"Racial justice advocacy is a tool to be used in constructing the type of society that we hope to build. It is a perspective that attempts to identify those continuing barriers that keep people locked out of power, resources and human dignity. It is a process of addressing the past, policing the present, and building the future."
-- Professor David Hall, keynote address.

In December 2003, we sponsored our second annual Advocacy Symposium, this year focusing on Racial Justice Advocacy and geared primarily for Advocacy Coordinators, Litigation Directors and other senior staff in our region. Professor David Hall of Northeastern University School of Law provided an inspirational keynote, challenging us to explicitly examine the intersections of race and poverty, and develop proactive strategies to address institutional policies and practices that negatively impact communities of color and language minorities.

"From fair housing cases, to bi-lingual education litigation, to predatory lending practices, there is a hidden racial dimension that you must be sensitive to and willing to use your resources to address. Race has affected every aspect of American life." Through presentations and discussion, participants explored the meaning of and imperative for racial justice advocacy by legal aid advocates and examined a range of litigation, community problem-solving and alternative advocacy approaches that legal aid advocates engage in to achieve racial justice. We were also joined by Camille Holmes, Center for Law and Social Policy who provided a national perspective and insights on racial justice issues.

Marianne Engleman-Lado, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest and Philip Tegeler, incoming Director, Poverty and Race Research Action Council discussed the impact of recent Supreme Court decisions on civil rights laws and remedies. Several advocates described racial justice initiatives that they are involved in and, from these, participants identified a set of principles and practices to support program commitment to racial justice. A complete summary of Racial Justice presentations and discussion themes is forthcoming.