2016
Annual Report Practice . Teach . Improve
A message from the President & CEO and Board Chair Friends, We are honored to share with you our 2016 Annual Report. As you will see, it was a powerful year of advocacy - in courts across the state, in conference rooms and training centers and in the halls of the Capitol. Our staff spoke up on behalf of millions of New Yorkers securing for them the care, services and protections under law they so desperately need and so rightly deserve. We worked on behalf of the transgender community as we all began to confront the harsh new realities of our national discourse. We stood shoulder to shoulder with immigrants and New Americans as they struggled for acceptance and legal recognition. We spoke up on behalf of low wage workers in need of transportation assistance and for those whose health coverage was at risk. We worked tirelessly throughout the year driven by our steadfast belief in the rule of law and the power the law has to provide protection, ensure equal treatment and offer support to those in need. We continue to fulfill our mission of making the law work for those who need its protection the most. And now we take another moment to thank you - our friends and supporters - without whom none of this would be possible.
Anne Erickson President and CEO
Edward F. Premo, II, Esq. Board Chair
Empire Justice Center 2016 Board of Directors Edward F. Premo II, Esq., Chair Harter Secrest & Emery LLP
Odette Belton, Esq. Monroe County Public Defender
JoAnn Smith, Vice Chair Law Office of Sandra Rivera, PLLC
Nancy Engelhardt Energeia Partnership at Molloy College
Michael T. Harren, Esq., Treasurer Trevett Cristo Salzer & Andolina
Lynn Levey, Esq. Syracuse University College of Law
Sara Valencia, Esq., Secretary City of Rochester
L. Theresa Macon
Raymond Brescia, Chair of External Affairs Albany Law School
Jim Rahmlow Mengel, Metzger, Barr & Co. LLP
Deborah P. Amory, Ph.D Empire State College
All directors serve as volunteers.
Leadership Team Anne Erickson, President and CEO Bryan Hetherington, Chief Counsel Lori McCormick, Chief Financial Officer
Kristin Brown, VP for Policy and Governmental Relations Kristi Hughes, VP for Administration and Development
We Make the Law Work
We Practice the Law
Secured rights and essential assistance for immigrants Everyone should have access to basic life essentials—food, water, shelter. Mr. Karamalla left his home country of Sudan and came to the U.S. under Temporary Protected Status (TPS). This immigration status is a form of humanitarian relief for noncitizens residing in the U.S., when their home countries have experienced a devastating natural disaster or are embroiled in violent conflict. However, for decades the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) has not allowed immigrants with this humanitarian status to be eligible for ongoing public assistance and SNAP benefits (Safety Net Assistance). We found this to be a violation of both the U.S. and New York State Constitutions and brought a lawsuit on behalf of Mr. Karamalla, arguing that people with this immigration status should be eligible for this essential assistance, just as they are eligible for Medicaid. The Erie County Supreme Court agreed, stating that the denial is “arbitrary and capricious.” The Court ordered OTDA to begin allowing individuals with this status to receive Safety Net Assistance. It is estimated that there are thousands of immigrants with this immigration status living in New York, and approximately 6,772 that were not receiving Safety Net Assistance for which they are now eligible.
Responded to an immediate need for a marginalized community Everyone has a right to have identity documents that accurately reflect who they are. For transgender people this right is not guaranteed, and the impact can be debilitating or even deadly. After the election, our LGBT Rights attorney was inundated with requests for help with legal name changes and amended IDs. Empire Justice advocates quickly put together Name and Gender Change clinics, helping transgender clients successfully obtain court ordered name changes. Pro bono attorneys also helped them secure judicial protections to permanently seal their court records and waive the requirement to publish their name and home address in a local newspaper. Such protections are critical to ensuring safety. However, many folks don’t know that they have a right to request these protections, or are denied access to them when filing without an attorney. With our assistance, transgender clients are able to easily overcome unnecessary, demoralizing and degrading barriers, and are able to move forward with their lives with identity documents that accurately reflect who they are. Additionally, we trained attorneys across Upstate New York on basic transgender cultural competency and how to handle name change cases for transgender clients. This essential component will have a long-lasting impact by drastically increasing the number of attorneys who can respectfully and effectively assist this highly marginalized community across the state.
Helped New Americans find safety, dignity, and respect in New York State People should be able to live their lives free from danger and violence but, in certain areas of the world, this is not possible. James* and his family were persecuted—his own father murdered—in his home country. He was forced to flee for his life. So he did what many of our ancestors and family members have done: he came to the U.S. to find safety, dignity, and respect. Empire Justice helped him avoid deportation, and gain asylum and safety. He’s now restarting his career as a medical professional in New York State. And James isn’t the only success story. Just in the past year: • We helped hundreds of new Americans to naturalize, adjust their immigration status, and become citizens; • We assisted immigrant victims of crime in finding counseling, understanding their rights, and communicating with law enforcement; and • We promoted policies at the state level that safeguard public benefits for eligible immigrants, ensuring that everyone in our community has access to basic life essentials.
Individual Legal Aid
During 2016 Empire Justice provided civil legal aid directly to individuals in these areas of law:
Enhanced Capacity Empire Justice provided 149 trainings to attorneys and nonprofit advocates, benefiting over 6,853 participants in a variety of legal areas:
Benefits Civil Rights Consumer Disability Advocacy Domestic Violence Employment Health Housing Immigration LGBT Rights
Know Your Rights In 2016 Empire Justice:
4,460
Provided community members education and information regarding their legal rights concerning: Consumer, Foreclosure Prevention, Health, Immigration, LGBT, Public Benefits and Workers’ Rights
1,374
Trained DV and LGBT rights advocates so that they can better assist their clients.
We Teach the Law
Responded to the need for training and support
Providing training and technical assistance is essential to building capacity among other legal aid providers, nonprofit advocates, and private attorneys statewide. This critical component of our work has long-lasting impacts - by drastically increasing the number of attorneys and service providers who can assist marginalized communities across the state, we can more effectively mitigate poverty and truly make the law work. Imagine trying to help someone with a critical need but not having the specific technical expertise to do so. That’s where Empire Justice Center steps in. Our advocates respond to thousands of requests for technical assistance each year. Over the phone, through substantive law listservs, via the web and email inquiries, our advocates share their legal knowledge and help strategize on complex legal issues, providing support to civil legal aid and nonprofit colleagues. Our Health Law Team alone responded to 489 requests for assistance from more than 90 legal aid organizations, health services, nonprofit organizations and private attorneys.
Ensured that New Lawyers Have the Tools to Succeed At the request of several program directors in New York, we organized a multi-day Basic Lawyering Skills Training for new attorneys who have been hired with the infusion of Judiciary Civil Legal Services (JCLS) funding through the NYS Office of Court Administration. We negotiated to bring in the very well-developed program of the Shriver Center for an intensive multi-day skills-based training. Thirty-two (32) lawyers were trained by eight (8) seasoned professionals. Participants received 5.5 CLEs in Professional Practice and 11.5 in Skills. Evaluation comments included: “It was helpful to put theory into practice and try more interviewing strategies.” “Modeling and practicing the negative/bad news to clients and prepping for motion practice was very helpful.” “Having to prepare an argument with little to no time was the exact type of practice I needed.” “I was very much hoping to gain confidence in courtroom arguing/ presentation and I certainly did...”
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I found this training extremely helpful, especially as a new attorney. By far one of the best CLEs I have ever attended.
Educated Transgender People About Their Legal Rights Transgender and gender-nonconforming people have historically experienced discrimination, harassment and violence at far higher rates than other people because of their gender identities and gender expression. After decades of advocacy, the legal landscape is finally starting to recognize transgender and gender-nonconforming people as a class that deserves protection under the law. We published a Know York Rights Guide that explains how the New York State Human Rights Law specifically protects transgender and gendernonconforming people. It describes what unlawful discrimination looks like, and what can be done if experienced. This guide also contains some information about legal rights under other state and federal laws, and gives contact information for legal advocates and attorneys across New York State that may be able to advise transgender and gender-nonconforming people about their rights.
We Improve the Law
Equipped Police Departments with multi-lingual communication tools
In order for Police Departments to be effective they need to be able to communicate with the communities they serve. On Long Island, Empire Justice advocates worked with Nassau County and Suffolk County Police Departments to foster meaningful language access for interactions between community members and law enforcement. We also brought the counties into compliance with Executive Orders that addresses some language access issues. In Nassau County, we conducted both internal and external audits of the Police Department, demonstrating the difficulties people with Limited English proficiency have in accessing law enforcement services. We provided law enforcement with recommendations for changes in their training programs, how to make interpreters and translators more accessible to officers, and providing more information to the public on their rights to an interpreter. Already we’ve seen improvements in the form of updated trainings, a more simplified way to access the department’s Language Access Line, and posted signage indicating the right to an interpreter and how to file a complaint. We also worked with Suffolk County and the U.S. Department of Justice to help the Police Department improve its language access plan and procedures, and develop more immigrant friendly policies and practices.
A win for savings and self-sufficiency In order to break out of the cycle of poverty, low-income people need to be able to accumulate and save assets. It’s necessary to become self-sufficient. For example: a person with reliable access to a car will be twice as likely to find a job as someone without a car, and four times as likely to remain employed. But for years New York State had an “asset test” that did not allow people to receive public assistance if they owned a car over a certain value, causing folks to have to choose between reliable transportation or public assistance when they need it most. Furthermore, if an applicant or recipient was disabled and could not work, they could only own a car with a fair market value of up to $4,650. A policy that severely disadvantaged people with disabilities. Empire Justice advocates raised these issues with policymakers and convinced them to increase the asset limit, and do away with the two-tiered system that made it even more difficult for individuals with disabilities to access assistance. Now public assistance recipients can save for the future and maintain ownership of decent vehicles needed for reliable transportation – two factors that are crucial to getting out of poverty and achieving selfsufficiency.
Upholding Access to Medicaid All New Yorkers should be able to access affordable health care. Which is why Empire Justice Center strongly opposed a number of executive proposals that that would have decreased access to Medicaid services. We successfully convinced the Governor to reject them, protecting health care for low-income New Yorkers. • One proposal would have eliminated protections that allow doctors to have final say over what medications are necessary and appropriate for their patients. These ‘prescriber prevails’ protections under the Medicaid fee-for-service and managed care programs realize that doctors have intimate knowledge of their patients’ diagnoses and histories, and therefore are the most equipped to prescribe medications for their patients. Through administrative advocacy we successfully convinced the Governor’s office to reject this proposal from the budget, allowing patients to access the best and most appropriate medications and treatments. • Another proposal would have substantially reduced the amount of assets that can be retained by a person whose spouse is receiving Medicaid long term care or waiver services. Empire Justice was successful in convincing the Governor to reject this proposal so that low-income folks and people with disabilities could keep their assets, creating opportunities for financial stability. • Empire Justice was also successful in advocating for the Governor to reject a proposal that would have eliminated spousal and parental refusal protections, which are critical to helping some adults and children access Medicaid and Medicare services they otherwise could not obtain or afford.
All families should be able to meet their basic needs Many families rely on a Beginning in 2016, a public car so they can work and assistance household may support their families now have a car with a fair market value of up to $10,000. The state will now Empire Justice successfully advocated for an increase in the asset limit, allowing
more New York families to save for their futures.
allow additional increases in the amount of $11,000 starting in 2017, and $12,000 starting in 2018.
In 2016 C.A.S.H helped:
C.A.S.H. operates free, highquality tax preparation sites throughout Monroe County. IRS certified volunteers prepare and electronically file federal and NYS tax returns for free.
14,414 Families file tax returns
$26.7M Total tax refunds went to low-income workers, helping them put food on the table and save for the future
$8.7M Earned Income Tax Credits went to hardworking families
We Make the Headlines Featured In...
Our practice, teach, improve philosophy allows us to recognize emerging issues within our communities and to take action quickly. News organizations often look to us as leaders in the field, and feature the work of our advocates. Some of the stories that were picked up and featured during 2016: • Maria DeGennaro, Staff Attorney, spoke on the Long Island Business Report about disparities in access to financial services, such as banks, for low-income people. • The New York Times featured a report on Medicaid Home Care reduction in New York, of which Amy Lowenstien, Senior Attorney, was a contributing author. • NPR featured Milo Primeaux, Staff Attorney, speaking about the importance of accessing name and gender changes in promoting safety and accessing public benefits for people who are transgender or gender nonconforming. • Maggie Robb, Staff Attorney, spoke about the need for discharging student loan debt in Bloomberg News. • The Rochester Democrat & Chronicle featured Fiona Wolfe, Staff Attorney, and Marlene Cortés, Paralegal, explaining the difficulties homeowners face when they have limited English proficiency. • Senior Attorney, Ruhi Maker, was featured on Marketplace Morning Edition speaking about vacant homes and foreclosure rates. • Chief Counsel, Bryan Hetherington, spoke about issues involving special education services in the Rochester City School District in a June Democrat & Chronicle article. • Geoffrey Hale, Senior Attorney, spoke in The NY Daily Record about a lawsuit that was filed challenging the Medicaid-funded long-term care system in New York State that is preventing recipients from receiving services at home and forcing them to move to nursing facilities.
C.A.S.H. program is top dollar Empire Justice Center’s Creating Assets Savings and Hope (C.A.S.H.) program helps working families GET, KEEP, and GROW their money by providing free income tax return preparation. More than 350 trained volunteers assist in preparing and filing tax returns free of charge, helping clients open bank accounts and purchase Savings Bonds. Volunteers also provide information on predatory lenders so those who receive significant refunds do not fall prey to these predatory practices and connect C.A.S.H. participants to community organizations and services that can help improve their financial situation. In 2016 alone 14,414 C.A.S.H. families received $26.7M in tax returns, including $8.7M in Earned Income Tax Credits. Volunteers donated 14,485 volunteer hours helping participants save more than $21,000 in Savings Bonds and open 301 new bank accounts. The C.A.S.H. Coach program offers free one-on-one financial coaching to working people in a group and individual setting. With the help of trained volunteer coaches, participants learn to manage their money and improve their financial future through achieving realistic, measureable, and attainable financial goals. The program is a collaboration with the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Rochester. In 2016 the C.A.S.H. Coach program saw an average improvement in savings-to-debt at $6,639 per person, and the average participant improved their credit score by 10.46 points.
We Celebrate Success
Pictured from left to right: NYS Assemblymember Joseph Morelle; Christine Rutigliano, Managing Director of The Roffe Group; Anne Erickson, President and CEO of Empire Justice Center; Barbara Weiner, Attorney Emeritus Empire Justice Center; Jorge Mantalvo, Deputy Secretary of State of New York for Economic Opportunity
A Celebration of Leadership
Christine Rutigliano has been a staunch supporter of Empire Justice since the early 1990s. As an analyst for the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, Christine became one of the key internal champions for state funding for civil legal aid. Working through those chaotic early years of state funding, she never lost sight of that small but vital investment in legal services. Her tenacity and attention meant that legal services programs across the state had some small semblance of stability, so critical in those years of crisis. Christine went on to work with the New York State Senate, the New York State Comptroller and then joined the Roffe Group and became director of New York Government Relations in the Albany office of Robinson+Cole. In continuing her advocacy and support for us, Christine readily agreed to join our Board of Directors, finishing her last term as Board Chair. At every step of the way, she offered a steady hand, a strategic mind and a passion for justice that continues to guide us. We could not be more thankful. Barbara Weiner recently retired as a Senior Attorney with Empire Justice, working in our Albany office for over 26 years. She spent virtually all of her incredible career working for legal services, and now continues her advocacy in the role of our first Attorney Emeritus. Barbara led the way in helping legal services begin to address the emerging and changing legal needs in the immigration community following massive federal changes in 1996. She became one of the first legal services attorneys in New York to focus on the intersection between immigration status and public benefits eligibility. Barbara’s legal skills, her perseverance and her ability to dive deep in the law to find the right way to move an issue forward will long be felt by thousands of individuals and families. We are truly humbled by her passion and dedication.
An Honorable Team
Each year Empire Justice staff members receive dozens of awards and recognition for their tenacious advocacy and outstanding service to the people of New York and the legal profession. Listed below is a snapshot of the awards we received in 2016: Rebecca Caico - President’s Award from Habitat for Humanity, named to Monroe County Task Force on Vacant and Abandoned Properties Marlene Cortés - Latino Leadership Development Program (United Way) Ruhi Maker Named to CFPB Consumer Advisory Board Ellie Pepper Named to HUD Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Board Eòghann Renfroe - Awarded the Sylvia Rivera Award by the Pride Center Named Co-Chair of a new initiative to improve access to legal services Paralegal, Marlene Cortés Amy Schwartz for domestic violence victims by the New York State Bar Association and the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York
2016 Staff
Guadalupe Aguirre, Immigrant Justice Corps Fellow Saima Akhtar, Senior Staff Attorney Susan Antos, Senior Staff Attorney Linda Bennett-Rodriguez, Senior Staff Attorney Susan Bonkowski, C.A.S.H. Administrative Assistant Amanda Bransford, Staff Attorney Kristin Brown, VP for Policy & Governmental Relations Ray Burke, Staff Attorney Rebecca Caico, Senior Staff Attorney Kate Callery, Senior Staff Attorney Gladys Castro, Senior Administrative Assistant Patricia Christion, Finance Coordinator Rob Cisneros, Staff Attorney Rebecah Corcoran, Senior Manager of Human Resources Doris Cortes, Senior Paralegal Marlene CortĂŠs, Paralegal Maria DeGennaro, Staff Attorney Peter Dellinger, Senior Staff Attorney Prathiba Desai, Staff Attorney Amanda Doroshow, Staff Attorney Jim Dukette, Paralegal Anne Erickson, President & CEO Jonathan Feldman, Senior Staff Attorney Don Friedman, Senior Staff Attorney Jane Gabriele, Staff Attorney Amanda Gallipeau, Health Law Coordinator Phoebe Garcia, Administrative Assistant Mike Green, IT Manager Angela Hale, Paralegal Geoffrey Hale, Senior Staff Attorney Linda Hassberg, Senior Staff Attorney Bryan Hetherington, Chief Counsel Kristi Hughes, VP for Administration & Development Daniel Huntington, C.A.S.H. Volunteer & Outreach Manager Lindsay Infantino, Paralegal Keith Jensen, Paralegal Jennifer Karr, Staff Attorney Kirsten Keefe, Senior Staff Attorney
Ann Kennedy, Finance Manager Cheryl Keshner, Senior Paralegal Elizabeth Koo, 2015-17 Hanna S. Cohn Equal Justice Fellow Amy Lowenstein, Senior Staff Attorney Catherine (Cate) Lynch, Staff Attorney Ruhi Maker, Senior Staff Attorney Alex Maroselli, Senior Manager Program & Marketing Lori McCormick, Chief Financial Officer Mayra Melendez, Immigrant Justice Corps Fellow Kathleen Morgan, Executive Assistant Elizabeth Nicolas, Staff Attorney Jelvin Parra, Administrative Assistant Remla Parthasarathy, Staff Attorney Ellie Pepper, HOPP Anchor Partner Regional Coordinator Michelle Peterson, Senior Manager Training Milo Primeaux, Staff Attorney Kevin Purcell, Staff Attorney Eoghann Renfroe, Policy Coordinator Berta Rivera, C.A.S.H. Director Maggie Robb, Staff Attorney Cathy Roberts, Senior Paralegal Mabel Rodriguez, Administrative Assistant Tania Santiago, Administrative Assistant Amy Schwartz-Wallace, Senior Staff Attorney Kelli Shaffner, Senior Manager Grants & Development Elizabeth (Liz) Siegel, Staff Attorney Kristin Small, Staff Attorney Shannon Swiatek, NYS MAP Coordinator Nabila Taj, Immigrant Justice Corps Fellow Louise Tarantino, Senior Staff Attorney Barb van Kerkhove, Researcher/Policy Analyst Elizabeth Vanasdale, Paralegal Brandon Vesely, Paralegal Barbara Weiner, Attorney Emeritus Connie Wiggins, Administrative Assistant Keana Williams, Staff Attorney Fiona Wolfe, Staff Attorney
With Gratitude...
Because of your support we were able to move quickly and aggressively in response to changes in laws and regulations that affect the lives of low-income people.
Individual Support This listing reflects gifts received or dated between the period of January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016. The giving level acknowledges the total donations during this time period. Gifts received or dated after December 31, 2016 will be recognized in the 2017 Annual Report. $5,000+ Richard and Vicki Schwartz (designated to C.A.S.H.)
$1,000 - $4,999 Catherine Callery and Michael Nazar, M.D. John Casellini Peter Dellinger and Carolyn Reardon Anne Erickson Bryan and Susan Hetherington Ed Lopez-Soto and Pat Braus Edward F. Premo, II, Esq. James Rahmlow Christine Rutigliano JoAnn and Raymond Smith
$500 - $999 Anonymous Donor Susan Ames (designated to C.A.S.H.) Valerie Berlin Steve and Dean Brown Joseph Cohn and Amy Choskey Judy and David Gilberg Edward P. Hourihan, Jr. Lyn Kelly Geneva and Kimberly Lane Lynn Levey Shauneen McNally René Reixach Doug Rice
$250 - $499 Alan B. Block Raymond Brescia Trilby de Jung Lauren Deutsch Stanley and Judy Engerman Nadia Gareeb
Christopher Goeken Geoffrey Hale and Alison Parker Michael and Trish Harren Linda Hassberg and Douglas Koritz Kristi and Shawn Hughes Marcia and John Keefe Toni Lasicki Allison Lee Thomas Maligno Richard W. Millard, PhD Betsy Naumburg and Carl Hoffman Patricia O’Neill and Robert Devilleneuve Robert Pickering Lisa Reagan Margaret Smerbeck Ruth and Scott Smith Anthony and Lynne Suchman Sandy and Rick Thau Hon. Ellen Yacknin and Cathy Mazzotta
$100 - $249 Jenny Amory Susan Antos Janet Axelrod Michael Barrett Theresa Beltrani Robert J. Bergin Valerie Bogart Fred and Susan Buse June Clase Marc Cohan and Doris Ling Cohan Terri Crowley Brian Curran Daniel DeMarle Joel Diamond Michael Dwyer Paul Eaglin Martin and Greta Matus Feldman Jonathan Feldman and Alison Helms Tom and Vicki Finnefrock Simeon Goldman Jeffery Goldstein Elizabeth Hallmark and Frederick Marshall Janet Hanson Robert R. Haskins Bill Hawkes Michael Higgins Matthew and Barbara Kelly
Raymond J. Kelly, Esq. Hon. Joan S. Kohout Hon. John Lafalce David Lansner C. Bruce Lawrence Deborah Leary Phil and Susan Lederer Katherine J. Lewis Joseph Lipofsky Karen Lipson Daniel Lowenstein Jerry McIntyre Jessica Meigher Vanessa Merton Eugene Mirabelli Ellen Monroe Mike Mulé Dave A. Munro Julie Munro Jim and Anne Newman Julie Novkov Remla Parthasarathy Greg Phillips Douglas Potter and Gregory Partridge Cathy Roberts Kristina Rogers Harriette Royer Leslie Salzman Melinda Saran Edward Scheid Mark Schlechter and Christine Valkenburgh Betsy Schneider Elaine and Nicholas Sekreta Jim and Robin Sevinsky Kelli Shaffner Susan Silverstein Richard and Janet Spencer Ron Tabak Anita Thayer and William Ritchie Samuel O. Tilton Erin Tobin Philip Uninsky Sara Valencia Barbara and John van Kerkhove Jerry Wein Phillip Weiss and Naomi Davidson John Witmeyer Robin and Sam Young Sarisa and Leon Zoghlin
Thank You! $1- $99 Anonymous (1) Samantha Aguam Jennifer Banister Mike Beiter Louise Bennett Kate Breslin Eileen Buholtz Steve Carper and Linda Saalman Ben Carroll Diane Cecero Rome Celli Eugene and Joyce Clifford Elaine Z. Cole Hon. John P. Costello Mark and Nicki Cottle Mark and Mary Ellen Curley Danica Eskind Joel Ezra Tim Fennell Jeanne Finley Jean A. Frattura Henry and Lisa Freedman Tom Frey Don Friedman Marjorie Geiger Alan Gelb and Karen Levine Herb B. and Shirley G. Gordon Howard Grossman Jim and Suki Grossman Alan Harris Paul Houndt Margaret Joynt Laura Kaplan Lara Kassel Kirsten Keefe Karen and Chris Kinter Diane M. Larter Karen Levine Sarah Liebschutz L. Theresa Macon Helen and John Maier James and Jane Mickles Sheron Milliner David and Monika Mullen Daniel and Liz Munier Loreen O’Connell Ann E. Pfeiffer and Ward Hartenstein Spencer Phillips Rob and Laurie Plattner Maureen Richardson
We are humbled by the generosity of our friends and colleagues across the state and the country. Please know that your support makes a difference and allows us to meet our promise of making the law work for all New Yorkers.
John Sasko Rob Shaffner Richard and Leslie Shroyer Denise Soffel Bruce Stahl Margie Staker Mary Staropoli and Doug Ackley Rebecca Starzyk Barry and Ellen Strom Stephen Sulkes and Melissa Schiff Louise Tarantino Bethene Trexel and Jon Tenney Mary Wilcox-Perry Tigan Woolson
Honor and Memorial Gifts In Honor of Barbara Weiner Susan Antos Kate Breslin Steve and Dean Anne Brown Catherine Callery and Michael Nazar,M.D. Trilby de Jung Anne Erickson Don Friedman Bill Hawkes Bryan and Susan Hetherington Lara Kassel Kirsten Keefe Edwin Lopez-Soto and Pat Braus Jim Lytle Eugene Mirabelli Mike Mule Spencer Phillips RenĂŠ Reixach Cathy Roberts Jim and Robin Sevinsky Susan Silverstein JoAnn Smith Denise Soffel Louise Tarantino Jerry Wein Hon. Ellen Yacknin and Cathy Mazzotta In Memory of Hanna Cohn Joseph Cohn and Amy Choskey Larry and Sandy Cohn Judy and David Gilberg Sandy and Rick Thau Phillip Weiss and Naomi Davidson
In Memory of Doris M. Erickson Anne Erickson In Honor of Cameron Betterley Julie Munro In Honor of Caroline & Anthony Carello Daniel Munier In Memory of Myron Nager Steve and Dean Brown In Honor of Christine Rutigliano Edward Scheid In Honor of Ed Fox John Witmeyer In Honor of Jonathan Feldman Mr. and Mrs. Martin Feldman In Honor of Lew Golinker Barry Strom In Honor of Seymour Weinstein Tom and Vicki Finnefrock In Honor of Zach and Jeanette Harrison Lauren Deutsch If we omitted or misspelled your name, please accept our apologies and contact Kristi Hughes Vice President for Development at (585) 295-5817 or khughes@empirejustice.org.
With Gratitude...
Because of your support we were able to move quickly and aggressively in response to changes in laws and regulations that affect the lives of low-income people.
Foundation, Organization, Government Support Corporation Support City of Rochester Christ Community Reformed Church Citizens Bank Cleary Family Fund, RACF ESL Charitable Foundation First Niagara Bank Foundation First Unitarian Church of Rochester Hannah S. and Samuel A. Cohn Memorial Foundation Hanna S. Cohn Memorial Fund, RACF Hagedorn Foundation JPMorgan Chase Foundation KeyBank Foundation Levey Family Foundation, RACF Mazon: A Jewish Response To Hunger M&T Bank Foundation New York Bar Foundation New York State Health Foundation ProNexus Rochester Area Community Foundation Rochester Women’s Giving Circle Fund, RACF LGBT Giving Circle of Greater Rochester, RACF United Way of Greater Rochester Youth Policy Institute
Celebration of Leadership Event
NYS Interest on Lawyer Account Fund (IOLA) NYS Office of the Attorney General NYS Department of State NYS Department of Criminal Justice Services NYS Office for New Americans NYS Office for the Aging NYS Office of Court Administration NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance NYS Office of Victim Services Orange County Department of Social Services US Department of Treasury Internal Revenue Service
Lead Law Firm Sponsor
Subcontracts with Other Agencies
Partner Sponsors
Catholic Family Center, Rochester Center for NYC Neighborhoods Community Service Society Legal Action Center Medicare Rights Center Volunteer Legal Services Project of Monroe County Inc.
Robinson+Cole
Lead Corporate Sponsor KeyBank
Counsel Sponsor Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP
Advocate Sponsors Emblem Health The Roffe Group
Guardian Sponsors John Casellini JoAnn and Raymond Smith
Berlin Rosen New York Presbyterian Hospital Nixon Peabody LLP Shenker Russo & Clark LLP Weingarten, Reid & McNally
Gifts Designated through SEFA, CFC and the Gifts through United Way Mercedes O. Bermudez James A. Bird Rowan Collins Nancy Dann Timothy Davis Gregory Franklin Ellen Johnson Michael Looby Janet Lovejoy Candice Lucas Paul D. MacAulay Morag Martin Alexander B. Morris-Bouza Anne Rodgers Ryan Tucker Susan Zajac
2016 Financials
These financial statements cover the fiscal year January 1, 2016 - December 31, 2016.
2016 Support & Revenue Grants & Contracts: $5,606,356 Contributions: $470,044 Other fees: $520,394 C.A.S.H. Contributions: $368,864 Interest: $2,538
2016 Total Support & Revenue: $6,968,196
2016 Expenses Program Personnel: $4,614,251 Contract Services/ Subcontracts to Partners: $773,412 Occupancy: $308,783 Office & Related Expenses: $640,547 General & Administrative: $1,199,007
2016 Total Expenses: $7,536,000
The Balance Sheet ASSETS Cash and Cash Equivalents Receivables Property and Equipment Other Assets Total Assets
$29,128 $1,839,171 $63,967 $143,310 $2,075,576
LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS Current Liabilities Total Liabilities
$ 998,729 $ 998,729
NET ASSETS Unrestricted Temporarily Restricted Total Net Assets
$ 785,287 $ 291,560 $1,076,847
Total Liabilities and Net Assets $2,075,576
We Mentor New Lawyers Fellows and Law Students Hit the Ground Running Immigrant Justice Corps In 2015 our Westchester Office hosted our first Immigrant Justice Corps (IJC) Fellows; these were the first IJC Fellows to be funded outside New York City. In 2016, we were selected once again as a host agency and were funded for three fellows – two attorneys and one community advocate. The fellows serve a one-year term with an opportunity to renew for a second year. Empire Justice engages the fellows in all the areas of immigration law in which we practice. Attorney Fellows Nabila Taj and Lupe Aguirre take on immigration cases related to asylum, removal defense, VAWA adjustment of status, Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJ), and U and T visas, all under the supervision of an attorney. Community Fellow, Mayra Melendez, provides intake and case support as well as outreach to community organizations, other advocates and clients.
Law Student Interns This past year we had three Pro Bono Scholars working with us in Albany and Rochester, and a total of 21 interns and student volunteers. We involve law students in many aspects of our work, particularly through the local law schools – Albany, Touro, and Pace. Interns have the opportunity to conduct intakes for a number of potential clients on a wide variety of issues, conduct outreach, FOIL data, and update the Fair Hearing Bank for which they review, summarize, redact, scan and post. Each office generally has between two and six volunteers/interns working on research and policy projects at any given time.
Diversity Clerkship In 2016 we hosted our third Summer Diversity Clerkship Program out of our Rochester Office. Our Diversity Workgroup developed the parameters, marketed it to law schools, and selected a phenomenal candidate. In addition to researching economic disparities surrounding the Rochester City School District, the 2016 Diversity Clerk, Mario Roque, supported the Workers’ Rights Project at Empire Justice. He investigated wage theft claims and helped bring National Labor Relations charges on behalf of workers who had their wages stolen or faced workplace discrimination. Mario has been awarded the prestigious Rhodes Fellowship by the Cornell Law School to work in the Rochester Office of Empire Justice beginning September 2017. He will spend the two-year fellowship combating economic and racial segregation in the Rochester City School District.
Hanna S. Cohn Equal Justice Fellow Empire Justice Center is honored to be the host organization for the Hanna S. Cohn Equal Justice Fellowship. Funded in memory of Hanna Cohn, who was Executive Director of Volunteer Legal Services Project of Monroe County, the Fellowship’s goal is to increase advocacy for Greater Rochester’s low-income families in high priority areas that are currently underserved. The two-year Fellowship is awarded to a dynamic and talented new lawyer beginning a career in the practice of poverty law who develops a project as part of the application process. Our current Cohn Fellow, Elizabeth Koo, a community organizer-turnedcommunity lawyer, is focusing her Fellowship on providing direct legal representation to workers in wage theft cases and other employment matters, engaging in policy advocacy work to improve labor laws, and conducting community outreach and education in support of workers’ centers. Elizabeth is Empire Justice Center’s 8th Cohn Fellow. Past Fellows have focused their projects on consumer and health issues as well as the legal needs of Rochester’s underserved populations, including LGBT individuals, those who are Limited English proficient and the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
A Note of Thanks... from a transgender man who was wrongly denied gender reassignment surgery by his health care provider.
I was feeling super hopeless without the surgery and I knew I could not wait a year or much longer without it. You showed me that I can fight and I can win. You gave me the power that I didn’t think I could ever have as a trans person. You made me a super happy man and I want you to know that and remember me because you had the biggest hand in all of it. Thank you so much. You made my life, you probably even saved it. Please never stop doing what you do because it’s magic. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
EMPIRE JUSTICE CENTER Albany ♦ Long Island ♦ Rochester ♦ Westchester www.empirejustice.org
We Make the Law Work.