Asian American Bar Association & New York Law School Host CLE Program Focused on Confronting Poverty in the Asian Pacific American Community on Nov. 18, 7pm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                           
November 18, 2014

Contact: Yang Chen, Executive Director, (718) 228-7206
Nancy Guida, (212) 431-2872

NEW YORK – November 18, 2014 – The Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY), the Racial Justice Project of the Impact Center for Public Interest Law at New York Law School (NYLS), and the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association at NYLS are hosting a Continuing Legal Education (CLE) program, “Shattering the Model Minority Myth: Asian Pacific Americans Facing Poverty in New York City” at New York Law School. The program will take place on November 18, 2014 from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at 185 West Broadway, New York, NY 10013 in Room W401. A reception with light refreshments will precede the program.

Although Asian-/Pacific-Americans (APAs) have often been portrayed as well assimilated, “well off,” and successful, and considered a “model minority,” in reality many APAs experience significant socio-economic challenges. This CLE program and discussion forum will address the changing demographics and needs of the burgeoning APA population in New York City, as well as policies affecting the APA community’s access to language assistance and governmental benefits and services.  The program will also present legal tools and resources to enable law school students and members of the bar to offer pro bono or low-cost legal assistance to low or fixed-income members of this community.

The program will be moderated by Karen Kithan Yau, Esq., Co-chair of AABANY’s Government Service and Public Interest Committee (GSPIC).  Speakers include Wei Hu, Esq., Deputy Director of Policy and Research, Family Independence Administration (FIA), NYC Human Resources Administration / Department of Social Services (HRA); Hon. Lydia C. Lai, J.H.C., Kings County Housing Court Judge; Kavita Pawria-Sanchez, Esq., Assistant Commissioner, NYC Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Affairs; and Grace Shim, Executive Director of MinKwon Center for Community Action.  This program will offer a total of 1.5 credits (both transitional and non-transitional).

The exciting collaboration between AABANY and NYLS aims to bring under-addressed issues to law students and the larger legal community, and to engage members of the bar in meaningful pro bono work.

_

For more information, please contact Yang Chen, AABANY Executive Director, at (718) 228-7206, or direct any inquiries to [email protected], or contact Nancy Guida at (212) 431-2872.

About New York Law School

Founded in 1891, New York Law School (NYLS) is an independent law school located in the heart of New York City’s legal, government, financial, and emerging tech centers. Known as “New York’s law school,” NYLS embraces the City as its classroom by complementing a rigorous legal education with an innovative and diverse set of “uniquely New York” experiential learning opportunities. Since opening our doors nearly 125 years ago, we have produced graduates who have gone on to hold high elected and appointed office in the City, lead large and small firms, and gain broad recognition as captains of business and industry. Our renowned faculty of prolific scholars has built the School’s strength in such areas as constitutional law, civil and human rights, business and finance law, media and information law, tax law, real estate, and a number of interdisciplinary fields. NYLS has more than 17,000 graduates and currently enrolls approximately 1,000 full-time and part-time students in its J.D. program. The Law School also offers advanced-degree programs in American Business Law and Tax Law. Learn more about New York’s law school at www.nyls.edu.

About AABANY

The Asian American Bar Association of New York is a professional membership organization of attorneys concerned with issues affecting the Asian Pacific American community.  Incorporated in 1989, AABANY seeks not only to encourage the professional growth of its members but also to advocate for the Asian Pacific American community as a whole.  AABANY is the New York regional affiliate of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA).

###

Additional information about AABANY is available at www.aabany.org

Follow our blog at www.blog.aabany.org

Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/aabany

Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aabany

Find us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/aabany