register as a student, or just find out more at [email protected]
Building Our Legacy: The Murder of Vincent Chin – A Trial Reenactment
Thursday, February 16, 20126:00 – 9:00 PM
Fordham Law School,
140 West 62nd Street
South Lounge, Lowenstein Cafeteria.
The Vincent Chin Trial Reenactment is part of a series of historic Asian American trials, which Judge Denny Chin has edited and adapted from actual court transcripts. The public outcry and media attention surrounding the trial prosecuting the murderers of Vincent Chin served to catalyze the birth of the modern Asian American civil rights movement. Come see Fordham APALSA’s production of this historic trial, which will be accompanied by a reception and Q&A discussion with Judge Denny Chin.
Please RSVP using this link.
KAPA presents: What Happened to Danny Chen?
Last October, Private Danny Chen was found dead in a guard tower in Afghanistan, allegedly from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Although admitting that Pvt. Chen was subject to daily physical abuse and race-based hazing by his superior officers and comrades, the military initially provided little information about its investigation to the grieving Chen family. This changed only after Organization of Chinese Americans-NY Chapter (OCA-NY) spearheaded a tremendous organizing and advocacy campaign to bring justice to Pvt. Chen and his family. Eight soldiers are now facing charges ranging from dereliction of duty to involuntary manslaughter in connection with his death.
On Wednesday, February 15, KAPA will host a speaker series event featuring OCA-NY President Liz OuYang and Board member Esther Choi. They will speak about the history of this case, the likelihood that those responsible for Pvt. Chen’s death will be brought to justice, civil rights issues and lessons learned for the Asian American community, and next steps.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Arnold & Porter LLP
399 Park Avenue (between 53rd & 54th Streets)
SEATING IS LIMITED. RSVP BY FEBRUARY 13
RSVP via Facebook here or email KAPA Steering Committee member Jennifer Kim at [email protected].
NAPABA to Members: Take the Lead in ABA
NAPABA to Members: Take the Lead in ABA
NAPABA encourages its members to apply for leadership positions within the American Bar Association so that APAs are well-represented in the ABA. If you are interested or know of anyone who would be, let NAPABA know by February 15. Click on the link for details.
SAVE THE DATE: MARCH 21, 2012 AT ST. JOHN’S LAW SCHOOL
Hi,
The Queens County Women’s Bar Association (QCWBA) is currently planning a night of speed mentoring. This program will allow law students and new graduates to speak with various practicing attorneys for several minutes each about particular areas of practice, networking, job search tips and the like.
This one evening program is scheduled for March 21, 2012 at St. John’s University School of Law. Currently, the St. John’s University School of Law’s Career Development Office is co-sponsoring the event.
If any experienced practicing attorneys in this group are interested in doing the same, or if you know any new graduate mentees, please contact me at the e-mail or number provided below.
Also, if you or anyone you know are willing to also co-sponsor this event, please contact Soma Syed at [email protected] or 347-512-5052.
I would appreciate it if the members can forward this email to other organizations that they think would benefit from this program.
More information to follow.
We look forward to your participation!
Soma S. Syed, Esq.
QCWBA, Board Member and
Diversity Committee Co-Chair
A Journey Through the Pipeline: Identifying Challenges and Improving Diversity and Inclusion In the Legal Profession
Thursday, March 15, 2012 | 1:45 – 7:00p.m. | 4 NY/NJ CLE Credits
Join academics, practitioners, members of the bench, students, and others for a thoughtful program that examines the challenges the legal profession faces as it strives to increase the number of practicing minority attorneys.
This program has been approved by the Board on Continuing Legal Education of the Supreme Court of New Jersey for 4 hours of total CLE credit. Of these, 2.5 hours qualify as hours of credit for ethics/professionalism, and 1.5 qualify as hours of credit toward certification in Constitutional Law and Law Practice Management.
Event contact: Denise Pinney, [email protected].