Brooklyn VLP: Events

  1. NBC 4 New York’s Melissa Russo To Emcee Access Justice Brooklyn Gala 

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    Access Justice Brooklyn is excited to announce Melissa Russo, Political and Government Affairs Reporter for NBC 4 New York, will emcee our Gala on Thursday, December 8, 2022, at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge.

    Melissa Russo is NBC 4 New York’s award-winning Political and Government Affairs Reporter and a member of the NBC 4 I-Team, the station’s investigative unit. An expert in local policy and politics with unmatched sources, Melissa is often the first to break major stories on her beat.

    Known for delivering thoughtful, in-depth coverage of issues not ordinarily tackled on local television news, Russo has achieved unprecedented, extended access inside New York’s homeless shelter system, juvenile jails and family courts. Her work has generated significant government policy changes and have been recognized with two of New York Emmys, in the categories of journalistic enterprise and societal concerns reporting.

    The Access Justice Brooklyn Gala celebrates and honors the work of extraordinary individuals who have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to serving the public good and equal justice. This year, we are delighted to honor Dedication to Justice awardee Janice Mac Avoy, Partner at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP and Lifetime Achievement awardee Charles John O’Byrne, Executive Vice President for Policy at Related Companies. The evening’s program will also feature the presentation of the Champion of Justice Award to the Paramount Global Law Department.

    As our premier fundraising event, funds raised for the Gala strengthen our critical work and impact throughout the borough. Confirm your support today at: www.accessjusticebrooklyn.org/gala

  2. NYS Senator Roxanne J. Persaud presents Senate District 19 Senior Resource Day 2022

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    Thank you to Senator Roxanne Persaud for organizing and inviting us to participate in the Senate District 19 Senior Resource Day 2022 on Thursday, September 8, 2022!

    This event provided seniors with information about health care, mental health and wellness resources, City and State agencies, community organizations and much more. Access Justice Brooklyn Supervising Attorney, Peter S. White II and Pro Bono Coordinator, Eloy Ruiz, were available to answer questions, hand out legal resources, and provide more information about our programs and services.

    If you didn’t get a chance to visit our table, you can always learn more about available programming, access legal resources, and view additional upcoming events on our website!

  3. Access Justice Brooklyn Launch Party hosted by Board Member Jeffrey B. Gewirtz, BSE Global

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    On July 13, 2022, we celebrated Access Justice Brooklyn and the launch of our new name, new brand, and renewed mission. The celebration took place at the Crown Club at Barclays Center and was hosted by Access Justice Brooklyn Board Member Jeffrey B. Gewirtz, Executive Vice President & General Counsel, BSE Global.

    Founded in 1990 to help close the gap in legal resources and representation in the borough, we have been a pioneer of contemporary pro bono models and a progressive force in the community. We believe that broad, sustainable systems change requires a holistic approach, and our new brand is a more accurate reflection of who we are today and our vision for the future. Read the press release here.

    Thank you to Jeff Gewirtz for his leadership, support and generosity and for providing us with a night to remember at the Barclays Center.

    A special thank you to Access Justice Brooklyn Board Members, Young Professionals Board Members, and our dedicated staff without whom this rebrand, and launch would not be possible!

    For more photos of the evening, visit our Instagram and Facebook page.


    Photography by Reuben Kleiner.

  4. 2022 Volunteer Recognition Event

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    Tuesday, April 19, 2022 | 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM (ET) | Virtual Event via Zoom

    Honoring all our 2021 volunteers and the following with special awards:

    Christopher Slattery
    Young Professional Award Recipient
    Julianne Mulhall
    Chief Compliance Officer
    Edgewood Management LLC

    Liz Padilla Excellence in
    Public Service Award Recipient
    Peter De Vries
    Attorney
    Law Office of Peter De Vries PLLC

    Pro Bono Leadership
    Award Recipient
    Carolyn D. Rosenthal
    Director, Pro Bono
    Goodwin Procter LLP

    Pro Bono Leadership
    Award Recipient
    Rena A. Kramer
    Attorney
    Goodwin Procter LLP


    Program and Award Presentation

    Welcoming Remarks – Heidi Lee Henderson, Access Justice Brooklyn President and CEO

    Presentation of the Christopher Slattery Young Professional Award to Julianne Mulhall – James Slattery, Access Justice Brooklyn Emeritus Board Member

    Presentation of the Liz Padilla Excellence in Public Service Award to Peter De Vries – Kathy and David Padilla

    Presentation of the Pro Bono Leadership Award to Carolyn D. Rosenthal and Rena A. Kramer – Anne O’Grady, Access Justice Brooklyn Pro Bono Director

    Closing Remarks – Sidney Cherubin, Access Justice Brooklyn Director of Legal Services


    Thank you to all 2021 Access Justice Brooklyn Volunteers for your generosity of time, compassion, and commitment to our mission.

    Sarah Abel
    Alexander Appugliese
    Michael Arsiotis
    Marc Avila
    Aissatou Bah-Diarra
    Jordan Baker
    Sophia Barclay
    Rajesh Barua
    Margie Bechara
    Robert Christopher Beckford
    Shani Bell
    Lesley Benjamin
    Douglas Berman
    Rachel Blumenfeld
    Shoshana Brenenson
    Jean-Phillipe Bruno
    Valerie Budzik
    Ivanka Canzius
    Kelly Carr
    Liesel Carvajal
    Kathryn Caudill
    Peter Cedeno
    Tiffanni Chelpaty
    Bayti Chen
    Isa Clarke
    Catherine Cognetti
    Charles Coleman
    Lauren Connell
    Melnia Cordis
    Dale David
    Tina Davis
    Natasha Demosthene
    Nicole Doppelt
    Cyrus Dugger
    Leah Edwards
    Mary Jo Eyster

    Dionne Fabiatos
    Gina Faldetta
    Aviva Farkas
    Rachelle Fernandes
    Faye Finisterre
    Fern Finkel
    Lana Fitzsimons
    Arvind Galabya
    Annie Garvin
    Daniel Gershburg
    Sara Ginsberg
    Jessica Gonzalez
    Shayshana Gourdine
    Alexander Gutierrez
    Donneshia Hall
    Peter Hanschke
    Elizabeth Harris
    Melanie Headley
    Steven Henderson
    Wendy Hernandez
    Caitlin Hickey
    Yvette Hinds-Wills
    Alexandra Hyken
    Cassandra Hyppolite
    Sanaa Jain
    Simone Kaliko
    Adam Kalish
    Rachel Kaylie
    Janet Keller
    Emma Kelly
    Renee Kendall
    Christine Kirkland
    Kristi Kirksey
    Kimberly Kramer
    Rena A. Kramer
    Richard Kubiak
    Stacey Kushlefsky

    Thomas Kwon
    Tanya Lambert
    Alexander Landivar
    Christine Laurent
    Joan Lenihan
    Roger Levy
    Matthew Lewis
    Noah Lingwall
    Kathleen Linnane
    Michelle Lubetzki
    James Maleady
    Mehvish Maqbool
    Natisha Matthews
    Margaret Mayora
    Andrew McDonough
    Valerie McLaughlin
    Kailee McMahon
    Brennan Meier
    Gregory Messer
    Jolevette Mitchell
    Eva Monteiro
    Julianne Mulhall
    Jessica Mullen
    Robert Nadel
    Enealia Nau
    Alice Nicholson
    Daniel Nussbaum
    Yolanda Obonna
    Kelsey O’Donnell
    James O’Gara
    Malvina Palloj
    Brynn Peltz
    Charles Pérez
    Ari Peterson
    Michelle Rae Pinzon
    Melinda Yvette Pollard
    David J. Posner

    Irwin Reiter
    Dana Rosenbaum
    Carolyn D. Rosenthal
    Lorraine Sabalja
    Ilana Saltz
    Eric Saparli
    Katherine Schroeder
    Rachel Schwartz
    Ilana Schwitzer
    John Scillieri
    Benedict See
    Tatyana Segal
    Marc A. Silverman
    Martin Simiyu
    James P. Slattery
    Seth D. Slotkin
    Deborah Stern
    Brittania Stewart
    Zvi Storch
    George Swoyer
    Ximeng (Sammie) Tang
    Libby Tatum
    Uzoma Ubanii
    Jeanne Marie Vahdat
    Nicole Vescova
    Maria Vizdoaga
    Peter De Vries
    Xiumei Wang
    Bruce Weiner
    Joshua Wexler
    Earl Wilson
    Andrew Windsor
    Andrew Wong
    Janice Zelmati
    Jesus Zeno
    Chris E. Zhao
    Kim Zinke


    If you are interested in volunteering with us or learning more about our programs, click here.