Letter from the Executive Director
- Wednesday, June 03, 2009 |
- Written by Ariana Zuno
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As Executive Director, I write to share with you some of KIND's exciting advances and achievements.
I am pleased to report that KIND has secured top talent for our Washington, DC, headquarters. We are thrilled to introduce Abigail Price as our Deputy and National Legal Services Director. Abby comes to us from the International Rescue Committee, where she was the Global Advisor on the Prevention of Abuse and Exploitation. We have also hired a Communications Director and a Programs and Operations Associate. In addition, we have two new Pro Bono Coordinators, one in Boston and one in Baltimore, and five KIND Fellows who are hosted by our partner nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). You can read more about Abby and our other new staff below. Lastly, but equally important, we have 43 law firms and corporate law departments who have pledged their time, talent and financial resources, enabling KIND to broaden and deepen its reach to more unaccompanied children in need.
KIND's docket of children's cases is growing and our Pro Bono Coordinators are conducting intensive outreach with federal, state and local court systems, NGOs, schools and civic groups in their communities to ensure that KIND reaches the children who need our help. Our Pro Bono Coordinators are also conducting trainings in law firms and corporations across the country to introduce more lawyers and paralegals to our mission and provide them with the knowledge and skills to help unaccompanied children navigate complex immigration proceedings. In the four short months since KIND's inception, we've assisted approximately 200 children and trained more than 300 lawyers.
Best of all, we have had some of our first victories. You will read below about 12-year-old "Jerry" from Central America who came to the United States late last year to escape years of severe abuse by family members. Thanks to the deep commitment and tireless work of his pro bono attorney, Heather Condon of Howrey, LLP, Jerry recently passed his first significant court challenge and gained a best interests state predicate order, which means he is a big step closer to Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, a program that protects abused, abandoned or neglected children, which, in the immigration law world, will provide him with lawful permanent residence (a "green card"). In real life, it will give him a chance to enjoy his childhood like any child needs and deserves: free from the extensive physical and mental scars caused by domestic violence, and with the opportunity for a promising future in the United States. You can read more about Jerry and Heather below.
We are also heartened by the changes in law and policy to protect unaccompanied children which KIND has contributed to making a reality. As you may have read in our last issue, the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (TVPRA) provides for newfound protection for unaccompanied children. KIND is persistently advocating on Capitol Hill to ensure that the new requirements in the bill are adequately funded so that children can access the assistance provided by the TVPRA.
We encourage you to link to our website to stay up to date on breaking developments and opportunities for your active support and involvement as we continue to grow and fulfill our mission to help all unaccompanied children in need of representation in the immigration process. We at KIND express our profound gratitude to you for your invaluable support of our children, who benefit tremendously through our working relationship with you.
Wendy Young
