Congressman Cardenas Supports NLSLA’s FEEL Project for System-Impacted Families
A new NLSLA project providing legal assistance, social services, and economic support to low-income, system-impacted individuals and their families was presented with a major gift from U.S. Congressman Tony Cardenas on Friday. The Family Empowerment & Economic Legacy (FEEL) project removes the barriers to employment and self-sufficiency that often come with a criminal record, and disrupts the generational and familial trauma caused by incarceration. Congressman Cardenas and his staff came to NLSLA’s Pacoima office to present the project with a check for more than $800,000.
“Congressman Cardenas’ support helped us take an idea and turn it into reality,” said NLSLA President & CEO Yvonne Mariajimenez. “These types of projects, which combine legal and social services with employment support, are the key to increasing economic stability in the communities we serve.”
The FEEL project, led by Supervising Attorney, Bridget Engle, Associate Supervising Attorney, Stephanie Lin, and Supervisor of Social Services, Cinthya Islas, increases access to employment, housing, and education through criminal record clearing and other legal and social services. It also helps clients on the path to achieving their goals through peer mentorship, job readiness trainings, job placement services, and economic security grants.
The project’s legal services include expungement, arrest sealing, early termination of probation, Fair Chance housing and employment denials, and screening for other legal issues such as housing, public benefits, immigration, and family law. Our case managers perform a comprehensive assessment using a trauma-informed approach. They help clients identify and work towards life goals, and make referrals to other community-based organizations depending on the individual and family needs. Our peer advocates work closely with case managers to support clients and their families by sharing life experiences, helping clients and family members identify and combat stigma and discrimination, and conducting outreach and community education to reach additional families who might need our help.
The project helps clients like Monica, a mother and college student. Her criminal record stemmed from a drug addiction that Monica worked hard to overcome. She will soon graduate with a B.A. in Sociology from CSULA. But her record cast a shadow over her success, and threatened to unravel her progress. As a result of FEEL project legal services, all of Monica’s record-clearing petitions have been granted. The expungement has opened up so many new opportunities for Monica. She is looking forward to navigating the job market without the barriers that accompany a criminal record, and wants to apply her experience and education to working with other justice-involved individuals and families.
