someone with full vision, but seemed insurmountable for Ella on her own. After all was said and done, Ella discharged $40,000 worth of debt. With support from disability services Ella can start over.
"Alice* came to Legal Access looking for a fresh start. Alice worked for twenty years at a good sales job with a six-figure salary, but personal crisis and bad choices turned her life upside down. It began with her divorce, which caused a deep depression. Then Alice met someone new, but together the couple started experimenting with drugs, leading to a dangerous addiction that cost Alice her job and caused her life to implode. Alice lost everything and racked up $100,000 in medical bills and credit card debt, going from successful career woman to homeless in short succession. After five years living on the streets, Alice reached out to her parents for help. In 2018 Alice checked into rehab, completed a six-month program and has been sober since. With the help of Legal Access, Alice filed for bankruptcy and received a discharge of all her debt. Now Alice feels ready to rebuild her life."
Legal Access Almeda, Oakland, California, 2018 Grant Report (*Names have been changed to protect clients' identities.)
Before I close, let me also share the good news that the Foundation Board has selected Norm Pernick to serve as Vice-Chair of the Pro Bono Committee. Norm is a long-standing member of the Committee, in addition to having served on the Foundation and College Boards. Particularly given the expected increase in demand for grants, Norm will be an invaluable resource for the Committee and the Foundation Board. Please join me in congratulating Norm.
My thanks to the Fellows, the College and the Foundation, who support the work of the Committee. My thanks also to the members of the Committee for their considerable time and effort on behalf of the Committee. And finally, a personal thanks to Carole McNamara, who handles the administration of the Committee and communications with grantees and makes it all run seamlessly.
From the Colum...nist
– uncertainty.
This is where we must shine with our professional skills. Identify the risks. Identify the choices. Guide the client through a reflective decision making process. Re-assure without providing false or trite hope or projection of our own fears. So much is and will remain uncertain. From this circumstance comes our greatest opportunity to provide guidance and counsel. Seize the moments and be there for your clients. They will be seeking our guidance through this storm for the foreseeable future. You are virtually at work! So whether you need to spruce up your home office to be more productive, invest in a bit more technology, or just dig in, remember this is at its fundamentals a “helping” profession.
17