Volunteers needded in New Orleans!

Please see a message below from our Regional Chair:

Ify Ike, National Corporate Relations Director, recently spoke with Juana Crear, Esq. (graduate of Tulane Law School) from New Orleans Legal Assistance Corporation. Many of us have talked about going to New Orleans during the holidays and breaks to help with the legal issues there. Here is a little more guidance as to the SPECIFIC areas of need was necessary. Ms. Crear has stated that student volunteers are desperately needed in the following areas:

Litigation unit- "228 Appeals Project" (cases that could not be
settled and individuals need representation)
Housing Unit- FEMA; Road Home Appeals (grant money for homeowners)
FEMA "recoupment" (cases where FEMA is requesting recipients to pay
FEMA back)
Section 8 issues
Family unit- domestic violence; custody child support; divorce, etc.
Homeless unit
Public Benefits Unit (social security; food stamps; disability;
employment/unemployment; general welfare; education)
Low-Income Tax Unit
Note system (assisting in creating/finalizing documents that provide
legal information to inform public of what they need to satisfy a
cause of action)
Spanish speaking students for translation
Consumer law unit (bankruptcy; predatory lending; purchasing)
Covington office- purely family office

She also stated that New Orleans needs student assistance in their DA's office and Public Defenders Office.

There are currently no brown student volunteers in the office. THIS IS A PROBLEM! Ify is working on creating a "database"of resources that can contribute to aiding black law students that can sacrifice at least a week in New Orleans. This includes housing; per diem; food; transportation; etc. Ify is looking to solicit from the NBA and further suggestions are welcomed.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN ANY WAY, PLEASE CONTACT IFY IKE AT ify.ike@gmail.com OR JUANA CREAR DIRECTLY AT jacrear@nolac.org OR PHONE at 504-529-1000x234. Our goal is to create a more consistent presence from NBLSA in
the New Orleans region as we pull together and rebuild OUR community.
Thanks!

--
Brian Baptiste
St. Thomas University, 3L
National Black Law Students Association
Southern Region- Regional Chair