The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law's Community Development Project (CDP) kicked off a new initiative in January to partner with community development clinics at local law schools.  The inaugural effort in collaboration with the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law affords law students the opportunity to assist in meaningful work while gaining real-world experience. CDP staff and UDC clinical law professors Louise Howells and Laurie Morin are jointly supervising four clinical students on various CDP matters.

Prof. Laurie Morin

Prof. Louise Howells

Two of the students, Eva Seidelman and Debbie Aston, are assisting two of CDP’s newest clients.  Providence Community Housing is an affordable housing developer in New Orleans and is in the midst of redeveloping the Lafitte public housing development, one of the "Big Four” public housing projects demolished in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.  As part of this effort, Providence, with the assistance of CDP and the clinical students, is working with residents to form a tenants’ association and a homeowners’ association. 

These students are also assisting the Rose Community Development Corporation (CDC) with applying for tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) status.  Rose CDC is redeveloping a site in the Tremé neighborhood that will include a charter school, space for artists and cultural entrepreneurs, and a community development financial institution.

Two other students, Emily Citkowski and Stephon Patterson, are assisting another new client, the Broadmoor Development Corporation (BDC), which is working to revitalize the Broadmoor neighborhood in New Orleans, on matters related to board governance.  They are also working with long-time CDP client North Gulfport Community Land Trust (CLT) in Mississippi on developing an affordable housing finance and development plan on a number of parcels of land that it currently owns.

Read more at the Lawyers' Committee, "CDP Launches New Initiative with the University of District Columbia School of Law Community Development Law Clinic"