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Dear CBJC Friend,
 
I hope you are doing well and staying safe as we prepare for rejuvenated holiday festivities! Recent months have witnessed thought-provoking conversations about a post-COVID “new normal” in a robust, fast-paced city like New York. The City Bar Justice Center is doing its part to rebuild a more accessible, efficient, and equitable NYC, and nearly three months into the launch of our new hybrid work model, I am proud to report that our team has smoothly transitioned to a mix of virtual and in-office services and programming. We’ll continue to evolve how we work to best meet the varying needs of CBJC clients and pro bono partner communities.
 
This newsletter details a Fall in which we’ve held events and delivered services accessible to larger audiences through remote hosting – which helps expand our reach – while simultaneously creating opportunities to reconnect with our community on a more personal level by reopening our doors and meeting in person. And so, we celebrated our 2021 Outstanding Pro Bono Service Awards with an energizing in-person (but simultaneously webcast) reception attended by eight honorees and their proud family members and colleagues, and which City Bar President Sheila S. Boston and New York Supreme Court-Bronx County Justice Llinét Rosado enlivened with inspiring remarks commemorating the power of pro bono. We also hosted an in-person clinic focused on stabilizing vulnerable homeowners, and just held a successful hybrid in-person/webcast Sixth Annual Veterans Day Breakfast and CLE – all of which highlighted how integrating in-person and virtual programming helps us foster a sense of community, build meaningful relationships, and remain more attuned to the diverse needs of our clients, staff, and pro bono partners.
 
Looking ahead – as we approach the holiday season, many of us have plans to gather at home with loved ones and anticipate a prosperous new year. But for far too many New Yorkers, holiday joy is tempered by the harsh reality that they are at risk of losing their homes when New York’s foreclosure moratorium ends early in 2022. Donate now to support Protecting New Yorkers, Preserving Homes – a CBJC campaign to further build out our Homeowner Stability Project’s cutting edge pro bono services and the broad client outreach essential to helping our most vulnerable neighbors recover from the economic fallout of COVID-19.
 
Thank you in advance for your support in helping to expand access to justice. We hope you and your loved ones have a joyful wrap-up of 2021!

Best regards,

Kurt M. Denk
Executive Director
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OUR TEAM IN ACTION
In the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, the City Bar Justice Center launched the Hurricane Ida Recovery Initiative to provide free legal assistance to New Yorkers affected by the storm. Most recently, we partnered with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP to host a webinar addressing hurricane-related insurance questions, including types of coverage, claims processes, and dealing with denials. We also partnered with Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP to train prospective pro bono attorneys to assist with FEMA appeals. Click here to learn more and stay tuned as our team develops needed pro bono resources and services in response to damages caused by Hurricane Ida.
CBJC hosted its 6th Annual Veterans Day Breakfast and Ethics CLE on November 11th to recognize the impactful work of our Veterans Assistance Project (VAP) and to commemorate the honorable service provided by the veterans we assist. The hybrid program was led by Makedah Salmond, VAP Director (pictured in the photo above on the left), with over 30 people in attendance. A special thank you to our 2021 sponsors who helped us break a fundraising record for this event! We are grateful for your continued support! Learn more.

On October 15th, in celebration of National Coming Out Day, our Homeowner Stability Project (HSP), in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, hosted an in-person program for LGBTQ+ homeowners who are seniors or living with a disability. Attendees participated in a panel presentation on stabilizing homeownership and had the opportunity to meet with volunteer attorneys to assess threats to their homes, help with budgeting and housing expenses, and prepare simple legal documents like a power of attorney and healthcare proxy. A special thank you to Richard Charlton, Michael Held, Gloria Howard, Ivan Hurwitz, Erin Kelly, Daniel Kuhn, Sonnette Lewis-Morgan, Benjamin Snodgrass, Robyn Thorne, and Michael Ahn (pictured in the photo above on the right) for volunteering to provide essential pro bono support to our clients! 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The City Bar Justice Center is excited to launch Protecting New Yorkers, Preserving Homes – a campaign to help keep New Yorkers in their homes and protect our city’s distinctive communities as we work towards COVID recovery that works for all. Considering present challenges faced by homeowners of limited means, your support can help our Homeowner Stability Project further build out cutting-edge pro bono services and the broad client outreach essential to helping our most vulnerable neighbors. Donate today!
Welcome! CBJC is proud to welcome Marisa Shemi, staff attorney of the Legal Hotline, Lucia Damerau, Fragomen Fellow of the Immigrant Justice Project, and Olivia Lazan, project coordinator of the Veterans Assistance Project. We look forward to collaborating with our newest team members to continue furthering access to justice for New Yorkers experiencing poverty and systemic barriers.
On October 26th, CBJC held its 2021 Celebrate Pro Bono Awards, recognizing pro bono volunteers who demonstrated a remarkable commitment to our clients and championed our team’s mission to advance access to justice. Eleven individuals were nominated to receive the 2021 Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award: Barbara A. Keller, Brenton Clarke, Chase Henry Mechanick, Garry Canepa, Jean L. Chou, Lina Stillman, Rachel I. Winters, Richard Mancino, Romane Paul, Victor M. Metsch, and William Fassuliotis. A heartfelt congratulations to our award recipients! Learn more.
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CBJC MEDIA

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The newsletter editor is Cheryl Lopez, the City Bar Justice Center's Communication and Development Manager. For questions you may reach her at cheryllopez@nycbar.org. 

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