TYLA eNews | ATJ UPDATE
By Catherine Galloway
Recently we celebrated our independence over the Fourth of July weekend. Traditionally, Independence Day is a time for fireworks, cookouts, time with friends and family, and the melodious sounds of Tchaikovsky’s "1812 Overture" or Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever.” It is also a time to reflect on freedom.
Our freedom is a gift many of us take for granted. For example, we rely on our right to be paid for our work; to marry, raise a family, and live free from violence in our homes; and to receive an equal education at a good public school.
But what happens when someone like Marcus, who has been working dutifully for his employer, isn’t paid his rightful wages? Or what about Kai, who lives in fear of her husband who is verbally, physically, and emotionally abusive to her and her children? And what about Sebastian, whose school discriminates against him because he has a disability?
Thankfully, legal aid can step in to preserve justice and freedom for Kai, Marcus, Sebastian, and thousands like them. With help from legal aid, Sebastian now receives the services he needs to learn and prosper in school; Kai was able to get a protective order to protect her family and is no longer in fear; and Marcus received the back wages he was owed.
Making a contribution to the statewide Justice for All Campaign ensures critical financial support for legal aid organizations in your community and around the state that provide support, protection, and freedom to low-income Texans who wouldn’t otherwise have a voice.
Many have chosen to make an even greater impact by joining the Champion of Justice Society by contributing $250 or more. Thank you for your thoughtful generosity and for the protection and freedom you’ve made possible.
TYLA’s 2016 Champion of Justice Society Members:
(as of July 5)
GUARDIANS
Carlos Zaffirini Jr.
HEROES
William Sutton
DEFENDERS
Joshua Henderson
Matthew Lloyd
Jeffrey Watters
ADVOCATES
John Atkins
John Bateman
Russell Booth
David Hopkins Brown
Timir Chheda
Ashley Crooks
Neill Fuquay
Matthew Gilpin
Damian Gomez
Ryan Goodland
Peter Hansen
Russell Herman
Nina Hess Hsu
Harland Jones
Chelsea Keeton
Jeremy Kraus
Sanjeev Kumar
Lacy Lawrence
Sumit Pattanaik
Sara Puls
Siavash Rahbari
Andrea Shannon
Jenny Smith
Molly Spieczny
Zachary White
Virgil Yanta
Catherine Galloway is the Development and Communications Manager at the Texas Access to Justice Commission. Prior to working as the Development and Communications Manager, she worked as a program developer for the Commission and the Legal Access Division of the State Bar and with the Communications Division and the Executive Department of the State Bar of Texas.
