The Pro Bono Work to Empower and Represent (POWER) Act will hold a virtual event on May 20 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time, according to an announcement released on Apr. 28. The program aims to support survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking through pro bono legal services.
The event is intended to mobilize attorneys interested in pro bono work and strengthen connections among legal service providers and community organizations working with survivors. Organizers say that POWER Act events have been instrumental in inspiring change within communities and fostering collaboration among stakeholders.
Since the passage of the POWER Act, district courts have hosted pro bono legal summits across the country. In fiscal year 2022 alone, over six thousand people attended such events sponsored or co-sponsored by district courts—representing participation from eighty-one percent of all district courts.
This year’s virtual program will feature Jennifer R. Rawlings, Esq., Senior Contracts Manager at Yale University and Co-Director of the Center for Indigenous Peoples Rights (CIPR). According to the announcement, CIPR is an Indigenous-led nonprofit organization focused on advocacy, policy development, and nation-building support for Indigenous peoples. Attorney Rawlings is a member of the Seaconke Wampanog Tribe of Rhode Island and Massachusetts; she holds degrees from the University of Massachusetts and Quinnipiac University School of Law where she also served as adjunct professor. She was recently recognized with the Inclusive Excellence Award from Quinnipiac School of Law Alumni Association.
A total of sixty-seven court units are participating in this year’s virtual event. The recorded program will be made available to co-sponsoring courts around May 27.
