March 2007

On the occasion of the Legal Clinic's twentieth anniversary

Dear Friends -

What an extraordinary journey this has been....

I'm not sure that too many of us who have traveled this road all these years would have had the courage two decades ago to embark on the adventure that has become the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, had we known then what lay in store.  Thank god we did not know.  I am grateful to have made this journey that began when a small group of lawyers came together in 1985 under the leadership of David Crosland, convinced that there had to be some tool in our legal toolbox that might alleviate the increasingly apparent suffering of our neighbors who had no homes. 

Not that every step has moved us forward, or was taken without shedding blood, sweat or yes, even tears.  We know far too intimately the stress, disappointment, frustration, and even heartache, of working to make that ever-elusive thing we call "justice" something real for our clients.  Nearly palpable at times, these feelings have conspired to snuff out our energy, our passion, our hope, our inspiration. Thankfully, though, this conspiracy never quite succeeds.  Somehow, through grace or maybe stubborn naïveté, we hold on to our convictions to guide us and focus us and allow us to be present to the needs of those whom we commit ourselves to serve.  They help us continue to "walk the walk."

I have been adamant that we not "celebrate" our twentieth anniversary, as there remain far too many miles in our journey.  Instead, we "mark" our twenty years, and use this time to reflect upon the many lessons that we have learned along the way.  We at the Legal Clinic recognize that our lives have been rich with experiences that have sustained us through our difficult work -- but which we would trade in an instant if it could mean the end of the suffering which still so many of our neighbors unjustly are made to endure.  Among our greatest lessons from those experiences:

• our community, to a very great degree, is generous and compassionate and willing to respond when called to help;
• the legal profession's extraordinary pro bono tradition is alive and well in the District of Columbia;
• government can work.  It doesn't always, but we've seen that it can, and we're convinced that it must;
• two steps forward and one step back still move us -- at however painful a pace -- in the right direction;
• it is easier to stand together than to stand alone, but it is far better to stand alone than not to stand at all;
• truth-telling sometimes comes at a price, yet it is a price that is never too high to pay;
• our clients are our greatest strength and inspiration.

We are challenged now to draw upon these lessons to inform and guide our work in the days ahead.  Because of what we have learned, we are able to commit to:

• educating the public about the needs of those who are poor and homeless, and inviting community members into partnership with our efforts to address those needs;
• cultivating new, and supporting on-going, pro bono relationships, for without our volunteers, we would not be;
• advocating for continued improvements in governmental responses to people in need, and bringing always to our advocacy the notion that our criticisms must be constructive and our identification of problems must not be without our offering of solutions;
• facing -- and moving -- forward, in spite of occasionally being pushed in the opposite direction;
• encouraging new partners to stand with us as we stand with, and on behalf, of our neighbors in need;
• speaking the truth -- always;
• supporting our clients in whatever ways we are able, so that they may tap their strengths and pursue their dreams.

I have been blessed abundantly to have been accompanied on this journey by the most sensitive, generous, and passionate colleagues one could ever hope to have.  We at the Legal Clinic, both board and staff, have crafted an organization that embraces the values of client power, truth-telling, collaboration, and creativity. We comprise an organization that defines broadly our role as lawyers and advocates and places little off limits as we develop strategies to best advance our clients' interests.  We take seriously what we do, but never place so much importance on the role that we play to have the thought that we alone can make the difference.  Sometimes we measure the value of our work less by objective standards of "success," than by whether we were present to our clients: did we respond? did we provide for them an opportunity to find and use their voices? and did we give them the support they needed to make them confident to do so?  We answer that oft-asked question "how can you keep doing this work after all these years?" with a simple "Because we're not done yet.  We will go home, when everyone has a home to which they can go."

We hope that our volunteers, supporters, pro bono partners and friends will continue to walk with us now as our journey takes us forward.  Only when you are by our side can we be confident that we will reach our destination.   Only with your help can we ever hope to make justice something real.

With kind regards and deep gratitude,

 

Patricia Mullahy Fugere