-THE VERDICT- THE NEWSLETTER OF LEGAL OUTREACH May 2016

LO Programs: Continuing to Make a Difference

A Note from the Executive Director Once again, we at Legal Outreach can say that “Life is Good.” Our seniors have been ad- mitted to a number of selective colleges. We started a new initiative, known as SBLC, to draw more Black and Latino males to our programs (presently they represent only 28% of our College Bound participants), and we are holding a Benefit in June to support our ex- panded recruitment efforts. We are grateful for the support provided by our funders and partners. Your investments are opening doors of opportunity for our youth, helping us im- plement programs that are leveling the playing field. To learn more, read below.

James B. O’Neal Co-Founder & Exec. Director

Seniors Accepted to Top Colleges Legal Outreach’s College Bound Program continues to pay dividends. Our seniors will ma- triculate to some of our nation’s best four-year colleges including Columbia, Williams, Wellesley, Emory, U. of Virginia, U. of Rochester, Washington U. in St. Louis, Colby, Smith, Mt. Holyoke, , Skidmore and many more. To find out where our sen- iors are matriculating, click here

501(C)(3). Tax deductible.

Intensifies Recruitment of Black and Latino Males through SBLC The Sports, Business and the Law Clinic is Legal Outreach’s newest initiative designed to attract more Black and Latino boys to our Law and Justice Institute, in partnership with NYU Law School, and our College Bound Program. Implemented in February, this program ex- posed 35 young men to careers and people within the sports industry. The program was im- plemented in partnership with Proskauer Rose, one of the nation’s leading law firms special- izing in sports law, Barclays Arena, home of the Brooklyn Nets and NY Islanders, and repre- sentatives from the NBA, NFL, PMK-BNC and Gusrae Kaplan. To learn more, click here

501(C)(3). Tax deductible. PACT Benefit Set for June 21 In an effort to recruit more Black and Latino males from our most underserved communities, Legal Out- reach has planned a Benefit for Tuesday, June 21 from 12:30-2:00pm at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamil- ton. Confirmed honorees include Reginald M. Browne of Cantor Fitzgerald, Duane Hughes of Morgan Stanley, Judge Raymond J. Lohier, Jr. of the Second Circuit, and Anne Robinson of Citi Group. To dis- cover more about PACT and the Benefit, click here

501(C)(3). Tax deductible. Donate by Mail: Checks should be payable to Legal Outreach 36-14 35th St., Long Island City, NY 11106 Celebrating the Accomplishments of the LO Class of 2016

SUNY Stony Brook J. Kazakov

University of New Haven M. Chambers

University of Bridgeport C. Louison

University of Rochester (2) L. Chen M. Chung

University of Virginia K. James

Washington University - St. Louis C. Riad L. Laine

SUNY Binghamton Wheaton S. Johnson E. Losada

SUNY Oneonta Williams (2) K. Rodriguez J. Bramble E. Eweka SUNY Oswego R. Ramsay

501(C)(3). Tax deductible . Reflections from the Class of 2016

Before, I didn’t really think about Legal Outreach, to me, is a place I want to be a doctor. It began as where you can make mistakes, and something wanted for I am so grateful that Legal Outreach my future, but Legal Outreach exists and that I was allowed to be a really helped me develop a vision while there are consequences, it’s all me, but now I’m actually really part of a lesson that you’re learning – passionate about it. Even though part of this community. Without it, I for my life and gave me the skills would not be in the position that I to pursue it. It started with it’s all a road that is preparing you for my parents encouraged me, they the real world. One thing I always tell both have only a high school am . During my sophomore and freshman orientation, when Mr. O junior years, I was going through a was reading some of the quotes myself is a line from the LO pledge, education. Neither grew up in “short term pain equals long term America, so they couldn’t advise really hard time, and it felt like I had on the wall in the AV space. He no one to turn to for help or asked us what the biggest room gain.” It’s stuck with me because it me on what I should be doing to encompasses my time at LO and achieve my dream. Legal Outreach guidance. But Legal Outreach in the world was, and I remember provided me with the support I guessing and trying to figure it even my activities outside of LO. I supplemented what my parents played soccer sophomore and junior could not give. They taught me how needed academically and out. I really didn’t know. Then he emotionally. LO has provided me said, “It’s room for year and, when we would run laps, to create the best opportunities for all I could think was that my legs myself in a way not even my school with so many amazing opportunities, improvement.” I realized from and I have achieved beyond what I that day on that I could do were burning, and that I had to go could provide. My high school study for the SAT after practice. But I college counselor told me she thought was possible. I’m really whatever I set my mind to proud that I’m going to be the first achieve if I just worked hard just kept saying to myself “short thought I set a record for the term pain equals long term gain,” number of acceptances to private person in my family to go to college. enough. That’s what I’m taking I am hoping to make my family from LO, that no matter where and that helped me focus and colleges by any senior in my school. complete both tasks. That one Many of the private schools that proud even as I motivate my you are, if you have a goal and younger sister to push herself to go you use the tools you’re given to phrase helps me daily. Ultimately it’s admitted me had not previously the lesson I will take from LO: you accepted anyone from my school. even further. make a plan, you can achieve – Jahlisa Pele that goal. can’t get anything you want without Even my counselor thought Legal putting in the work. Outreach made the difference. – Kyla James – Linden Bascom – Evette Eweka

When I review the colleges to The most important values I will take At Legal Outreach, I have grown Legal Outreach is my second home. which I was accepted, I know I with me from LO are hard-work and not only academically but I’ve developed a community here wouldn’t even have applied to persistence. I lost my first four personally. The students I met that has pushed me to do better. them if it were not for Legal debates, but everyone here here have the same goals as I do, They encouraged me to work hard in Outreach. LO set a higher encouraged me to keep working hard and the staff had a better vision everything I do. They’ve helped me standard for me than I had ever and giving my best. Because of the for my future than I did. Now discover that I am capable of set for myself. They expected support from my LO community, I when I go to college, I know I achieving anything I set my mind to. more from me, and with that qualified to participate in the Debater want to study sociology; from As clichéd as that sounds, that’s expectation, I was pushed to of the Year Competition my junior there, I want to go to law school what I’ve learned here over the last work harder. I’m taking with me a year, and this year, I came in second and pursue a career in corporate four years. I’ve changed a lot. I whole set of skills in a number of in the senior class. I’ve always law. LO showed me that not only have a new sense of self, a powerful areas - time management, known I wanted to be successful, but were these goals possible, but drive to do my best in college, and studying, self-motivation - that I didn’t know much about the these are goals that I could, and the confidence to pursue my are going to assist me in pathway or how to prepare for should, aspire to. Overall, I would professional goals and not let excelling, not just in college but college. Legal Outreach really say it’s made me a better person. anything get in my way. in anything I attempt in life. changed my life by providing me – Selassieson Williams – Chaimaa Riad – McEndel Sylvestre with guidance, helping me find life- long friends, and building my confidence so that I could achieve more than I ever thought I could.

– Michael Chung