1966 - 2016 2016: A Commemorative Year in Review North Mississippi Rural Legal Services, Inc. A Message from the Executive Director and Board Chairman orth Mississippi Rural Legal Services, N Inc. (NMRLS) celebrated fiy years of providing legal assistance in 2016. The theme for the 50th Anniversary Celebraon was “NMRLS: The Quest for Jusce in Mississippi”. During the year, we presented special events to reflect on the Ben Thomas Cole, II, Esq. Willie J. Perkins, Sr., Esq. programs and significant ligaon which earned Executive Director Board Chairman us a renowned reputaon for aggressive legal advocacy in pursuit of remedies for the vulnerable populaon we served. Three special events were held during the year: The 50th Anniversary Kick‐Off, NMRLS Historic Ligaon Conference and the Quest for Jusce Gala. These events were designed to: Create awareness of NMRLS’ history and successes; Forge partnerships with businesses, corporaons, schools and friends; Raise funds to implement current and future programs for the commu- nies we serve; and Reconnect past and present NMRLS staff, board members, clients, aorneys and others. NMRLS achieved many successes and withstood many challenges over fiy years. The survival of our organizaon can be aributed to the vision and fortude of board members and staff who relied upon God to direct their efforts to improve the quality of life for their fellow Mississippians. Many of these heroes and others, who fought for equal jusce under the law, were recognized for their work during the Anni- versary’s special events. Some of their stories are also told in words and pictures throughout this annual report. NMRLS’ role in the provision of legal aid connues to evolve as the mes have changed over the past fiy years. While the famous adage says, “ Everything Must Change”, we believe that ONE THING WILL NEVER CHANGE: Freedom and jusce are inalienable rights owed to ALL and guaranteed by the United States Constuon. That is why North Mississippi Rural Legal Services will connue (with your help ) into the next 50 years with our focus, our fight, and our Quest for Jusce for All! Each Day Our Attorneys Help the Vulnerable n 2016, 15 NMRLS staff aorneys worked many long hours to help low income I Mississippians who needed free civil legal services. The Managing Aorneys, along with their staff, were located in Clarksdale, Greenville, Oxford, and West Point. They served 39 counes. On any given day, a NMRLS aorney may start the morning helping a mother with mulple issues. The mom may need a protecve order to escape domesc violence. She may also need help from the NMRLS aorney that aernoon to avoid an evicon or solve an employment problem. While you may think that this aorney’s long work day may be near its end…. ITS NOT! Later that evening, the aorney may be called on to speak at a com- munity educaon program. In 2016, NMRLS impacted the lives of more than 18,357 people. A synopsis of the services we provide is listed below: Employment Opposes wrongful aach- Represents clients on ments, garnishments of public benefits Helps obtain wrongfully bank account and wages Promotes the financial denied unemployment Enforces contracts and independence and dignity benefits warranes for consumer of clients and their Assists with criminal rec- goods families ord expungements to Assists in preparaon and remove barriers to hous- Family and Children resoluon of tax conflicts ing and employment Avoids wrongful garnish- Assists in obtaining di- Health ment of income vorce, custody and support Helps sick children, the Housing Assists survivors of do- disabled and the elderly obtain medical coverage Preserves affordable mesc violence Helps parents obtain Assists seniors in preserv- housing ing health care choices Stops wrongful evicons visitaon rights, guard- ianships, or adopons Prepares advance health Assists homeowners in care direcves, powers of loss migaon process Defends parents in youth court cases aorney and basic wills Helps persons with housing choices Provides help for correc- Educaon Obtains return of on of birth cerficates security deposits Helps children obtain Income Maintenance educaonal services to which they are entled Consumer Helps to obtain, preserve, Assists children in avoid- restore or increase in- Combats overly aggres- ing unfair school suspen- come to meet basic hu- sive or illegal debt- sions and expulsions man needs collecon acvity 1 NMRLS Celebrates 50 Years of Justice Event ‘ Kicks Off ’ Many Memories he 50th Anniversary Kick‐Off took place January 21, 2016 T at the University of Mississippi School of Law — the place where it all began 50 years ago. State legislators, aorneys, Law School faculty, NMRLS Board of Directors, current and former staff members and friends were in aendance. All were welcomed by Ben T. Cole, II, Esq., NMRLS Execuve Director and Deborah Bell, Esq., Interim Dean and Professor of Law at the University of Mississippi School of Law. The Kick-Off program was hosted by Harrison McIver, Esq. Harrison McIver, Esq., Execuve Director and CEO of Memphis Area Legal Services, Inc., and a former Managing Aorney in the NMRLS Clarksdale Office. TALKS of the EARLY YEARS Professor Emeritus John H. Bradley of the University of Mississippi School of Law discussed the early years of NMRLS and the partnership that has existed between NMRLS and the Law School. Special Thanks to Our Aorney Constance Slaughter Sponsors: ‐Harvey shared her experiences, including what it BancorpSouth Tupelo was like to be the first African- Bank of Holly Springs American woman to receive a MaxxSouth Broadband law degree from the Banks, Finley, White & Co. University of Mississippi. Cannon Motors of Mississippi Constance Slaughter‐Harvey, Esq. Complete Computers Presiding Jusce of the FNB Oxford Mississippi Supreme Court Jess H. Dickinson, Friends of ICS Head Start summed up the evening by discussing the unmet Merkel & Cocke, P.A. legal needs in Mississippi and the importance of Serenity Funeral Home NMRLS. Walker Law Office, PLLC 2 2 Guests Remember the Early Years Students from Itawamba A SALUTE from LAWMAKERS Community College Film Club recorded guests The Mississippi House and Senate pre- (young and old) as they sented a Joint Resoluon to Ben Cole. discussed “Life in Missis- sippi and their Experiences From le are: Sen. Barbara Blackmon, at NMRLS”. Sen. Derrick Simmons (NMRLS Board Top: Students Ryan Perich Member), Sen. Robert Jackson, Sen. Bill (with camera), Chloe Robinson (seated le) and Abby Stone, Ben Cole, Rep. Linda Coleman Holiman (standing) interview law school student (NMRLS Board Member) and Sen. David Denise Fondren. Boom: Students stand along side Jordon. college advisor Morgan Cuurini. Justice Dickinson Played Two Roles 50th ANNIVERSARY HONORARY COMMITTEE Aer addressing the crowd, Co‐Chairs (top) MS Supreme Court David R. “Ronnie” Musgrove, Esq. Jusce Jess H, Dickinson Carlos Moore, Esq. joined his band mates (boom) Joe Thornton and Commiee Members Steve Thornton of “The Blue Mike Espy, Esq. Grass Appeal” as they pro- State Rep. Willie J. Perkins, Sr. vided the entertainment for Joyce Freeland, Esq. the Kick-Off. I. Richard Gershon, Esq. Mr. Richard Howorth Charles M. Merkel, III, Esq. Rev. Thomas Morris, Sr., Esq. Nina Stubblefield Tollison, Esq. 3 3 Litigation Conference Recalls History early 300 people came to Oxford April N 22, 2016 to re-live the early years of NMRLS through the Historic Ligaon Conference. The Conference, held at the University of Mississippi School of Law, was the second of three 50th Anniversary events. The day -long program commemorated NMRLS’ 50 years Aorney Michael Trister (le) returned to Oxford of providing access to jusce to vulnerable for memorable event. He was the first NMRLS execuve director. Aorney John Briain (right) populaons, achieving success in the courts and joined NMRLS in 1969-1970. impacng individuals and families in North Mississippi. Aorney Michael B. Trister traveled nearly 1,000 miles to Oxford to discuss the early years of NMRLS. “There were many mes when no one believed that NMRLS would celebrate a fih Anniversary, let alone a fiieth,” said Trister. The topics and presenters at the Historic Ligaon Conference were: Access to Educaon in Mississippi and the Ayers Case, by former governor Ronnie Musgrove; The Quest to Provide Effecve Civil Legal Services in the Era of Federal Funding from Legal Services Corporaon, by Ay. Wilhelm Joseph; and The Future of North Mississippi Rural Legal Services, by State Rep. Willie J. Perkins, Sr. Three panel discussions took place: 1) Significant Ligaon and Mission of NMRLS. Panelists were Aorneys Alvin O. Chambliss, Solomon Osborne, Willie Perkins and Judge Catherine L. Farris-Carter; 2) Day-to-Day Paralegal Pracce in the Early Years. Panelists were Ledell Robinson, Lenard Robinson, Mary Gordon, Margaret Kibbee and Henry Boyd; and 3) Facing Today’s Challenge of Providing Legal Services to the Poor in Mississippi. Panelists were Judge Denise Owens and Aorneys Roy Campbell, Karen Peairs, Ta’Shia Gordon and Ruby White. Civil Rights Acvist James Meredith and Aorney Alvin Chambliss were among the speakers. Meredith was Judge Farris-Carter, the first black to aend Ole Miss. who was a panelist, is Chambliss was the lead aorney in one of many officials Panelists were (from le): Ledell Robinson, Lenard Rob- NMRLS’ famous Ayers v. who began their inson, Margaret Kibbee, Mary Gordon and Henry Boyd. Fordice case. career at NMRLS. 4 4 Historic Litigation Conference Speakers The Historic Ligaon Conference brought together some of the most noted community leaders, edu- cators, government officials, aorneys and others. They discussed NMRLS ligaon which spanned five decades and, consequently, made a posive difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of Mississippians. Included in the discussions was the famous Ayers Case, which originated at NMRLS. 5 5 Friends NMRLSJoin in ‘Quest50 Years: for Justice’ undreds of long-me friends, legislators, current H and former board members, staff, and others convened for the last of the three 50th Anniversary commemorave events, The Quest for Jusce Gala.