New Fellowship from the Law Foundation of Ontario

For immediate release Monday, September, 17, 2007

Toronto, ON – The Law Foundation of Ontario is pleased to announce the return of the Community Leadership in Justice Fellowships to bring leaders from public interest organizations which interact with the justice system together with Ontario universities, colleges and law schools. The Fellows’ roles may encompass a range of responsibilities including: research, teaching or co-teaching and may also focus on less traditional academic contributions and more on mentorship, activism and leadership (through discussion groups, public lectures, collaborative projects, etc.).

Building on last year’s success, the LFO has again selected two outstanding candidates for the 2007 / 2008 Fellowships: Francisco Rico-Martinez, Co-Director of the FCJ Refugee Centre in Toronto, will conduct research at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law, mentor law students, conduct informal workshops for faculty and students as well as guest-lecture; and Leilani Farha, Director of the Women’s Program at the Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation (CERA) will conduct a women’s social and economic rights program in conjunction with Carleton University’s Human Rights Program.

A former professor of law in El Salvador, Francisco Rico-Martinez will conduct research in immigration and refugee laws. “Ultimately, the goals of this research are to find ways to ensure that the stories of all claimants are heard within the immigrant and refugee process…and to provide the tools for lobbying to improve our immigration and refugee system,” he explained.

Leilani Farha is a leading human rights activist whose legal advocacy work has altered understandings of women’s right to housing. “By establishing a group of students to participate in a research project, undergraduate students from a range of disciplines could benefit from a focused, collaborative and participatory international project on social and economic rights,” she said.

The Fellowships will broaden and enrich the faculty and students' academic experience through innovative and facilitative approaches to teaching and learning. It is also hoped that as a result of the experience, the Fellows themselves will be stimulated and inspired to bring new insight to their respective organizations.

“We are confident the Fellowships will strengthen the connection between the academic institutions and the public interest organizations and result in ongoing partnerships,” explained LFO Chair, Larry Banack. “The results for both institutions are very positive and invaluable to promoting a better alignment of academic and community work,” he added.

The LFO was established in 1974 and is committed to the advancement of legal knowledge, excellence within the legal profession and community participation in the legal system. The LFO funds programs and initiatives that promote and enhance access to justice for all Ontarians.

For more information on the LFO and the Community Leadership in Justice Fellowships, visit www.lawfoundation-on.org.

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Media Contacts:

Adriana Suppa
Communications Advisor, The Law Foundation of Ontario
Tel. (416) 598-1550 ext. 309
asuppa@lawfoundation-on.org

Laura Rosen-Cohen
Communications Officer,
The University of Toronto, Faculty of Law
Tel. (416) 946-5722
Laura.rosen@utoronto.ca

Margaret Denike
Coordinator, Human Rights Program
Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies, Carleton University
Tel. (705) 498-9266
Margaret_denike@carleton.ca


		Community Leadership in Justice Fellowships Return For immediate release Monday, September, 17, 2007 Toronto, ON – The Law Foundation of Ontario is pleased to announce the return of the Community Leadership in Justice Fellowships to bring leaders from public interest organizations which interact with the justice system together with Ontario universities, colleges and law schools. The Fellows’ roles may encompass a range of responsibilities including: research, teaching or co-teaching and may also focus on less traditional academic contributions and more on mentorship, activism and leadership (through discussion groups, public lectures, collaborative projects, etc.). Building on last year’s success, the LFO has again selected two outstanding candidates for the 2007 / 2008 Fellowships: Francisco Rico-Martinez, Co-Director of the FCJ Refugee Centre in Toronto, will conduct research at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law, mentor law students, conduct informal workshops for faculty and students as well as guest-lecture; and Leilani Farha, Director of the Women’s Program at the Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation (CERA) will conduct a women’s social and economic rights program in conjunction with Carleton University’s Human Rights Program. A former professor of law in El Salvador, Francisco Rico-Martinez will conduct research in immigration and refugee laws. “Ultimately, the goals of this research are to find ways to ensure that the stories of all claimants are heard within the immigrant and refugee process…and to provide the tools for lobbying to improve our immigration and refugee system,” he explained. Leilani Farha is a leading human rights activist whose legal advocacy work has altered understandings of women’s right to housing. “By establishing a group of students to participate in a research project, undergraduate students from a range of disciplines could benefit from a focused, collaborative and participatory international project on social and economic rights,” she said. The Fellowships will broaden and enrich the faculty and students' academic experience through innovative and facilitative approaches to teaching and learning. It is also hoped that as a result of the experience, the Fellows themselves will be stimulated and inspired to bring new insight to their respective organizations. “We are confident the Fellowships will strengthen the connection between the academic institutions and the public interest organizations and result in ongoing partnerships,” explained LFO Chair, Larry Banack. “The results for both institutions are very positive and invaluable to promoting a better alignment of academic and community work,” he added. The LFO was established in 1974 and is committed to the advancement of legal knowledge, excellence within the legal profession and community participation in the legal system. The LFO funds programs and initiatives that promote and enhance access to justice for all Ontarians. For more information on the LFO and the Community Leadership in Justice Fellowships, visit www.lawfoundation-on.org. - 30 - Media Contacts: Adriana Suppa Communications Advisor, The Law Foundation of Ontario Tel. (416) 598-1550 ext. 309 asuppa@lawfoundation-on.org Laura Rosen-Cohen Communications Officer, The University of Toronto, Faculty of Law Tel. (416) 946-5722 Laura.rosen@utoronto.ca Margaret Denike Coordinator, Human Rights Program Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies, Carleton University Tel. (705) 498-9266 Margaret_denike@carleton.ca