Lawyers for Equal Justice joins Appleseed network

Hawaii’s nonprofit Lawyers for Equal Justice has a new name, the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, having joined 16 other public interest justice centers in the U.S. and Mexico affiliated with the Appleseed organization.

LEJ, led by Executive Director Victor Geminiani, was launched in Hawaii as a nonprofit, 501(c)(3), public interest law firm created to advocate on behalf of low income individuals and families on civil legal issues of statewide importance. The organization successfully resolved a number of class action cases that have made significant improvements in the lives of many low income individuals including disabled tenants in public and private housing, educational guarantees for homeless children and health care for Micronesians.  It has also assisted veterans in securing their rights.

“The recent census report on the dramatic increase in poverty throughout our nation underlines the critical importance of increasing civic engagement and organizing for effective social change through organizations like Appleseed and Hawai'i Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice to ensure justice for all,” Geminiani said.

The national office for Appleseed is located in Washington, D.C. and supports the work of the 17 centers, which are independent organizations linked into a national network.  Each center recruits its own staff and leadership, raises its own sources of funding, and develops its own projects and strategies for reform.

 Additionally, centers work actively with the national office of Appleseed on collaborative projects, many of which grow out of local work of single centers in such areas as education, financial access and health care.  All Centers rely on a combination of staff and pro bono volunteers to conduct project work.  The new affiliation with Appleseed enhance LEJ’s ability to:

• Gain from the successful experience of other centers on similar work;
• Collaborate on national initiatives that will impact the lives of clients in Hawaii;
• Access financial support from national and local foundations;
• Expand the use of administrative and legislative advocacy as alternatives to litigation;
• Meet periodically with staff from the other 16 centers to discuss emerging issues that are affecting our clients and explore appropriate responses; and
• Diversify LEJ’s funding base to increase its long term stability and opportunities for growth.

LEJ is planning a reception on Nov. 17 to share with the community further information about its work and its new affiliation with the Appleseed network.