Hinckley Allen is proud to announce its first Social Justice Partnership Program partners: the Connecticut Violence Intervention Program, and the Center for Law, Equity, and Race at Northeastern University Law School. The firm established its Social Justice Partnership Program as a way to offer meaningful support to non-profit organizations in our communities that have a mission and record of furthering social justice and racial equity. Hinckley Allen Social Justice Partnership Program partners receive a significant grant from the firm’s recently established Social Justice Fund and ongoing help and support from members of the firm to support the organization in furthering its mission.
“We intend to maximize our impact by investing a greater level of financial and human capital in our communities with our Social Justice partners. We want to develop close relationships with them and leverage the resources, stakeholders, and experience of the firm to support their efforts,” said Noble F. Allen, partner, and chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.
Non-profit organizations were invited to apply and applications were reviewed by the Selection Committee. “We were blown away by the incredible work Social Justice Partnership Program applicants are doing in our communities to address racial disparities and further social justice,” said Jay Gonzalez, a member of the Selection Committee. “Our hope is that we can make a valuable contribution to the meaningful and impactful work being done by our new partners.”
The Connecticut Violence Intervention Program (CTVIP) is a non-profit organization serving young people ages 14-24 who have been directly involved with violence and traumatized by community violence. Started in New Haven in 2018, the diverse staff of CTVIP improves the lives of young people in the greater New Haven juvenile justice system. Providing trauma-informed care for all youth, CTVIP facilitates education, employment, connection to mental health resources, as well as assistance for youth in the court system. Their work has increased youth engagement with social programs and services, reduced youth recidivism, and increased youth compliance with court mandates. The Hinckley Allen Social Justice Fund grant funding will be used to provide more trauma-informed professional development to violence prevention specialists.
“We are delighted to receive this news. These funds will be used to improve outcomes for young people in the greater New Haven juvenile justice system, and will also support our young women’s group who are the fastest-rising population in our judicial and corrections systems. We look forward to our partnership with Hinckley Allen and appreciate their support towards this worthy cause.” – Leonard Jahad, Executive Director, Connecticut Violence Intervention Program
The Center for Law, Equity, and Race (CLEAR) was founded in 2021 at Northeastern University Law School. The Criminal Justice Task Force at CLEAR is focused on creating a more just and fairer criminal justice system through systemic changes. Among other research and initiatives, the Task Force has helped to create and secure funding for a state-wide, state-funded reentry network to help people coming out of prison; supported training on restorative justice practices; and co-hosted a series of expert panel discussions regarding the history of racial injustices in the legal system in Massachusetts. The Hinckley Allen Social Justice Fund grant funding will be used to hire law students to support this important work.
“We are so thankful for this generous grant and appreciate Hinckley Allen for demonstrating faith in the program and the Jail to Job pipeline. With this extraordinary support, I hope to help the Massachusetts Community Justice Centers provide people coming out of jail and prison with the resources they need to lead productive lives. This initial grant will help us build the infrastructure and architecture we need to do this. I am grateful to Hinckley Allen for giving me the opportunity to do this important work.” – Professor Deborah A. Ramirez, Professor of Law, Co-Director of the Center for Law, Equity and Race, Northeastern University School of Law
The firm intends for this to be an annual program, offering a significant and enduring way to partner with organizations in the communities it serves to address racial inequities. Together, the firm and the grantees will work to advance their valuable missions.
Hinckley Allen is a client-driven, forward-thinking business law firm with one goal: to provide value and deliver results for our clients. Recognized as an AmLaw 200 firm, our lawyers collaborate across practices and pursue excellence to deliver exceptional client service. Clients include leading regional, national, and international companies in a wide range of industries. With offices throughout the Northeast – Boston, Hartford, Providence, Manchester, and Albany – and Chicago, Hinckley Allen has been a vital force in law, business, government, and our communities since 1906.