Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia

UPCOMING EVENTS
(See Past Events)

NOVEMBER 6-8, 2011: PENNSYLVANIA'S EDUCATION FOR ALL COALITION'S (PEAC) FIRST ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON INCLUSION, "INCLUSIVE PRACTICES: IT'S MORE THAN ACCESS"
The conference will include keynote speeches by Keith Jones and Norman Kunc as well as 60 breakout sessions led by leading advocates. Registration ends on Monday, October 31st, so act now! For more information, or to register, click here.

NOVEMBER 11, 2011: MEDICAID, EDUCATION AND THE LAW SEMINAR
The Law Center's Sonja Kerr will participate in this day-long seminar on Medicaid, Education, and the Law in Exton, PA. Sponsored by the Institute for Behavior Change, the seminar will explore Medicaid and Education funding, children's rights to seek and stop treatment and services, parents rights in education and medical treatment, and increasing the potency of a child's treatment by combining educationally funded and Medicaid funded treatment. Register now!

NOVEMBER 18, 2011; 12:30-4:30PM: UNLOCKING THE MYSTERY BEHIND EVALUATIONS
Sonja Kerr will teach a FREE seminar on unlocking the mystery behind evaluations with Laura Deriggi, MSW, LSW, and Julia Alexander, Ph.D. The seminar, sponsored by the Support Center for Child Advocates, will help participants understand the nuances of various types of evaluations, obtain key information from all types of evaluations, and use that information to effectively provide services or representation.
To register, contact Renee Finley by email or by phone at 267-546-9213. The course may be taken for 4 Social Work CE credits (no charge) or for 3.5 CLE credits ($10 charge at the door).

KNOW YOUR CHILD'S RIGHTS! A YEAR-LONG TRAINING PROGRAM IN SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW
Know Your Child's Rights! is a unique, year-long training program focused on specific issues faced by parents, teachers, advocates, lawyers and other professionals involved in special education. Hosted by the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia, the program trains all these people together in the same classes, creating connections between the many groups of people working to provide a better education for students with disabilities.
All sessions are taught by Sonja Kerr, Director of the Disability Rights Project at the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia, generally in conjunction with another advocate, educator, or attorney. Each session will offer 4 substantive CLE credits, and an application to provide Act 48 credits for educators is pending.
All sessions are available by webinar, but unfortunately we currently are not able to provide CLE credits for attorneys who do not attend in person.
Where: The United Way Building, 1709 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia PA 19103
When: 12:00-4:00pm, on the dates listed below
Price: To make this seminar series available to as many people as possible, we're letting you pay whatever price you feel you can afford. Suggested prices for multi-course packages are listed above, and suggested prices for individual sessions are $100 for general admission and $200 for attorneys.
Click here to register.
DISCOUNTS are available for nonprofit affiliation and multi-session registration, and SCHOLARSHIPS are readily available for those who cannot afford to attend otherwise. Contact the Law Center's training coordinator now for more information or for a price quote for a multi-session package not listed above!

2011-2012 Schedule

Please note: "Bullying and Inclusion", originally scheduled for November 15, 2011, has been postponed to June 2012.
(Click here for more information on each session)
August 30, 2011- BACK TO SCHOOL
September 20, 2011 - ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
October 18, 2011- DISCIPLINE, ZERO TOLERANCE & TRUANCY: DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING POSITIVE, EFFECTIVE BEHAVIORAL SUPPORTS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
December 6, 2011- DYSLEXIA, LEARNING DISABILITIES AND READING: RESEARCH BASED INSTRUCTION
January 24, 2012- EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR: WHO DOESN’T NEED IT?
February 21, 2012 - ADAAA, 504 AND CHAPTER 15: SERVICES NEEDED, DISCRIMINATION AVOIDED
March 20, 2012 - CHILDREN WITH EMOTIONAL/BEHAVIORAL NEEDS, AND THE COURTS
April 24, 2012 - SETTLEMENTS: SIGNING ON THE DOTTED LINE (OR NOT)
May 29, 2012 - PRO SE PARENTS: DOING IT ON YOUR OWN

June 2012 - BULLYING & INCLUSION: INTEGRATING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN A SAFE AND FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT

PAST EVENTS

October 6, 2011
The Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia's
4th Annual Symposium on Equality & Thaddeus Stevens Award Dinner: Overstudied and Underserved: Uses of the Law to Promote Healthy, Sustainable Urban Neighborhoods

An in-depth look at legal and advocacy tools for protecting low-income and minority communities disproportionately affected by negative environmental impacts, both by stemming further pollution and by crafting a positive vision of their environmental and economic revitalization.
The symposium will feature:
- Keynote speaker Vernice Miller-Travis, Vice-Chair, Maryland State Commission on Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities; Co-Founder of WE ACT for Environmental Justice; member of National Environmental Justice Advisory Council
- Panel discussions on the following topics: community engagement; cross-disciplinary collaboration; integrating cumulative impact screening tools into environmental regulations and planning; and land use, urban planning & community economic development tools for change
- Leaders from the Philadelphia region and across the country who will share their expertise in order to give us the practical tools needed to drive positive environmental change in disadvantaged communities.

The symposium will be followed by the Thaddeus Stevens Award Dinner at the Down Town Club. The Thaddeus Stevens Award is given out each year to individuals who have made substantial contributions to equality and justice in the issue area examined in that year's Symposium.

Event Sponsor

HOT TOPICS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW:

A yearlong training for advocates, lawyers, parents and educators
View the full calendar of trainings

Earth Day Every Day: Extending Environmental Justice to All

Friday April 22, 2011, 9am - 1pm
To celebrate Earth Day this year, the Law Center will be hosting Earth Day Every Day: Extending Environmental Justice to All, a training session on Environmental Justice for environmental lawyers, advocates and activists. The session will discuss the history of the movement (with special attention to local cases in Chester, Camden, and Philadelphia), current legal theories for Environmental Justice litigation, and non-litigation strategies such as community organizing, advocacy, and negotiation. This session will provide you with concrete tools for protecting EJ communities from further environmental abuse and creating a positive vision for their economic and environmental revitalization.
Register now!

Instructors:

Adam Cutler, Director of the Public Health and Environmental Justice Clinic at the Law Center
Olga D. Pomar, Managing Attorney, Community Economic Development Unit of South Jersey Legal Services
Jaimee L. Moore, Drexel Public Service Fellow at the Law Center

Where: United Way Building - 1709 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Screening of Pennhurst: The Road to Civil Rights for People with Disabilities
On Monday, April 11, 2011, at 5:30 p.m., Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY) will host a screening of Pennhurst: The Road to Civil Rights for People with Disabilities. Produced by Amy Laura Cahn through the Penn Law School's Program on Documentaries & the Law and in conjunction with the Law Center, Pennhurst documents the advocacy and litigation that led to the closing of the Pennhurst State School and Hospital, an institution for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. The film tells the story of how many voices united against the unjust and inhumane conditions at Pennhurst to achieve the promise of civil rights for people with disabilities. It is the story of parents, community members, lawyers, and self-advocates who struggled triumphantly not simply to shut the institution down, but to create a new way of life for its former residents and their larger communities. The video is intended as a reminder that more work is needed to achieve the ultimate goal of self determination for all people with disabilities.
FREE - RSVP to info@pccy.org or call 215-563-5848 x 11.
WHERE: United Way Building, 1709 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia PA, 19103

NAACP and Public Interest Law Center Announce Federal Lawsuit Against Lebanon School District at Press Conference in Lebanon

When: Thursday, January 20th, 3:00 p.m.

Where: New Birth Church 1025 Lehman St. Lebanon, PA 17042

The Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania NAACP announced the filing of a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania against the Lebanon School District that requests that the District be compelled to stop collecting and repay 500 truancy fines assessed illegally in an abusive and counterproductive truancy policy.

Download the Press Advisory
Back to top

Special Education: Back to School Part II

A CLE Program presented by Family Court of Philadelphia & Philadelphia Bar Association Delivery of Legal Services Education Subcommittee

WHEN: Thursday, January 20, 2011, 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: 1801 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, Waiting Room Area Courtrooms A & B
COST: $20 for 2 substantive CLE credits, CLE provided by Support Center for Child Advocates
SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate/Advanced
FACULTY: Sonja D. Kerr, Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia; Kimberly J. Caputo, Office of General Counsel, School District of Philadelphia, David J. Berney – Education Attorney; Liza Rodriguez, Director, DHS Education Support Center

COURSE DESCRIPTION: The goal of the session is to improve the educational experience of children in the child welfare system by: teaching the law and entitlements; teaching the questions to be asked by advocates and judges; and identifying touchstones for education advocacy for children with disabilities. The session presents special education law and procedure, with emphasis on the rights and needs of foster children and those involved with the courts. Topics include: identification and eligibility of exceptional children; obtaining an IEP and services; school discipline; dispute resolution and role of School District lawyers; and interacting with DHS Education Support Center. Download the flyer for additional details.

LAW CENTER PARTNERS WITH WHYY AND ITVS FOR PHILADELPHIA PREMIERE OF PBS DOCUMENTARY "DEEP DOWN"
The Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia was pleased to partner with WHYY for a Community Cinema presentation of the documentary "Deep Down" which shows a community’s reaction when a coal company proposes mountaintop removal. The film screening was followed by a panel discussion linking the film to the local Pennsylvania debate on the Marcellus Shale drilling and featuring the Law Center's Adam H. Cutler as well as Tracy Carluccio (Delaware Riverkeepers), Christine Knapp (Penn Future), State Representative Tony Payton, Jr. and Secretary John Hanger of the PA Department of Environmental Protection. The discussion was moderated by WHYY FM reporter Susan Phillips.

November 17, 2010, 6:30pm (Doors open 6:00pm)
Session website: whyy.convio.net/deepdown

	The Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia's 3rd Annual Symposium on Equality & Thaddeus Stevens Award Dinner Thank you to our friends and supporters for making this year's event a success!
Photos by Matthew Cianfrani

September 30, 2010
Event details:
3rd annual symposium on equality: A Quality Education for All: the Uses of Law to Translate Theory into Practice (click on title for full program) An in-depth look at the laws and policies that impact the quality of public education and how we ensure that those laws help, not hurt, a child’s opportunity to receive a high quality education.

Thaddeus Stevens Award Cocktail Reception & Dinner Honoring: Governor Edward G. Rendell, The Honorable Doris A. Smith-Ribner, and Secretary of Policy & Planning Donna Cooper
The Thaddeus Stevens Award recognizes individuals whose work has significantly advanced equality, fair treatment and justice. We celebrated our honorees' extraordinary work to advance the quality of public education in our region.
View the program book distributed at the event.

Thank you to our generous event sponsors:

Presenting Sponsors
Barroway Topaz Kessler Meltzer and Check

Sustainers
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP

Benefactors
James & Cynthia Eiseman
Hangley Aronchick Segal & Pudlin
PECO

Patrons
The Earle Mack School of Law at Drexel University
Bill and Anne Ewing
Brodsky and Smith, LLP
Greenberg Traurig
Mark K. Joseph
Kohn Swift & Graf, PC
Liberty Resources, Inc.
Reaching Agreement ADR LLC
Reliable Copy
The Legal Intelligencer
The Weiser Law Firm

Friends
Comcast
Donald K. Joseph
Temple University Beasley School of Law

TELLING THE PENNHURST STORY: TRAGEDY & TRIUMPH

The Law Center, along with our partner, the Pennhurst Memorial and Preservation Alliance, dedicated a Pennsylvania historic marker near the former campus in commemoration of the 25th Anniversary of the landmark court order that led to the institution's closure.

When: Saturday, April 10, 2010

Where: Spring Hollow Golf Course, 3350 Schuylkill Rd., Spring City, PA 19475

View the Program from the event

Thank you to all of our sponsors!

Presenting Sponsors
PHC

Spring Hollow Golf Course

Advocates
Jim Conroy/Center for Outcome Analysis
Liberty Resources
Greg Pirmann

Champions
Tom Blackburn & Brenda Frank
Spring Ford Rotary Club
The Wojtylak Family

Defenders
Ellen Greenlee
Royal Medical Supply

Supporters
Janet Albert-Herman
Pat Clapp
The Downey Family
Education Law Center
Steve Eidelman
Dana Henning
Al Hersh
Frank Laski & Nancy Zollers
Chris Peecho
Len Reiser
Deborah Spitalnik
Janet Stotland
TASH
Barbara Trader

Friends
Becky Allen
Brian Berry
Andrew Biggerstaff
CARIE
Catherine Clark
Sarah McConnell
The Rivkin Family
Seeking Ways Out Together Team

CELEBRATE THE LAW CENTER'S NEW HOME
The Law Center's staff, interns and volunteers can't wait to welcome you to our beautiful new office! Please join us to help celebrate our new space:
When: Thursday, December 3, 2009, 5-7pm
What: Tour our new office! Light refreshments will be served.
Where: The Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia, United Way Building, 1709 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, 2nd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103. Map/directions

40th Logo

THE LAW CENTER CELEBRATES 40 YEARS ADVANCING EQUALITY

Thank you to all of our friends and supporters for making the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia’s 40th Anniversary a great success! We look forward to many more decades of progress with your support.

OCTOBER 1, 2009

Event Details:

2nd Symposium on Equality: “Inequality and Work: Facing Barriers, Creating Solutions” (click for program)

A symposium confronting barriers to the workforce for persons with disabilities, ex-offenders, minority construction workers, and others

Cocktail Reception & Dinner, Honoring the family of Edwin D. Wolf, the Law Center’s founder and first executive director, whose vision and enduring commitment has sustained the Law Center for four decades.

Featuring a keynote address by Barbara Arnwine, Executive Director of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

Wolf Family Tribute, Remarks by Michael Churchill

Recollections of a Vista Volunteer, Remarks by Rob Sanders, 1974 Law Center Intern

The Law Center gratefully acknowledges our sponsors:

Presenting Sponsors:
	KOHN SWIFT & GRAF, P.C.
Sustainers:
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Hangley Aronchick Segal & Pudlin Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis, LLP

Benefactors:
Bazelon Less & Feldman, P.C. James and Cynthia Eiseman Fine Kaplan & Black R.P.C. The Independence Foundation PECO

Patrons:
Mark L. Alderman Bob Brand and Liz Werthan Jennifer Clarke and Alan Barstow EARLE MACK SCHOOL OF LAW - Drexel University FHL Bank, Pittsburgh Ellen T. Greenlee	Michael Lehr and Linda Pennington Maxwell Strawbridge Charitable Trust Rucker Powell & Associates, Ltd. Vision for Equality, Inc. The Edwin D. Wolf Family Caryl L. Wolf

Friends:
Barbara Binis John Briscoe and Kate Williams Reuben Clark, Williams Mullen, PC Frances E. Dalton and Sam R. Little Helen and Leonard Evelev William and Anne Ewing Stephen and Barbara Gold Mary Lemann Goldman Richard D. Greenfield and Peggy Goodman Greenfield Anne Hagele and Ken Kolodziej Gregory M. Harvey	H. Laddie Montague Arthur E. Newbold IV Albert P. Parker PNC Bank Prickett, Jones & Elliott P.A. Michael H. Reed David Richman Adelaide Sugarman and Marshall Greenberg Temple University Beasley School of Law David L. Wales

Special Thanks:
Event Planning Committee James Eiseman William Ewing Alisa Field Judith Gran Stacy Hawkins Mary Hurtig Donald Joseph, Symposium Chair Sonja Kerr Elias Kohn Marciene Mattleman Marianne Roche Sheilah Vance Sandra Wang, Symposium Coordinator Liz Werthan Melissa Wojtylak Nancy Zollers	Design for Social Impact Ennis Carter Michelle McCormick Michael Murtaugh The Friends of Ned Wolf Park Ronda Throne-Murray Settlement Music School Denise Bruckno, Musician Bill Hughes Matthew Cianfrani, Photographer Donated Goods & Services Archer & Greiner Drinker Biddle & Reath, LLP Morgan Lewis & Bockius, LLP

All proceeds benefit the Law Center’s work to advance the constitutional promise of equal citizenship, through high-impact advocacy, public education, and litigation.

BACK TO SCHOOL WITH THE PUBLIC INTEREST LAW CENTER:

Hot Topics in Special Education Law for Lawyers, Parents, Advocates, Teachers and Others

Buying school clothes? Have your vaccinations in order? New pens? Don’t go back to school without the information you need as a parent of a child with special education needs or an advocate or teacher of a child with special education needs. Join Judith Gran and Sonja Kerr, national experts in special education law, as they present an update for you on key topics as the school year begins.

View the event program

When: Monday, August 31, 2009, 1pm - 5pm

Where: Reed Smith LLP, Philadelphia

TEACHING QUALITY-EQUITY PLATFORM PRESS CONFERENCE

The Law Center, along with Philadelphia Education Fund, Good Schools PA, PCCY, Cross City and other education advocacy organizations, held a press conference to propose strategies for the School District of Philadelphia to improve teaching quality on March 31st at City Hall.

MICHAEL CHURCHILL RECEIVES ANDREW HAMILTON LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

The Law Center congratulates our own Michael Churchill who received the prestigious Andrew Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his distinguished career of service to those in need; and in particular his extraordinary work to advance the goal of quality and equity in public education.

Philadelphia Bar Association Public Interest Section Annual Awards Ceremony and Reception

December 9, 2008, 5pm

The Loews Philadelphia Hotel, 1200 Market St., 33 rd Floor

Awards Ceremony 5:00 to 5:45 p.m., followed by the Reception from 5:45 to 8:00 p.m.

NEW DEAL EXPO

2008 marks the 75th Anniversary of Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal presidency and his vision for a hopeful and strong America.

Join us at the POSTERS FOR THE PEOPLE GALA

Saturday, October 25th, 6-10pm

Philadelphia City Hall Courtyard

As one of the many local organizations that continues to represent the legacy of the New Deal Programs, we'll be sharing our information with the public at an info table at the event.

Enjoy New Deal-era music, performance, food, speakers, and more. We hope to see you there!

This event is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

For more info visit www.PostersforthePeople.com
Back to top

THE LAW CENTER'S CELEBRATION HONORING THOMAS K. GILHOOL'S 41-YEAR LEGACY OF SERVICE A GREAT SUCCESS

On May 14, 2008 nearly 250 friends, colleagues, clients, family members and admirers gathered in Philadelphia to pay tribute to Thomas K. Gilhool, a visionary lawyer, counselor and public speaker, who opened vistas for his clients to imagine, and then attain, the impossible. Through his eventful years of public service - at Community Legal Services, as Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education, as a law professor and middle school teacher and at the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia -- Tom's powerful insights changed the world forever.

SYMPOSIUM ON EQUALITY: In Celebration of Four Decades' Work of Thomas K. Gilhool, his Colleagues and their Clients At the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia

The event began at the Arch Street Meeting House in Philadelphia's historic Old City neighborhood with a symposium featuring five panel discussions on different societal issues where Tom's work has had an indelible impact.
Full Symposium program
Symposium Photos

AN EXTRAORDINARY LEGACY OF SERVICE AND VISION

The event continued at The Down Town Club overlooking Independence Hall, where friends and colleagues reminisced over cocktails and dinner about their work with Tom throughout the years.

Dinner program

In their presentation, James Wilson and Quincy Abbot announced the Law Center's plans to establish an Endowment at the Law Center to fund the Thomas K. Gilhool Center for Disabilities Rights. The Endowment will allow the Law Center to continue in perpetuity Tom's work to advance the rights of individuals with disabilities to live, work, learn and play in their communities. All proceeds from the event will benefit that effort.

We are deeply grateful to the volunteers, businesses, organizations and individuals who made this wonderful event possible.

Event Photos
Event tribute book
Tom Gilhool slide presentation
Event invitation
Event Save the Date