Widener University Commonwealth Law School Launches Center for Equity and Justice
In a bold stride towards addressing societal inequalities, the Widener University Commonwealth Law School in Susquehanna Township has inaugurated the Center for Equity and Justice. This newly established center aims to be a pivotal hub for legal research and education, focused on critical issues such as economic justice, reform of the criminal justice system, and enhancement of community-police relations.
Promoting Equality Through Legal Education
At the heart of the center’s mission is an unwavering commitment to social justice and equality, championed by Dean André Douglas Pond Cummings. “The establishment of the Center for Equity and Justice is not just a new unit for our law school; it is a powerful commitment to equality and social justice,” Cummings emphasized. This initiative seeks to empower law students with the tools needed to tackle the challenges faced by marginalized communities, fostering a new generation of lawyers poised to advocate for change.
A significant component of the center’s mission is addressing the representation disparities in the legal profession, notably the low presence of African Americans and first-generation college students in the field. Currently, while African Americans constitute 14% of the U.S. population, they represent only about 5% of the nation’s attorneys—a disparity also mirrored among other underrepresented groups, including first-generation students.
Key Initiatives: Pathway and Guided Journey Plus Programs
The Center for Equity and Justice is set to embark on several groundbreaking initiatives. Foremost among them are the Pathway and Guided Journey Plus Programs, designed to break down barriers to legal education for historically marginalized groups. These programs, supported by significant grants, provide comprehensive LSAT preparation and support services, helping aspiring law students, especially those from rural areas and communities of color, navigate the complexities of legal studies.
The Pathway Program, funded by a $40,000 grant from the Law School Admission Council, offers a free, intensive 12-week LSAT preparation course to students in Pennsylvania and Arkansas, leveling the playing field for those facing systemic challenges. Complementing this, the Guided Journey Plus program, backed by a $65,000 grant, expands support to 450 aspiring law students nationwide, focusing on fostering diverse representation within legal education.
Enhancing Community-Police Relations
In collaboration with a major Fortune 500 corporation, the center will also spearhead the Enhanced Community Policing Project. This innovative research project aims to assess and improve policing practices in low-income areas, promoting fair and effective community-police relations. A particular focus of the project is the retail theft of necessity—incidents involving essential items such as food and baby diapers—and exploring how law enforcement can address such cases justly and compassionately.
Fostering Economic Empowerment
Another pivotal aspect of the Center for Equity and Justice’s work is its Economic Justice Initiatives. By partnering with community development financial institutions, the center seeks to provide small business loans to formerly incarcerated individuals and marginalized populations. This effort will empower these groups with entrepreneurial opportunities, allowing them to reintegrate into society and contribute positively to economic growth.
Bridging Theory and Practice
To ensure that students gain valuable hands-on experience, the center offers paid fellowships for its key initiatives, allowing them to bridge classroom theory with real-world application. Professor Kellyn McGee, appointed as the faculty director of the center, remarked, “Our students will engage directly with communities facing significant challenges, gaining invaluable experience while making a difference. This is an opportunity for them to be on the front lines of social justice, developing the skills and passion needed to effect real change.”
Local Impact and Future Prospects
For the residents of Dauphin County and beyond, the launch of the Center for Equity and Justice signifies a monumental step towards building a more equitable society. The center’s programs are expected to not only aid aspiring law students in overcoming educational barriers but also revitalize community trust in legal institutions. These initiatives come at a time when community-police relations and economic inequalities are at the forefront of national discussion, making the center’s mission increasingly vital.
“Our hope is that the students in our programs will see the commitment to equity and justice, take that with them into their legal careers, and make a lasting difference,” McGee added.
The center stands to serve as a model for other academic institutions, potentially inspiring similar efforts across the country. By fostering inclusivity and fortifying the representation of diverse groups within the legal landscape, the center is poised to contribute meaningfully to the ongoing discourse on social justice reform.
For more information on how residents can engage with or benefit from the Center for Equity and Justice’s offerings, they are encouraged to visit Widener University Commonwealth Law School’s website or attend upcoming community sessions hosted at the center.
