Justice Action Group Symposium
EXPANDING JUSTICE IN MAINE:
UPSTREAM SOLUTIONS TO DOWNSTREAM PROBLEMS
October 2, 2009
I. Morning Plenary sessions
Welcome: Dean Peter Pitegoff8:30 a.m.
A.“Achieving the Elusive Great Society: Why We Must Re-Awaken The War on Poverty
1. The Role of Civil Legal Aid in the War on Poverty
Introduction of Peter Edelman (Harold Pachios)8:45 a.m.
Peter Edelman, Georgetown University Law Center9:00 a.m.
Focus: The economic and social circumstances leading up to the creating of the Office of Economic Opportunity; the vision for the role of civil legal aid in the War on Poverty and the obstacles encountered; the current best thinking on upstream intervention and other initiatives at the state and federal level aimed at increasing access to justice for all individuals.
Break10:00 a.m.
2. Panel – The Vision of Civil Legal Aid in Maine, Yesterday and Today
Moderator: Hon. Howard Dana
Panel: Hon. Susan Calkins, Robert Mittel, Christine Hastedt, Nan Heald10:15 a.m.
Focus: Implementation of broader vision of civil legal aid in Maine in late 1960s; obstacles and successes related to carrying out the charge and how it affected access to social and economic justice for low-income and underserved populations in Maine. Where things stand today and the impact on Maine’s low-income residents.
B.Racial and Cultural Diversity and Access to Justice
Speakers: Camille Holmes Wood (NLADA); Susan Bryant (CUNY Law)11:15 a.m.
Focus: Steps that public and private agencies, government, courts, attorneys and others can take ensure thataccess to justice initiatives reach and benefit racial and cultural minority communities and individuals.
Lunch12:15 p.m.
II. AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS: INCREASING ACCESS TO JUSTICE IN MAINE THROUGH UPSTREAM INTERVENTION
Four Break-Out Workshops with Panels1:15 p.m.
Focus:Panel discussions identifying specific downstream problems (i.e. legal difficulties) paired with potential upstream solutions (including, but not limited to, legal intervention), featuring discussions of particular case studies.
Topics:
(1) Medical-legal partnerships
Sara Meerse, Esq. (KIDS Legal), Moderator/panelist. Additional panelists: Richard Hanley (Spring Harbor Hospital),Samantha Morton (BostonMedical-Legal Partnership), Dr. Christopher Stenberg (Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital)
(2) Housing Issues (foreclosure-preventionmeasures and affordable housing)
Carla Dickstein (CEI), Moderator. Panelists: Chet Randall, Esq. (PTLA); Gregory Payne (AVESTA Housing); TBD
(3) Issues facing low-wage workers – outreach to workers regarding employment rights
Christopher (Kit) St. John (MCEP), Moderator. Potential panelists: TBD
III. Symposium wrap-up/final thoughts3:00 p.m.
Speaker: Associate Justice Jon Levy, Maine Supreme Judicial Court
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DRAFT Revised 3/19/09