For Media Inquiries, please contact: Megan McKenna, Senior Director of Communications and Community Engagement or Alejandra Paz, Communications Project Coordinator.
For more children's stories from KIND's Voices That Matter Most project, click here
Maureen Schad, Chadbourne & Parke LLP
“So much of our work as lawyers is recognizing what a privilege it is to have young people share these stories with us and to trust us with these moments where they hurt the most.” – Maureen Schad, KIND Fellow
Praveena Swanson, Proskauer Rose LLP
“I took on this case because not only did I want to help this family, but I wanted to go to court. I wanted to know what that felt like. I wanted learn how to prepare witnesses and prepare for a trial.” – Praveena Swanson, Proskauer Rose LLP
Sandra: Feeling free for the first time
“Here, I am free to be who I am. I could not be myself in Poland. I am very happy to be in this country because I feel free for the first time.” -Sandra, Poland
Mariya Deryugina, Crowell & Moring LLP
“KIND has been extremely helpful. Whenever we had questions about filing or eligibility requirements or procedural issues, our KIND coordinators were right there to help and work with us to find the correct answer.” – Mariya Deryugina, Crowell & Moring LLP
Brandon: A single-minded focus
“Going to school and all the opportunities here – it has changed me. I found out that I like math and physics,” he said. “Everything is like a big open door.” – Brandon, Guatemala
Katie Chatterton, Haynes and Boone LLP
“It’s a scary system for these kids. They haven’t had the best experience in the past with these authority figures, who in many of their home countries are corrupt and don’t protect them. So, even as an attorney, when you reassure them that you are here to help, they are still incredibly nervous.” – Katie Chatterton, Haynes and Boone LLP
KIND Partners Honored 2013
“They come from Mexico to the Ivory Coast and have fled gang violence, sexual abuse, genital mutilation, poverty, and racial and religious persecution. For us, the importance of pro bono work is that it provides a chance to make a meaningful difference in someone’s life.” -Joseph Tringali, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Alex Zadek, Mintz Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky, and Popeo PC
Safety at Long Last for Girl Survivor of Physical and Sexual Violence Unlike most high school students, Alec Zadek knew what he wanted to do when he grew up: he was going to be
Ron Schechter, Arnold & Porter LLP
“When I talk to young lawyers about why I do this, I say these really are death penalty cases in a way, because in many of these cases if the client gets sent back to his or her home country, there is a very good chance they will be killed.” – Ron Schechter, Arnold & Porter LLP
Stacey Wang, Holland & Knight LLP
“KIND pro bono coordinators, who have seen so many of these cases, are a tremendous resource for helping you get through that learning curve. Once you understand the law and have taken a case, the second one is that much easier.” – Stacey Wang, Holland & Knight LLP