“We learned that many people – especially children – are intimidated by the justice environment,” says Kapianga. Instead of simply sending lawyers to prisons to offer legal advice, UP Zambia also focuses on accompanying defendants in court. “What we`ve done is train law students in some of the realities of judicial work because they already understand the basics of law. They can help the child resolve cross-examination issues or gather the evidence they need, either for bail applications or to prepare a defence,” Kapianga says. Director of Information and Digital Content hleone@palegalaid.net Kelly joined the Legal Aid Justice Center in 2019 as a consumer lawyer. Prior to LAJC, Kelly worked for the Social Security Administration as Executive Director of the Office of Appeals Operations and Administrative Appeals Judge on the Appeals Board. Earlier in her legal career, she worked for the District of Columbia Public Defense Department on community reintegration and juvenile justice issues, and as a public services attorney at the Harlem Legal Services in New York City. Prior to law school, Kelly volunteered as a union organizer in the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico, and worked as a community coordinator for a shelter for women victims of domestic violence in Pennsylvania. Kelly is co-author of “Internal Exile: Collateral Consequences of Conviction in Federal Laws and Regulations” (American Bar Association 2009).
Kelly got his B.S. from Pennsylvania State University and her law degree from Drake University Law School, where she was a Public Service Scholar. When Jean Cahn, a black lawyer from Baltimore, launched a national legal advisory program in 1964, she wanted to build institutions to help low-income people and communities of color wield their own power against the systems that create and perpetuate poverty. She envisioned legal aid organizations becoming “corporate lawyers” for individuals and community groups. For this, she was called a troublemaker. Arlene began her career at PLAN, Inc. in December 2014 as a director. On June 1, 2022, she was promoted to Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, the first for the organization. She holds a J.D. from Widener Commonwealth Law School and a Bachelor of Arts from Pennsylvania State University. Outside of work, Arlene enjoys spending time with family and friends and gardening.
She is also passionate about training and obsessed with all things peloton. Natalie joined PLAN, Inc. in January 2017 – their first step into the nonprofit world. As Executive Secretary, she brings to her position at PLAN skills learned in her previous roles as a resource person and organizational guru. She enjoys every opportunity to be creative at work and at home, from using software to graphic design research to managing her many (too?) Natalie loves everything to do with rainbows and photographs anything that catches her eye. She and her husband have two cats, enjoy driving vintage go-karts and spending time with family and friends. In 2014, Kapianga and two other founding members launched the Undikumbukire Zambia (UP Zambia) project; In Chichewa, a local language, its name means “Remember me.” Today, the organization supports youth in conflict with the law through legal representation, social support and advocacy for a restorative justice system. With financial support from the Federal Foreign Office and the European Parliament, UP Zambia now provides some form of legal assistance to every child tried in Lusaka district, and the organisation has been asked to expand its services to adult detainees. Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania (LASP) is a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit organization committed to providing quality legal representation to vulnerable and low-income people in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery County, empowering them to resolve issues without legal representation through legal education and improved access to justice. and changing community practices and systems.
that cause or exacerbate poverty.