News & Updates
South Ward Promise Neighborhood
As summer kicks off, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) spotlights our three Summer 2024 interns. First up, Yuki Kyu. Yuki brings a unique blend of passion, experience, and creativity to VLJ’s Children’s Representation Program, ReLeSe (Reentry Legal Services) Program, and South Ward Promise Neighborhood Program.
“Emelina”* and her daughter “Kristiana”* live in Newark’s South Ward. At age five, Kristiana was diagnosed with diabetes, yet was determined to not let that hold her back. Like many her age, Kristiana enrolled in kindergarten to begin her journey from K to 12.
Of course, to succeed in school, Kristiana would need medical support. Through advocating for Kristiana, Emelina had the school district agree to some of the medical recommendations from Kristiana’s doctor, but the school district would not comply with all the recommendations.
Lynn Norcia, Of Counsel with Starr, Gern, Davison & Rubin, P.C., stands as a shining beacon of compassion and justice for children and families. Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) is incredibly fortunate to count Lynn among our family of volunteers, and what better way to kick off a new year than to recognize her as our January 2024 Volunteer of the Month.
Lynn's journey with VLJ began in 2018, and since then, she has volunteered nearly 30 hours, providing much-needed pro bono legal help valued at over $8,000. While Lynn's introduction to VLJ remains a mystery, likely the result of a serendipitous email that made its way to her inbox, her desire to give back was always clear, and her altruistic spirit has seen her volunteer with VLJ’s Divorce Program and South Ward Promise Neighborhood Program. Lynn’s firm, Starr, Gern, Davison & Rubin, believes that giving back to the community is an important part of its role as a leading law firm in Essex County and has been very supportive of her volunteer work.
In the bustling realm of Prudential Financial's Law, Compliance, Business Ethics and External Affairs department, Linda Dennis, an executive assistant with an impressive 27-year tenure, stands out as a beacon of giving back through pro bono and community service. Recognizing the incredible work Linda does ensuring access to justice for people experiencing poverty, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice celebrates and cheerleads her as our December 2023 Volunteer of the Month.
For Volunteer Lawyers for Justice’s September 2023 Supporter of the Month, we proudly feature the South Ward Promise Neighborhood (SWPN), the catalyst for VLJ’s SWPN Program. SWPN's generous funding—$540,000 since 2017—plays a pivotal role enabling VLJ to provide essential civil legal services to families in Newark's South Ward, ensuring children can thrive from the cradle, to college and career, and beyond.
The SWPN is a powerful collaborative effort of more than 25 organizations working together to invest in South Ward families. SWPN’s partners offer free programs and services to ensure children receive support at every stage of development from prenatal to college and career. The goal of SWPN is to ensure every child growing up in Newark’s South Ward has access to high-quality services and community support.
