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Stephanie Bornstein was instrumental in laying the groundwork for enactment of California’s Paid Family Leave Act, the first law of its kind in the country. Todd Espinosa drafted a concept paper that was influential on the Hill and led to administrative guidance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on the rights of public housing residents displaced by Hope VI redevelopment. Marisol Blanchard was lead attorney on a human rights case addressing the massacre of civilians in Venezuela; she secured a $5 million settlement for her clients. Belquis Ahmadi participated in discussions held at the White House after September 11. The focus was on the interests, rights, and future leadership roles of women in Afghanistan. Afterwards Belquis was appointed to the Loyal Jirga (national congress) of Afghanistan by President Hamid Karzai. Olivia Wang drew major press attention throughout California, including a sizeable piece in the Los Angeles Times, to the incarceration and denial of parole to women who killed their batterers in self-defense. Olivia’s coalition building helped gain the release of four women from prison. Alejandra Okie-Holt created a financial literacy curriculum for Latinos/as which has been distributed throughout the country. Torri Estrada raised over $700,000 for environmental justice causes and coalitions. Ron Martinez Looking Elk connected emerging Native American leaders with each other and with indigenous leaders from other parts of the world. Alicia Contreras and Alison Hillman were selected for the prestigious Paul Hearne award for disability leadership by the American Association of Persons with Disabilities. |
