As Beyond looks to the future, there are many things to be excited about and show gratitude for. One event in particular that stands out is a new national program that Beyond is starting in Fall 2023. Beyond, in collaboration with NYU Law’s Bernstein Institute for Human Rights, Namati, and Legal Empowerment and Advocacy Hub will be launching the inaugural United States Legal Empowerment Leadership Course. This one-week course will bring together participants from across the United States. The goals of the course are to provide a collaborative space for lawyers, activists, researchers, and community leaders to 1) gain a foundational training on legal empowerment, both methods and ethics that is informed by global experiences; 2) build a network of US legal empowerment practitioners; and 3) serve as a catalyst for adopting legal empowerment in home organizations and movements and exploring joint advocacy opportunities.
The inaugural course will lay the groundwork for a vibrant community of legal empowerment practitioners to determine the central issues of our movement and the challenges we need to overcome. An interactive virtual launch session will be held on February 16th, including information on the course application process. Course participants will be selected by a committee of practitioners and the course will be held in the fall. The course will also provide seed grants to promising legal empowerment projects and offer post course mentorship for selected participants. Site visits and guidance provided by faculty will ensure the work carries forward, as Beyond works to build a legal empowerment movement in the US.
Also be sure to check out Beyond’s TED Talk when it’s released on January 30th at 11am ET. It is humbling to be able to participate in discussions that will undoubtedly get Beyond’s model out there, so that we can grow our work and expand our impact. To all of Beyond’s partners, donors, board members, volunteers, and staff – thank you. We simply could not do this without you.
