by Elizabeth Arledge
Early this month, as we were contemplating media opportunities related to new poverty data slated to be released by the U.S. Census Bureau, we wondered: What might happen if we invited members of the JusticeVoices network to write op-eds for local publication, using the news hook offered by the updated numbers?
Early this month, as we were contemplating media opportunities related to new poverty data slated to be released by the U.S. Census Bureau, we wondered: What might happen if we invited members of the JusticeVoices network to write op-eds for local publication, using the news hook offered by the updated numbers?
We sent a message to our 500+ JusticeVoices network members, and waited …, but we didn’t have to wait long. A few responses came back immediately, and within a few hours we had a dozen. During the following week more responses arrived. Ultimately, 23 JusticeVoices network members responded that they were interested in drafting an op-ed. We were thrilled.
While results include a few published op-eds – the Orlando Sentinel and Law360 (subscription required) have both run pieces, another is scheduled to run tomorrow in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and a couple more are close to completion – the payoff has been different, and richer, than we expected.
Many of those we heard from are part of organizations we were aware of but had not yet worked with. The invitation inspired people at all levels – executive directors, development directors, staff attorneys, paralegals, pro bono attorneys, access to justice commissioners, even a state supreme court justice – to consider writing about civil legal aid, to share their unique perspectives. That alone makes the project a success.Martha’s op-ed on the topic, Cutting the Poverty Rate with Civil Legal Aid, was featured on TalkPoverty.org this week. We are grateful to the many network members who responded quickly to our call for stories as we were writing that piece.
Voices is now working with several folks around the country to help them find their voices on behalf of their clients and civil legal aid. If you have an idea for an op-ed you would like to write, Elizabeth would love to talk with you. Drop her a note.
Tags: Poverty