CCBA’s DEI Committee is partnering with VPS and looking for volunteers!

By Courtney Mendoza (she/her)

The CCBA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee has been diligently working with folks within the Vancouver Public School (VPS) District to better connect the education system with the justice system in a positive way, help break down barriers, and promote equitable access to justice in a number of ways. At this time, the Committee has the following two primary goals.

First, the Committee is in the process of jumpstarting a “Street Law” type of program in our local schools. The Committee is still working out the details of what this program will look like for our students in Clark County; but they were inspired by the international and well-respected organization called Street Law, Inc., who just celebrated their 50th anniversary last year in 2022. (https://streetlaw.org/). “In 1972, a small group of visionary law students at Georgetown University Law Center developed an experimental curriculum to teach District of Columbia high school students about law and the legal system. The lessons were an immediate success, and, responding to their practical nature, the high school students called them ‘Street Law.’ The name stuck. The efforts of [the] founding law students launched a movement to teach ordinary people about law and government using student-centered, interactive teaching methods. Street Law, Inc. was born from this movement and has been a leader in the field for more than five decades.” More information will be shared as the DEI Committee develops the local program alongside folks with VPS.

Second, the Committee is gathering a running list of volunteers who would be willing to speak at local schools and/or participate on panels to discuss their specific profession and/or legal topics as needed and organized by local teachers. Depending upon how many volunteers are received, the goal would be for a teacher to be able to review a resource list; select the attorney/judicial professional(s) within the specific practice area needed (if any preference); and email the potential volunteer(s) with the requested date, time, and detailed summary of that teacher’s needs (panel speaker, individual speaker, topic, etc.). The attorney/judicial professional(s) would then respond if they are available and willing to commit to volunteer, or alternatively if they will be unavailable to volunteer. As the Spring Semester is quickly upon us, and teachers are requesting potential volunteers (especially for their Constitutional year-end project for Seniors), the Committee is seeking the Clark County Legal Community’s help in compiling that resource list.

Please reach out to Deb Wechselblatt, DEI Committee Chair (Deb.Wechselblatt@clark. wa.gov) or to Lisa Darco, CCBA’s Executive Director (ccbamanager@ccbawashington. org) if you’re interested in being added to the resource list of volunteers and stay tuned for more information!