Date: February 16, 2011
Name of Attorney: Shellka Arora
Name of Firm: Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
Client Served: Sunset Park Alliance for Youth (“Sunset Park Alliance”)

Accomplishment:  Created a collaborative framework for Sunset Park Alliance for Youth to integrate services for more than 400 youth residing in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.

Specific Case Highlights:  Seeking to better address the needs of youth in their community, a group of community-based organizations including Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation, Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow, Brooklyn Workforce Innovations-Fifth Avenue Committee, Center for Family Life, Turning Point, Lutheran Family Health Centers, and Kingsborough Community College resolved to collaborate to serve disconnected youth in Sunset Park. In 2008, the organizations approached Lawyers Alliance for assistance in developing an alliance that would coordinate programmatic activity for the neighborhood’s youth.

The process of designing the new project was well underway by the time the organizations approached Lawyers Alliance, but the legal framework was needed. The community organizations proposed to connect the case management and job development functions of lead agencies, while supplementing programs with roving caseworker staff that would ensure that the youth receive proper, customized services.

Freshfields pro bono attorney Shellka Arora worked to structure the new group, draft, negotiate, and finalize documentation to support the objectives of the alliance. With Ms. Arora’s assistance, the Sunset Park Alliance for Youth, an unincorporated alliance of six distinct community-based organizations, was born.

Operating for about two years now, the Sunset Park Alliance reconnects disconnected youth to the classroom and workplace by providing comprehensive case management and support services, enhancing academic skills, and offering access to job training and employment. Sunset Park Alliance’s Director Stacie Sanchez said Shellka was “instrumental in putting together the governance documents,” which were “very key in starting the organization.” Stacie reported having a “wonderful experience” with Shellka, noting that she was always available and showed exceptional professionalism.

About Lawyers Alliance for New York: Lawyers Alliance for New York is the leading provider of business and transactional legal services for nonprofit organizations that are improving the quality of life in New York City neighborhoods. Our network of pro bono lawyers from law firms and corporations and staff of experienced attorneys work together, delivering expert corporate, tax, real estate, employment, and other legal services to community organizations. By connecting lawyers, nonprofits, and communities, we help nonprofits to develop affordable housing, stimulate economic development, and operate vital programs for children and young people, the elderly, recent immigrants, and other low-income New Yorkers. Each year, the 14 staff attorneys at Lawyers Alliance and more than 1,400 volunteers serve more than 600 clients.

Inquiries: Please contact Staff Attorney Lindsey Jones at 212-219-1800 ext. 228 with questions or requests for additional information.