CBA Record September-October 2022

PRO BONOWEEK 2022 – EMPOWERING PEOPLE, EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES

Communities Partnering 4 Peace: Helping Combat Gun Violence with Pro Bono By Bridget Hatch and Elizabeth Gresk

C ommunities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P) is an innovative and com f prehensive collaboration, estab f lished in 2017 by Metropolitan Peace Initiatives (MPI) of Metropolitan Family =U+'OWU*e Y@^ -s+)0U+* pO)P W/22(0O)nf based and citywide organizations to help PUsL !POWsQ/5* W/22(0O)OU* Uo-U+OU0Wf ing high levels of gun violence. Today, it includes a total of 14 partner agencies active in 28 Chicago communities. The !@H@ ](*)OWU !/+-* O* Y@^5* LUQsL sOV s+2g operating as part of the Legal Aid Society (LAS) of Metropolitan Family Services. Through the Justice Corps, LAS staff and pro bono volunteers come together to -+/'OVU O0f-U+*/0 LUQsL WLO0OW* s0V *U+'OWU* O0 !POWsQ/5* 0UOQPr/+P//V*e CP4P Model !@H@5* 2O**O/0 O* )/ U0QsQU s0V r(OLV trusting relationships with individu f als and groups most vulnerable to gun violence, and to mobilize and provide them with a comprehensive set of ser f vices, including legal aid, that lead to personal and community healing. CP4P U2-L/n* s Pn-U+fL/WsL s--+/sWPg s0V )PUO+ -s+)0U+ /+Qs0Oms)O/0* sVs-) !@H@5* 2/VUL )/ u) )PUO+ (0O,(U 0UUV*g U0QsQf ing their residents and partners as part of the solution to gun violence. Using a combination of legal clinics, street out f reach, case management, and Light in the Night community activities, CP4P takes s 2(L)Of-+/0QUV s--+/sWP )/ +UV(WO0Q gun violence in Chicago neighborhoods. !@H@5* *)+UU) /()+UsWP p/+MU+* s+U credible neighborhood messengers who identify and respond to threats and inci f

tions, CP4P and MPI created Justice Corps in 2020. The Justice Corps is the newest practice group of the Legal Aid Society. ^) -+/'OVU* S+UUg 0UOQPr/+P//Vfrs*UV WO'OL legal services in support of organizations working in concert to reduce gun violence in Chicago. Through individualized legal services, the Justice Corps offers clients an opportunity to resolve the legal issues and barriers holding them back from success. The Justice Corps program responds )/ )PU 0UUV* /S !@H@5* WLOU0)*g pO)P )PU Q/sL /S -+/'OVO0Q POQP ,(sLO)ng )+s(2sf informed legal services in support of grassroots organizations working to 2sMU W/22(0O)OU* *sSU+e ;PU u+*)fnUs+ goal of the Justice Corps was to educate and empower communities as to how the law can be used to provide greater security and prosperity. What began as a team of one, has since grown to include a team of nine attorneys and paralegals. The legal issues that CP4P Jus f tice Corps assists with include criminal record expungement and sealing, includ f O0Q Ws00srO* /SSU0*U*& U2-L/n2U0) O**(U*& P/(*O0Q& -(rLOW rU0Uu)*& W+O2U 'OW)O2 *U+'OWU*& s0)OfP(2s0 )+sSuWMf O0Q p/+M& O22OQ+s)O/0 O**(U*& ULVU+ Lsp& and domestic violence concerns. CP4P ](*)OWU !/+-* -s+)0U+* pO)P W/22(0O)nf rs*UV /+Qs0Oms)O/0* )/ -+/'OVU /0f*O)U legal assistance and advice to individuals. !(++U0)Lng )PU ](*)OWU !/+-* p/+M* /0f site a minimum of four hours each week in the afternoon, alternating between CP4P organizations. These schedules consist of one hour of community edu f cation on a pertinent legal topic followed rn WLOU0) s--/O0)2U0)* s0V /SuWU P/(+*e

dents in the community. Research shows )Ps) +ULs)O/0*PO-frs*UV O0)U+'U0)O/0* LOMU street outreach programs prevent vio f LU0WU s0V +UV(WU +U)sLOs)O/0e !@H@5* )Us2 (*U* O0)U+'U0)O/0 *)+s)UQOU* )/ VUfU*WsLs)U tensions, control rumors, and support families of victims and perpetrators of violence to prevent the next shooting. To support communities when mem f bers return from incarceration, outreach p/+MU+* /SSU+ -+Uf+ULUs*U s0V +UfU0)+n services, including relationship develop f ment with returning citizens and con f nections to key resources that prepare S/+ Ss2OLn s0V W/22(0O)n +U(0OuWs)O/0e Case management provides proac f tive services that help mitigate further POQPf+O*M *O)(s)O/0*e !@H@ Ws*U 2s0f agers connect individuals at risk of becoming victims or perpetrators of violence with supportive services that include legal and restorative justice pro f grams, employment resources, family *(--/+)g s0V )+s(2sfO0S/+2UV 2U0)sL health and substance abuse services. Light in the Night gatherings are free events that empower communities to reclaim safe spaces in their neighborhoods. CP4P partner organizations host events in public spaces for all to attend. These gath f erings feature food and activities for all ages, offering productive alternatives and creating access to open spaces and parks for everyone. Resources are available to serve resident needs and offer support in multiple areas, including legal assistance. Critical Role of Legal Aid in CP4P To serve the legal needs of community members and clients at partner organiza f

28 September/October 2022