Our 2021 programming theme is The Work Left to Do, and within that theme, we’ll explore a different focus each month. In the first Tea of the month, we will look at a topic from a broader perspective to understand the universal and legal challenges. For the second Tea of the month, we will speak with someone who is doing the work to educate and/or advance change so we can understand the continuing challenges and how we contribute to change in our own communities. For the month of April, our programming will focus on economic justice.

Our April 22 Tea Time featured a conversation with Rachel L. Braunstein and Naomi Young of Her Justice, an organization dedicated to breaking down systemic barriers that are built into the civil justice system, and barriers that reinforce and exacerbate gender, racial and economic imbalances.

Rachel began her career at Her Justice as a Fried Frank Fellow from 2005-2007 and joined the staff in 2011. As Director of Policy, Rachel leads the organization’s policy and advocacy efforts relating to economic justice for women living in poverty and their families, the rights of gender-based violence survivors and immigrants, and access to justice and court reform. Prior to Her Justice, Rachel was an Associate, Litigation Department at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP. Rachel was Chair of the Sex and Law Committee of the New York City Bar Association from 2008 to 2011. Rachel served on the Board of Directors of the YWCA Brooklyn from 2014 to 2020, including as Vice-Chair.

Rachel graduated with a B.A. in English from Boston College and obtained her J.D. at Brooklyn Law School in 2003.

Naomi joined Her Justice in September 2018 as an Equal Justice Works Fellow sponsored by Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel, LLP. She provides advice & counsel and legal representation to women living in poverty in NYC in matrimonial, Family Court, and consumer debt matters. She also mentors pro bono attorneys on litigated and uncontested divorces and family court matters.

Naomi assists in developing Her Justice’s Marital Debt Project to advise divorcing clients who are struggling with consumer debt and/or who may have been victims of financial abuse. She co-chairs the Domestic Violence & Consumer Debt Working Group and serves on the New York City Bar Civil Courts Committee.

Prior to joining Her Justice as an attorney, Naomi obtained her J.D. at City University of New York School of Law where she was a Graduate Fellow, and obtained her B.A. summa cum laude in Political Science and Philosophy at Allegheny College. Naomi is admitted to practice law in New York State.

Rachel, Naomi, and Kristan discussed the work of Her Justice and their pro bono first model, in which the organization pairs pro bono attorneys with women who have legal needs in the areas of family, matrimonial, and immigration law. They talked about the unique barriers women face in these situations as they relate to economic justice.

Check out the recording of the conversation below on our YouTube channel:

Thank You to Our Sponsor

The Robert H. Jackson Center is proud to be the recipient of an Action Grant award by Humanities New York (HNY) for innovative public humanities offerings. Awards were made to non-profits in every region of the state, from the North Country to Long Island.

These grants are federally funded through the National Endowment for the Humanities, thanks to the United States Congress. Previous years have included New York State funding.

Action Grants offer up to $5,000 to implement humanities projects that encourage public audiences to reflect on their values, explore new ideas, and engage with others in their community. Grants are awarded to organizations that connect audiences more deeply to the communities where they live, solidify community partnerships, diversify audiences, and creatively employ the tools of the humanities to respond to issues and ideas capturing the imagination and passion of New Yorkers today. Action Grants are offered twice a year with a Spring and Fall deadline.

The Jackson Center is using its grant award to support our April Tea Time with the Jackson Center programs.