We are in need of professional photographers to capture images at three of our mobile legal aid desks in October 2015, at the following locations:
- (1) October 10, 9am-12pm: Father’s Heart Ministries, 545 E. 11th St., New York, NY 10009
- (2) October 13, 6:15pm-9pm: All Angels’ Our Place Café, 251 W. 80th St., New York, NY 10024 (a “Know Your Rights” seminar will take place before the desk)
- (3) October 24, 10:30am-1:30pm: The Relief Bus, Park Avenue & E. 124th St., East Harlem, NY 10035
We are looking for volunteers to help us communicate the importance of our work at these sites and in these neighborhoods. Deliverables are due November 6, 2015.
About the Project
Our purpose is to transform all lives through the power of justice and hope. Only one in five low-income New Yorkers have their civil legal needs met. In civil matters (unlike criminal matters), there is no right to counsel if you cannot afford one. However, in civil matters involving the “essentials of life” (e.g. housing, health care etc.), people face devastating consequences that parallel the effects of a criminal prosecution. Without counsel, the poor have no real access to justice even when stakes are high.
Open Hands was founded in 2009 by volunteer attorneys to provide the poor with high-quality, free legal services. We take our services to partner non-profits (shelters and soup kitchens) and complement their care. For example, if a shelter works with a client on job training, but the client is hampered in his ability to get a job by his criminal record, volunteer attorneys can step in and effectuate big change.
Open Hands has grown dramatically in response to high demand. We served fewer than 100 clients in 2011, but over 600 low-income by 2014. While the laboring ore at our legal aid desks is undertaken by volunteers, an experienced public interest law practitioner is necessary for supervision and follow-up. Currently, we have one dedicated attorney on staff.
In light of increased demand, our long-term goals include hiring additional staff attorneys and becoming a full-services legal aid organization. We are now prioritizing our fundraising and communications and recently hired our first Director of Development & Communications. Our goal is that a re-branding, which includes a new website, will help us educate supporters about the civil legal aid crisis and inspire a big response. Gifted professional photographers/storytellers are essential.
Deliverables
- (1) A professional photographer who will shoot at any or all of our mobile legal aid desks on October 10, 13, and 24.
- (2) A set (or sets) of professionally edited, high-resolution images delivered in JPEG or TIFF format.
Process
- (1) Distribution of Prep Materials: Director of Development & Communications provides background on and goals for the photos (intended usage & number of photos needed).
- (2) Director of Development & Communications and Volunteer agree upon a work plan including: shoot location, dates, length of shoot and materials needed.
- (3) Photo Shoots in October 2015: Volunteer attends mobile legal aid desk and captures images of our work.
- (4) Editing: Volunteer edits and color corrects the photos.
- (5) Presentation of Deliverables by November 6: Volunteer delivers high-resolution images.
If interested, please contact Fay Sardjono, Director of Development & Communications, at fay@openhandslegalservices.org and include samples of your work. Please share this opportunity with friends!