We are pleased to share this Fall 2006 eNewsletter with a special focus on EBCLC's exceptional staff.

Jeff Selbin Appointed Clinical Professor of Poverty Law
Effective July 1, EBCLC Executive Director Jeff Selbin was appointed Clinical Professor of Poverty Law at Boalt Hall School of Law. This appointment strengthens and deepens EBCLC's partnership with the law school, and offers an unparalleled opportunity to leverage the relationship between a nationally-recognized poverty law clinic and a world-class research institution. EBCLC is conducting a search for Jeff's replacement as Executive Director, though Jeff will retain a central role as Faculty Director of EBCLC.

Awards & Recognition for EBCLC Staff
EBCLC is blessed with an exceptionally talented staff, several of whom were recently honored for their contributions to teaching and service.

• In September, EBCLC Director of Clinical & Programs Tirien Steinbach received the inaugural Thelton E. Henderson Social Justice Prize for her work which embodies Judge Henderson's lifelong commitment to justice. Tirien accepted the award at the official naming of the Henderson Center for Social Justice in front of more than 600 Boalt friends and alumni at the SF City Hall Rotunda.
• EBCLC Income Support Director Ed Barnes was honored the same month by Asian Community Mental Health Services in front of more than 200 assembled guests at ACMHS's 32nd Anniversary Gala. Ed was recognized as a key ACMHS partner for his tireless advocacy on behalf of the Asian-American community.
• In August, EBCLC Development Associate Chauniqua Young was selected for a staff-in-training internship by the Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training (GIFT). Each year GIFT selects a handful of interns nationally to increase the number of people of color in fundraising and strengthen the fundraising skills of social justice organizations.
• Finally, at an Embracing The Dream (ETD) event featuring Oleta Adams in July, EBCLC Office Manager Ayana Roberson and EBCLC Clean Slate Director Margaret Richardson were recipients of the 2006 Coretta Scott King Community Service Award. ETD recognizes advocates for civil rights and social justice who best represent the life work of the late wife of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

New Fellows Join EBCLC
EBCLC is delighted to welcome four new Fellows in recent months:

• Keo Chea is the third Shartsis Friese Public Interest Fellow in EBCLC's Income Support practice, providing services to Southeast Asian families who are being denied welfare benefits because of disability or language access needs.
• Eliza Hersh returns to EBCLC from a clerkship as a Fellow in the Clean Slate practice, assisting formerly incarcerated people reenter society and gain access to jobs, education, housing and civic participation.
• Luan Huynh joins EBCLC's Housing Law practice in a project assisting Oakland tenants in rent board matters and other administrative hearings under a special grant from Oakland's Rent Adjustment Board.
• Vien Truong is EBCLC's first Fellow in the Economic Justice practice, joining EJ Director Margaretta Lin in efforts to develop innovative, long-term solutions to to address the systemic problems confronting the low-income community.

Medical-Legal Collaborative – Partnering for Health with Children's Hospital
After months of planning, EBCLC recently began staffing a weekly clinic at Children's Hospital & Research Center in Oakland. The goal of the project – part of a national initiative of doctors and lawyers – is to improve health outcomes for low-income children by providing multidisciplinary care in an outpatient setting. The partnership also offers unique training opportunities for law students and medical students.

Child Exclusion Rules – Ending Punitive Welfare Practices
EBCLC is working with dozens of partners statewide – including client-based advocacy groups – to support families trying to make the transition from welfare to work and to end the practice of excluding new children from welfare grants. California is among the states that continue to punish parents and their newborns in spite of data that doing so has no impact on family planning.

Clean Slate Practice – Facilitating Reentry to Reduce Recidivism
The Clean Slate practice provides legal assistance at the Alameda County Courthouse Self-Help Center to people with criminal records for non-violent offenses. With the collaboration of the District Attorney, the Public Defender, the Probation Department and community-based organizations, the goal of the project is to reduce recidivism and promote reintegration by removing barriers to community reentry for people who have paid their debt to society.

"Building for Justice" Campaign – A Permanent Home for EBCLC
In October 2005, EBCLC launched a $3.25 million campaign to acquire its own home. As of October 2006, we have gifts and pledges totaling 90% of the campaign goal. We are reaching out to our community of supporters to help raise the remaining $325,000. The new site will allow us to train more students and serve more clients. More information about the campaign can be found at http://www.ebclc.org/bfjc.php; please help put us over the top!

EBCLC is recognized as one of the premier poverty law clinics in the country, having received local, state and national awards for its dual teaching-service mission and an emphasis on innovative, multidisciplinary practices driven by community need.

With the continued help of our constituents, stakeholders and partners, we will remain at the forefront of innovative and effective advocacy on behalf of clients and communities in need.

For more information, including ways to support EBCLC, please visit our website: www.ebclc.org.

To improve our ability to communicate with alumni/ae and friends, please send address changes, news or updates to EBCLC Director of Development & Planning Jon Marley.

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