Maurice & Jane Sugar Law Center
The Maurice & Jane Sugar Law Center for Economic & Social Justice is a national non-profit, public-interest law center representing community groups, workers' rights groups and individuals seeking systemic change toward economic and social justice.[1] The Center is affiliated with the National Lawyers Guild.
About
Maurice and Jane Sugar were a husband and wife team who shared a lifelong dedication to social justice causes. Through legal advocacy and grassroots activism, they were prominent figures in the early labor movement and in the formation of the National Lawyers Guild. As part of their legacy, they endowed a foundation that provided the primary funds for Sugar Law's first years.
Headquartered in Detroit, the Center seeks to help people and communities across the United States. In many cases, the Center provides services for free or at an affordable rate. Sometimes, the Center will recover the cost of services through court-awarded fees. The center depends on grants and tax-deductible donations to ensure that they can continue to provide no-cost or low-cost services to those who need them.[1]
Personnel
Board of Directors
As at Jan. 27, 2011, the following served on the Board of Directors for the Center:[2]
- Debra Evenson, Chicago, Illinois
- Bill Goodman, Detroit, Michigan
- Leonard Grossman, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
- Holly Herndon, San Francisco, California
- Julie Hurwitz, Detroit, Michigan
- Joseph Lipofsky, New York City, New York
- Jeanne Mirer, New York City, New York
- Jerome Reide, Lansing, Michigan
- Sue Marx Smock, Washington, D.C.
- Sidney Simon, Farmington Hills, MI
- Mark Stern, Somerville, Massachusetts
- Rashida Tlaib, Detroit, Michigan
As at Winter, 2008, the following served on the Board of Directors:[3]
- Marilyn Mullane, President, Detroit, Michigan
- Leonard Grossman, Treasurer, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
- Joseph Lipofsky, Secretary, New York, New York
- Debra Evenson, Chicago, Illinois
- Bill Goodman, Detroit, Michigan
- Shikha Bakshi Hamilton, Detroit, Michigan
- Holly Herndon, San Bruno, California
- Julie H. Hurwitz, Detroit, Michigan
- Jeanne Mirer, New York, New York
- Sue Marx Smock, Washington, D.C.
- Rashida Tlaib, Dearborn, Michigan
- Marjorie Cohn, Ex officio, NLG President
- Heidi Boghosian, Ex officio, NLG Executive Director
Staff
The following have worked for the Center:[4]
- Tova Perlmutter, Executive Director
- John Philo, Legal Director
- Tony Paris, Staff Attorney
- Patrina Griffin, Office Manager
Former Staff:
- Susanne Meredith, Staff Attorney
- Julie Hurwitz, Executive Director (now serving on the Board of Directors)
- Mark Fancher, Senior Staff Attorney
- Thomas W. Stephens, Counsel Staff Attorney
- Cheryl Graunstadt, Development Director
- Gary Gant, Paralegal
- Sheila Harris, Administrative Assistant
- Shanell Lyons, File Clerk
- Tonya Myers, Attorney Fellow
- Nancy O'Neale, Development Director
- Brenda Smith, Environmental Justice Community Training Organizer
- Phoebe Crandall, Development Director
- Alma Lowry, Environmental Justice Staff Attorney
- Hector Ricardo Urrutia, Community Trainer
- Charlie Grose, Development Director
- Craig Regester, Development Director from 1999-2000
Others: The following provide pro bono support to Sugar Law:[3]
- Barbara Aylesworth, technology consultant
- Frank Joyce, marketing consultant (previously director, UAW's Public Relations and Publications Department)
Interns
The following have done internships at the Center:[5]
2010:
2009:
- Jason Eggert
- Jason Wade
- Joseph Karam
- Leslie Pollock
- Kelly Steffens
- Clarence Walsh
- Choi Portis
- Jerome C. Williams, Jr.
- Phyllis Jeden
- Marissa Hanna
- Ibaa Nawash
- Elizabeth Bishop
- Carolina Rizzo
- Ron Warner
- Victor J. Pelaez
2008:
- Matthew Goodman
- Steven Rush
- Tanya Singh
- Quentin Theo Docks II
- Stephen Galgan
- Andrew Smith
- Tomas Rinaldi
- Nicole Armstrong
- Robert Brock
- Molly Harris
- Elisa Gomez
- Tanya Bowers
- Kerrie Kennedy
2007:
2006:
- Tony Paris (now a staff attorney at Sugar Law)
2005:
2004:
2003:
Advisory Board
As at Winter, 2008, the following served on the Advisory Board:[3]
- Jim Benn
- Martha Bergmark
- Marjorie Cohn
- Hon. John Conyers
- Hon. Ron Dellums
- Alan W. Houseman
- Dr. Joseph E. Lowery
- Manning Marable
- Frances Fox Piven
- Victor Rabinowitz
- Dennis Rivera
- Jordan Rossen
- Bill Tamayo
- Studs Terkel
- Baldemar Velasquez
In Memoriam:
Donors
$2,500:
$1,000:
- The Gardner Firm, PC
- Lankenau & Miller, LLP
- Michigan Nurses Association
- UAW Region 1
- Barbara Barefield & Spencer Barefield
- Thomas Brown
- Bill Goodman
- Leonard Grossman & Audrey Grossman
- Jody Lewitter & Marc Van Der Hout
- Jeanne Mirer
- Daniel Perlmutter & Felice Perlmutter
$500-999:
- Barbara Aylesworth
- Sara Gleicher
- Bob King, UAW International Union
- Joseph Lipofsky
- Marilyn Mullane
- Saul Perlmutter & Laura Nelson
$250-499:
- ACCESS
- Steve Babson & Nancy Brigham
- The Honorable David Bonior
- The Honorable Kenneth V. Cockrel, Jr.
- The Honorable Avern Cohn & Lois Cohn
- David Elsila & Kathlyn Elsila
- Debra Evenson
- Jack Gallon
- Robert F. Garvey of Thomas, Garvey & Sciotti
- Steven Goldberg
- Goldstein, Demchak, Baller, Borgen & Dardarian
- Shikha Bakshi Hamilton
- Holly Herndon
- Julie Hurwitz
- Craig Kaplan
- Katharyn Marks & James Klimaski
- Susanne Mereith & Michael Mereith
- Charles Paris Family
- Shira Perlmutter
- Tova Perlmutter & Michael O’Reilly
- Thomas Philo & Jeanne Philo
- Jessica Rechtschaffer
- Sue Marx Smock
- Brian Spears
- Rashida Tlaib
- Gwynne Wilcox
- Saundra Williams, Metro Detroit AFL-CIO
Essential: Advocacy for Workplace Justice
Essential: Advocacy for Workplace Justice is the annual fundraising event to benefit the Maurice & Jane Sugar Law Center.
2007
The 2007 Essential: Advocacy for Workplace Justice Reception & Silent Auction was held on Nov. 14, 2007 at the Detroit Public Library Skillman Branch, Downtown Detroit. The guest of honor was Andy Levin, Deputy Director, Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth. Live jazz was performed by Spencer Barefield & Donald Mayberry.[6]
The following were members of the Honorary Host Committee:
- Ismael Ahmed, Community Leader
- The Hon. David Bonior, Chair, American Rights at Work
- The Hon. Kenneth V. Cockrel, Jr., Detroit City Council President
- The Hon. John Conyers, US House of Representatives
- David Elsila, Journalist & Labor Activist, Former Editor, UAW Solidarity Magazine
- Doug Fraser and Winifred Fraser, Labor Activists
- W. Kim Heron, Editor, Metro Times
- The Hon. Brenda Jones, Detroit City Council Member
- The Hon. Kwame Kenyatta, Detroit City Council Member
- Barbara L. Kessler, Kessler Mullkoff & Hooberman
- Sharon McPhail, General Counsel, Mayor’s Office of Detroit
- The Hon. Andy Meisner, Michigan House of Representatives
- The Hon. Claudia Morcom, Retired Wayne County Circuit Court Judge
- Kary Moss, Executive Director, ACLU of Michigan
- Hasan Newash, Palestine Office of Michigan
- Lana Pollack, President, Michigan Environmental Council
- The Hon. Martha Reeves, Detroit City Council Member
- Noel Saleh, President, ACCESS
- Phil Schloop, International Vice President, International Union of Operating Engineers
- Judith Scott, General Counsel, Service Employees International Union
- Richard A. Soble, Soble Rowe Krichbaum LLP
- The Hon. Steve Tobocman, Michigan House of Representatives
- The Hon. JoAnn Watson, Detroit City Council Member
- Edward P. Wendel, General Counsel, United Food and Commercial Workers
- Amos Williams, Attorney at Law
- Saundra Williams, President, Metropolitan Detroit AFL-CIO
2008
On Nov. 14, 2008, the Sugar Law Center held a reception entitled "Essential: Advocacy for Workplace Justice" at Detroit Public Library’s Skillman branch. The evening included live jazz by internationally acclaimed musicians, A. Spencer Barefield and Donald Mayberry; a silent auction of 47 items including artwork, crafts, entertainment and dining pleasures; a raffle of two vacation getaways; hors d’oeuvres from Atlas Global Bistro; and a short speech on workers’ rights by guest of honor Andy Levin.[3]
Present at the reception were:
- Barbara Barefield, took photographs
- Emily Paris, took photographs
- Jeanne Mirer, board member
- Bill Goodman, board member
- Esther Shapiro, supporter
- Bev McDonald, supporter
- Marilyn Mullane, board president
- Debra Pospiech, Detroit City Council’s Research and Analysis Division
- David Whitaker, Detroit City Council’s Research and Analysis Division
- Mary Anne Barnett, AFL-CIO’s organizing department
- David Elsila, former editor of UAW “Solidarity” magazine
- Susie Meredith, AFL-CIO analyst (formerly Sugar Law staff attorney)
- Andy Meisner, Michigan State Representative
- Lana Pollack, president, Michigan Environmental Council
- Kathryn Savoie, Environmental Program Director, Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS)
- Rudy Simons, community activist
- Hasan Newash, Director, Palestine Office of Michigan
- Rashida Tlaib, board member
- Sara Gleicher, long-time supporter
- Steve Tobocman, Michigan House Democratic Leader
- Ted Phillips, Executive Director, United Community Housing Coalition
- Robert Sheehan, attorney
- Tova Perlmutter, Executive Director
- Michael O’Reilly (husband of Tova Perlmutter)
- Julie Barton, Michigan Nurses Association
2009
The 2009 Essential: Advocacy for Community Justice Reception & Silent Auction was held on Nov. 18, 2009 at the Atlas Global Bistro, Detroit. Remarks were made by Steve Tobocman and the Maurice Sugar Voice for Justice Award was presented to Marilyn Mullane, Executive Director, Michigan Legal Services.[7]
The following were members of the Host Committee:
- Elizabeth Bunn, Secretary-Treasurer, UAW International
- Hon. Hansen Clarke, Michigan Senate
- Hon. Kenneth V. Cockrel, Jr., Detroit City Council President
- David Elsila, Retired Editor, UAW Solidarity Magazine
- Mark Gaffney, President, Michigan AFL-CIO
- Diane Goddeeris, President, Michigan Nurses Association
- Polly Halfkenny, General Counsel, Transport Workers Union, Local 100
- W. Kim Heron, Editor, Metro Times
- Hon. Brenda Jones, Detroit City Council
- Hon. Kwame Kenyatta, Detroit City Council
- Bob King, Vice President, UAW International
- Chris Kolb, President, Michigan Environmental Council
- Rochelle Lento, Attorney, Dykema Gossett
- Andy Levin, Deputy Director, Michigan Dept. of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth
- Hon. Claudia Morcom, Retired Wayne County Circuit Court Judge
- Kary Moss, Executive Director, ACLU of Michigan
- Hasan Newash, Palestine Office of Michigan
- Fred Redmond, International Vice President, United Steelworkers
- Clifford Schrupp, Director, Fair Housing Center of Metropolitan Detroit
- Hon. JoAnn Watson, Detroit City Council
- Saundra Williams, President, Metro Detroit AFL-CIO
- Diann Woodard, President, American Federation of School Administrators
2010
On November 18, 2010, the far left Maurice & Jane Sugar Law Center for Economic & Social Justice presented "The Maurice Sugar Voice for Justice Award" to Van Jones "Human Rights Activists and Green-Jobs Advocate", at the United Way for Southeastern Michigan, 660 Woodward Ave, Suite 300.
Members of the Honorary Host Committee were;[8]
- Jeffrey Breslin, RN, President, Michigan Nurses Association
- Hon. Hansen Clarke, Michigan Senate
- Hon. Kenneth V. Cockrel, Jr., Detroit City Council
- Diana Copeland, Executive Director, East Michigan Environmental Action Council
- David Elsila, Retired Editor, UAW Solidarity Magazine
- Leslie Fields, National Director of Environmental Justice, Sierra Club
- Michael Garfield, Director, The Ecology Center
- Ponsella Hardaway, Executive Director, MOSES
- W. Kim Heron, Editor, Metro Times
- Charity Hicks, Detroit Black Community Food Security Network
- Hon. Brenda Jones, Detroit City Council
- Bob King, President, UAW International
- Chris Kolb, President, Michigan Environmental Council
- Andy Levin, Acting Director, Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth
- Hon. Claudia Morcom, Retired Wayne County Circuit Court Judge
- Kary Moss, Executive Director, ACLU of Michigan
- Hasan Newash, Palestine Office of Michigan
- Fred Redmond, International Vice President, United Steelworkers
- Hon. JoAnn Watson, Detroit City Council
- Ed Wendel, General Counsel, United Food & Commercial Workers
- Saundra Williams, President, Metro Detroit AFL-CIO
- Diann Woodard, President, American Federation of School Administrators
Affiliations
Committees of Correspondence
In 1992, Julie Hurwitz, executive director Maurice & Jane Sugar Law Center, Detroit, endorsed the Committees of Correspondence national conference Conference on Perspectives for Democracy and Socialism in the 90s held at Berkeley California July 17-19.[9]
NAACP
In 1997 the Center received the Environmental Justice Award from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People-Flint Chapter for their work on the case NAACP v. Engler.[1]
Democratic Socialists of America
On Nov. 14, 2003, Detroit DSA's annual Frederick Douglass-Eugene V. Debs Dinner was held at the union hall of historic United Auto Workers Local 600, which represents the workers at River Rouge.
The event honored four people: Julie Hurwitz, the Executive Director of the National Lawyers Guild and the Maurice & Jane Sugar Law Center; Phillip Schloop, the business manager of the International Union of Operating Engineers, who, along with the AFT’s David Hecker, brought Detroit DSA into the Metro AFL-CIO Labor Council-led living wage campaign; longtime DSA member and union activist Carl Shier, who helped found the Democratic Socialist Organizing Committee, one of the forerunners of DSA; and life-long socialist Oskar Paskal, who worked for much of his life in labor education through the UAW and is an activist in the fight for single-payer healthcare.[10]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Maurice & Jane Sugar Law Center website: About Us (accessed on Jan. 27, 2011)
- ↑ Maurice & Jane Sugar Law Center website: Board (accessed on Jan. 27, 2011)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Sugar Law website: Winter 2008 Newsletter
- ↑ Maurice & Jane Sugar Law Center website: Staff and Alumni (accessed on Jan. 27, 2011)
- ↑ Maurice & Jane Sugar Law Center website: Interns 2003 - Present (accessed on Jan. 27, 2011)
- ↑ Sugar Law website: Essential: Advocacy for Workplace Justice 2007 Event flyer (accessed on Feb. 11, 2011)
- ↑ Sugar Law Center website: 2009 Essential: Advocacy for Community Justice Reception & Silent Auction (accessed on Feb. 11, 2011)
- ↑ Sugar Law Center for Economic k Social Justice website, accessed Jan 25, 2011
- ↑ CCDS Background
- ↑ Democratic Left • Winter 2003