Pace Women's Justice Center Recognized as an Organization Changemaker by Nonprofit Westchester
PACE WOMEN’S JUSTICE CENTER RECOGNIZED AS AN ORGANIZATION CHANGEMAKER BY NONPROFIT WESTCHESTER
WHITE PLAINS, NY- A collaborative initiative between Pace Women’s Justice Center (PWJC), Legal Services of the Hudson Valley and My Sister’s Place, has been chosen as the 2019 Organization Changemaker by Nonprofit Westchester. The initiative centers on PWJC’s Family Court Legal Program (FCLP), located in the White Plains and Yonkers Family Courthouses, and is the first of the organization’s programs to provide direct legal services. FCLP provides emergency legal services on a walk-in basis to victims and survivors of domestic violence that are in the throes of an urgent situation, giving immediate help from our FCLP attorneys, often same-day emergency orders of protection, as well as emergency custody and support. The program, which has served nearly 1,000 clients annually since its establishment 20 years ago, helps clients manage emergencies, and stabilize dangerous situations. As the lead partner in the initiative, FCLP directly connects clients to the fellow collaborative organizations for additional legal representation and individual counseling. The initiative demonstrates the effectiveness of agencies combining their expertise and resources when serving vulnerable populations.
As one of the flagship programs of PWJC, “Our experience with FCLP has taught us that accessibility to legal services is critical for victims of domestic violence,” said PWJC Executive Director Cindy Kanusher. PWJC’S mission is to pursue justice for victims and survivors who are suffering from domestic violence, elder abuse and sexual assault. Across all of its programs the goal is to provide the highest quality legal counsel with services that are completely client-centered, empowering their clients to make the best decisions possible for themselves and their families.
Nonprofit Westchester presents the Organization Changemaker Award to those that demonstrate an innovative impact through collaboration. The award was celebrated as part of Nonprofit Westchester’s End of Year Celebration, held on December 3rd at The Surf Club on The Sound in New Rochelle.
The Pace Women’s Justice Center (PWJC) is a self-funded nonprofit legal center located at Elisabeth Haub School of Law, under the 501(c)(3) status of Pace University. Each year, PWJC provides free legal services to nearly 3,500 victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse, as well as conducts or participates in over 140 training and outreach events. Serving Westchester and Putnam Counties, PWJC’s mission is to pursue justice for victims and prevent abuse through quality legal services, community partnerships, education, and awareness. With an experienced staff and a team of dedicated volunteers, including attorneys, other professionals, and students, PWJC has built an effective, coordinated community response to interpersonal violence. (For more information: www.law.pace.edu/wjc)
