East Bay Community Law Center

Did you know that California law allows many unhoused individuals to vote, even without a fixed address? With numerous issues on the ballot directly impacting unhoused Californians and other EBCLC clients, we’re proud to be providing voter education and registration at our upcoming Community Open House & Celebration. Join us on September 26th for information on ballot measures, onsite voter registration, free legal services, free food, and a performance by Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Carlos Moreno! Let’s come together to hold political systems accountable and advance a robust, inclusive democracy. We hope to see you there. 🔗Visit https://ow.ly/AKUl50Tbco0 for details!

Welcome back University of California, Berkeley - School of Law students! Join EBCLC in conversation with Dorsey Nunn, Chesa Boudin, and Azadeh Zohrabi on September 5th at our Adeline office. This is a great opportunity to tour our space, speak to clinical supervisors on our team, meet other students, and engage in a community conversation on prisoners' rights and abolition! RSVP: https://bit.ly/3zeR9EZ

Join us for our Community Open House & Celebration on September 26th! We will provide free legal services, information on ballot measures affecting our clients, onsite voter registration in partnership with the Alameda County Registrar of Voters, free food, and a performance by Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Carlos Moreno! Let’s come together to hold political systems accountable and advance a robust, inclusive democracy. We hope to see you there. Visit https://lnkd.in/gE7MjuG3 for details.

Your support through cy pres awards can make a substantial difference in our fight for justice! By directing cy pres awards to the East Bay Community Law Center, you support critical areas like consumer rights, housing stability, immigration advocacy, health access, and clinical education. Your contributions enable us to serve over 4,000 low-income clients annually in Alameda County. For more information or any questions, contact Jay Kim at [email protected].

We are thrilled to renew our partnership with the Van Loben Sels/RembeRock Foundation, led by their Executive Director, Nancy Wiltsek. Since 1998, their nearly million-dollar contribution has been instrumental in helping the East Bay Community Law Center provide free legal services in the Bay Area and clinical education to over 100 law students annually- including our 2024 Summer cohort! Thank you, Van Loben Sels/RembeRock Foundation, for your steadfast support and continued partnership! 

Last week, in a test of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson, local unhoused residents won an order delaying eviction from their encampment. EBCLC Clean Slate attorney Brigitte Nicoletti shared with KQED how she sees this win informing future advocacy efforts for our unhoused neighbors: “...advocates are not going to stop advocating. We may have lost one tool, but we have a lot more.” Read more here: https://bit.ly/3S7HWoE

Last week, EBCLC made our way to the Supreme Court. In her powerful dissent in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, Justice Sotomayor cited the experience of EBCLC client Erin Spencer, an unhoused disabled veteran. It wasn’t how we expected our client advocacy to come before our nation’s highest court, but it was vital that our work served as a pointed reminder of what’s at stake in the upcoming election and of our power as individuals and communities to be civically engaged. Visit our website to read our full statement about the decision and how we can choose to fight back as a community: https://lnkd.in/ekF9aMAa

Join our Consumer Justice Program Wednesday, July 17th to learn more about avoiding common scams and pathways to student loan forgiveness. Community members and law students welcome! 2PM | Scams & ID theft 4PM | Student Loans 2921 Adeline St, Berkeley, CA 94703

EBCLC is grateful to Akonadi Foundation for their partnership and for spotlighting our work in creating more equitable legal systems for women of color. Read EBCLC Executive Director Zoë Polk’s recent interview with Akonadi President Ray Colmenar to learn more about our mission and work: https://bit.ly/3xFjBQ9

EBCLC attorney Michael Trujillo recently sat down with KPFA’s Hard Knock Radio to discuss the historical and contemporary housing issues facing Black communities in Berkeley: “It’s interesting to look at the history of Berkeley with respect to housing because it has this progressive reputation, but it is really the origin of the most restrictive and exclusive laws and policies that have shaped urban planning across the nation.” - Michael Trujillo, Community Economic Justice Interim Director Listen to Michael's full interview here: https://bit.ly/3W5sHiq