https://2018.urbanjustice.org/home daily 0.75 2018-12-10 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c0db4e14d7a9c6ed434a3f3/1544402182120/Doug-Image-Website.png Home Doug Lasdon, Executive Director of Urban Justice Center https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c0dbdd921c67c5de4df0312/1544404448016/Stats-Image.png Home https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c0daa161ae6cf6c7096734f/1544403565629/Heath.jpg Home - supporting survivors In 1989, 17-year-old Heath Phillips was a fresh-faced Naval recruit, eager to serve his country. Once on his assigned ship, however, he was sexually and physically assaulted by a group of six other sailors. Despite repeated reports to his superiors, Heath was given no support or chance to transfer. After 48 days of unending assault, he escaped – only to be arrested, returned, and assaulted again. Four more times, Heath ran away only to be returned to his attackers. Heath went AWOL one final time, beginning nearly two decades of alcohol abuse and PTSD, with no support from Veterans Affairs. After nearly ending his life, Heath got sober. Unlike many survivors of sexual violence, he began to tell his story publicly. Advocating for survivors became his mission. Three times he applied to have his discharge status upgraded, so he could access the life-saving services he desperately needed; three times, the Navy denied him. That’s when Heath became a client of our Veteran Advocacy Project, who worked with him for years on a fourth application, and finally convinced the Navy that he deserved an honorable discharge. Thanks to Heath’s persistence (and the assistance of our lawyers and advocates), justice was finally served. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c0dabb1032be4548e74e596/1544399816654/CAP-Image.jpg Home - Opposing prison profiteering For years, prisoners in New York City have been charged exorbitant fees to make phone calls, creating millions of dollars in profit not just for prison telecom companies, but also for our city government, which raked in over $5,000,000 annually on the backs of imprisoned people and their communities. To those in jail, these calls are a literal lifeline; to our government, they are an easy way to turn a quick buck. Or at least they were until earlier this year, when our Corrections Accountability Project (CAP) – in concert with a coalition of concerned organizations – helped to pass critical legislation mandating that all calls from city jails be free, and prohibiting the city from profiting off them. Now New York City is the only jurisdiction in the nation to ban this cruel form of prison exploitation. This will save low-income communities of color in New York nearly $10,000,000 a year, but the true measure of success is knowing that imprisoned people will no longer be isolated from their loved ones and their only means of support, simply because they can’t afford the price of a phone call. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c0dab6c758d469c14880889/1544399769928/ASAPImage-4+copy.jpg Home - advocating for asylum Long before the Trump administration began their cruel policy of separating asylum-seeking children from their parents, our Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP) was providing representation to families in some of the most ignored areas in the country. Without representation, according to one study, asylum seekers win their cases less than 3% of the time. ASAP knew that many Americans want to help immigrants fleeing danger, so based on their experience, they developed a guide: “Vindicating the Rights of Asylum Seekers at the Border and Beyond: A Guide to Representing Asylum Seekers in Expedited Removal and Reinstatement of Removal Proceedings.” This guide is yet another way in which ASAP is strengthening the country-wide community of progressive advocates, while protecting marginalized immigrants at the same time. By empowering asylum seekers and their supporters, ASAP is building a powerful coalition to resist the Trump administration’s attacks on vulnerable families. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c0db5814ae237a297e70012/1544402384438/AccelSlider-Opt4.1.png Home https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c0aec56562fa790e87c9881/1544219750497/GettyImages-500414662+copy+2.jpg Home https://2018.urbanjustice.org/2017 daily 0.75 2018-12-14 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c00124a575d1fa3e66f3694/1511322666838/snp4.jpg 2017 - Celebrating each victory When Ms. C fled an abusive relationship and was forced to enter a single women’s shelter, she found herself needing Public Assistance, Food Stamps, and Medicaid to survive. However, after suffering the traumatic theft of all her belongings while homeless, Ms. C was unable to provide important documentation to the Social Services Agency and had her application denied six consecutive times, in direct violation of City policy to protect domestic violence survivors. Ms. C turned to the Safety Net Project (SNP) for help getting back on her feet. Her Advocate represented her in a hearing which led to successful restoration of one year’s worth of benefits for Ms. C, who would then use the support to start the process of healing and moving forward from the trauma that she had endured. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c00124a575d1fa3e66f368c/1513096894207/JulieHaider.jpg 2017 - At the foreground of justice When the unconstitutional Muslim ban went into effect in January, the staff of the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) were the first lawyers on the scene at JFK. Their clients were trapped in a terrifying legal limbo, but we stayed by their side every step of the way – and will continue to do so no matter how many travel bans the administration creates. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c00124a575d1fa3e66f368e/1513097258418/074+%281%29.jpg 2017 - Starting the conversation For the past year, our Young Professional Board has been organizing Speaker Series panels on urgent legal issues including the refugee crisis, alternatives to solitary confinement, and the transgender military ban. Speakers have included politicians like NYC Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Comptroller Scott Stringer. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c00124a575d1fa3e66f3692/1510860704446/152.jpg 2017 - Bringing together a progressive community Our annual Night Out fundraiser is an initiative by the our Young Professional Network that brings together New York City’s progressive community to network, learn more about social justice in New York City, support our clients, and have an unforgettable night. Hosted by Catfish's Nev Schulman, this year's Night Out talent roster included Gabriel Garzon-Montano, Latasha Alcindor, Matt FX, Ashok Kondabolu, and games provided by Babycastles. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c00124a575d1fa3e66f368a/1513108373680/Stats-SandBox.png 2017 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c00124a575d1fa3e66f3690/1510858370827/Bianca-COlor+copy.jpg 2017 - Building a new project The Corrections Accountability Project (CAP) joined UJC in May of 2017. Directed by Bianca Tylek, CAP is an innovative initiative dedicated to eliminating the influence of commercial interests on the criminal legal system and ending the exploitation of all those it touches. CAP’s work strives to create a society in which no entity or individual depends on human caging or control for its wealth, operation, or livelihood. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c00124a575d1fa3e66f3696/1513197493235/pcyp-web.png 2017 - Cutting Through Red Tape “Kamila,” a transgender woman, fled her Central American town to escape sexual abuse and domestic violence. The Peter Cicchino Youth Project (PCYP) filed an asylum application and negotiated with the government’s immigration attorney to narrow the scope of her testimony to diminish retraumatization. She was granted asylum on the spot and is now working with her attorney to apply for benefits, for which she now qualifies as an asylee. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c00124a575d1fa3e66f3688/1391287287792/ 2017 - Copy of Transient https://2018.urbanjustice.org/new-page daily 0.75 2018-12-10 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c0db75003ce648d4004b46e/1544402789375/GettyImages-500414662+copy.jpg New Page https://2018.urbanjustice.org/work daily 1.0 2018-12-21 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c1ab341b8a045299c67b506/1545253736670/ Home - get involved Join the Young Professional Network https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c1a679d0e2e72c2bcb3c9a5/1545234364561/FREEWILL.png Home - FREEWILL UJC makes it easy to plan your future. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c13e758562fa7ec3f42260b/1544808323895/AR2018-VAPPic.jpg Home Veteran Advocacy Project client Heath Phillips https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c13e887b8a0457bc94a5423/1544808600845/ASAPImage-3.jpg Home ASAP client, Sandra, and her child whose asylum petition was successful https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c13e8658a922d33b9e45e71/1544808630839/ASAP-Image1.png Home ASAP Co-Founder, Swapna Reddy, communicating via Skype with a team of lawyers https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c1a689788251b050d6598cd/1545234607674/Jerome2.jpg Home https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c1a6886562fa7f0b0e95319/1545234575878/Jerome1.jpg Home https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c18fba940ec9a75396759b4/1545141167178/Doug-Image-Website.png Home https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c181997c2241b43449d5d1b/1545083295676/DougSignature.png Home https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c1d000c562fa77f398d6ce3/1545404440557/UJC-2018-Stats.png Home https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c17f6184fa51aba623a3e1e/1545074204349/BannerColor.png Home https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c17f7546d2a73368e96d421/1545074519609/BannerColor-Red.png Home https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c13da904d7a9c93cd319dc9/1544805020432/GettyImages-500414662.jpg Home https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c17f79a4d7a9cdfcdb8ff60/1545074592698/BannerColor-Pink.png Home https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f0ae30c027d8c0103c4e1c/t/5c17f37aaa4a99a9290fc94f/1545073541255/Bulb-ForSite.jpg Home