Bet Tzedek President & CEO

WeHo Shows Up: Community Open House and Volunteer Fair Returns to Plummer Park - WEHOonline.com West Hollywood will host its annual Community Provider Open House and Volunteer Fair on November 13 at Plummer Park, connecting residents with local health, housing, and social service programs — and ...

@bettzedeklegal.bsky.social is proud to support the @wehocity.bsky.social community! Be sure to visit and get the resources you need.
wehoonline.com/146219-2/

Open Enrollment for 2026 Coverage through Medicare & the Marketplace—Basics for Advocates - Justice in Aging Learn about the Medicare and Marketplace Open Enrollment Periods (OEPs) for the 2026 plan year and get tips for choosing affordable coverage options for older adults.

Open enrollment season is here.

Be sure to ask your low-income patients or clients whether they are paying a Part D premium. If they are or don’t know, urge them to review their options with a SHIP counselor.

Pro Bono Spotlight: Bet Tzedek Paladin makes it easier for Administer Justice to promote & manage pro bono, connecting legal professionals & individuals in need.

Thank you, Paladin, for this pro bono spotlight: www.joinpaladin.com/case-studies... Read about Bet Tzedek's background, our rapid response in time of crises like the January wildfires and ICE raids, how we expand our pro bono programs, and more!

We're proud to be using Paladin, a cutting-edge pro bono platform making it easier than ever for attorneys & legal professionals to discover, sign up for, and track meaningful pro bono opportunities.

Whether you're passionate about housing justice, elder law, workers’ rights, or immigration advocacy, our new Paladin-powered portal helps you get involved with just a few clicks.

By embracing platforms like this, we’re shrinking the justice gap and building a more equitable legal system for all.

California Voting Rights Resource for Unhoused People and People with Criminal Records. Remember to vote on November 4th, and share this with your network!

Re-shared from California Immigrant Policy Center: Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1261 by Assemblymember Mia Bonta into law!!! 🎉

🔊Tune in this Saturday at noon!🔊 Bet Tzedek's Employment Rights Attorney Yvonne Medrano will be on KPFK 90.7 FM (LIVE). Listen on the radio or here: www.kpfk.org

TUNE IN and share this with your network!

The 2025 Access to Justice auction is OPEN! Bid now to win exciting gifts and experiences that support LAFLA's mission, including:

🎤4 Tickets and Forum Club passes to see Ariana Grande
⚾2026 Los Angeles Dodgers Experience

Place your bids today! https://auction.biddingforgood.com/auction/341808182

“Care Is Resistance” | Part I of Our Q&A with Anna Wadia and Kevin Prindiville | Mark Swartz | Anna Wadia is executive director of The CARE Fund, which is a collaborative fund that is bringing together foundations …

When older adults lose access to Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security, there's no backup plan.

As @kevinprindiville.bsky.social puts it, "There's no safety net for the safety net."

One Woman's Fight Against Texas' Medicaid Estate Recovery Program Her mother had been in a nursing home paid for by Medicaid. Now, the state wanted its money back: “It was like wild animals pouncing on meat."

States can target grieving families to repay thousands for Medicaid-covered long-term care. In some cases, these so-called "Medicaid estate recovery" programs even seize the family home—often the only asset left.

A devastating read about a little-known practice:

Gov. Newsom just signed a law that’ll expand California’s paid leave program in 2028 to include care for any blood relative or chosen family member. This is a major win for California workers, especially LGBTQ+ and immigrant workers. Listen to Staff Attorney Shazzy Kamali explain the new law ⬇️

LAFLA’s Permanency Project has helped over 160 clients apply for lawful permanent residency thanks to UC Irvine School of Law students & Orrick attorneys. At our latest clinic, students assisted 8 clients seeking refuge from global insecurity—guided by LAFLA's expert staff & our pro bono volunteers.

Why these street vendors with legal status carry passports amid ICE raids After the Supreme Court cleared the way for racial profiling in immigration raids, many street vendors with legal status are grappling with what documents to carry for protection.

Bet Tzedek and our Kinship Care Attorney Lesly Mendoza were featured in this Boyle Heights Beat article, "Should you carry your U.S. passport in case of an ICE raid? These street vendors say they have no choice."

Read here: boyleheightsbeat.com/ice-raids-st...

Join us for an evening of free legal support to help fire survivors rebuild, recover, and restore.
🔗 RSVP at tinyurl.com/EatonFireSurvivorLegalAid

October's issue of "BT Now," our monthly news digest, is out! In this issue, we celebrate major wins with laws we co-sponsored, share vital resources for vulnerable populations, and much more!

Check it out: mailchi.mp/bettzedek/bt...

If you applied for FEMA relief and disagree with their decision, you can appeal—and we can help! Join our FEMA Appeals Clinic to get step-by-step guidance on how to file an appeal and understand your rights in the process.

📅 Tuesday, Oct 21 | 2:30 – 5:00 PM
📍 Virtual
📌 lafla.org/fires.

From new resources and laws to community advocacy, this issue of BT NOW highlights the resilience and impact of @bettzedeklegal.bsky.social team and partners. 💪🏽✨

📰 Read it below, let us know what resonates with you, and share to help amplify!

#JusticeForAll #BTNow #LegalAid #CommunityPower

Center for Reproductive Rights - Senior Director of Litigation  Title: Senior Director of Litigation Unit: Litigation, U.S. Program Division Center Background:  The Center for Reproductive Rights is a global human rights organization working to ensure that reproductive rights are protected in law as fundamental human rights worldwide. With offices in New York City, and Washington, D.C.; Nairobi, Kenya; Bogota, Colombia; and Geneva, Switzerland, the Center is a non-profit, non-partisan organization changing law and policy throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the United States. Our 270+ diverse professionals are committed to advancing the Center’s human rights mission through game-changing litigation, legal policy, and advocacy work. This has powered the Center’s exceptional growth to an operating budget of over $67 million and won the respect of law firms in countries around the world. Our global pro bono network includes over 3,000 lawyers across 6 continents, 64 countries, and 130 law firms. Last year, law firms contributed over $35 million USD in pro bono legal services. The Center’s Strategic Plan sets a high mark for impact: By 2030, half of the world’s population will be living under stronger protections for reproductive rights than they were in 2020. The Center has a record of success to back up this ambitious goal. Since our founding in 1992, the Center has transformed how reproductive rights are understood and applied by courts, governments, and human rights bodies worldwide on issues including maternal health, abortion, assisted reproduction, and adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights. We have won groundbreaking cases before national courts, U.N. Committees, and regional human rights bodies. The Center has also led development of historic, proactive legislation advancing robust protections for reproductive rights. It has built the legal capacity of women’s rights advocates in more than 65 countries and counting. To learn more about the Center, please go to www.reproductiverights.org The Job:  In the midst of an escalating assault on reproductive freedom in the United States, the Center for Reproductive Rights is seeking a bold, strategic, and visionary litigator to lead its U.S. Litigation team. The Senior Director of Litigation sets the strategic vision for the Center’s litigation efforts nationwide and ensures alignment with broader institutional goals. Reporting to the Chief Program Officer, U.S. Division, the Senior Director works closely with cross-functional leaders in Policy and Advocacy and Corporate Engagement to drive an integrated strategy that secures lasting legal protections and prevents regression across the reproductive rights landscape. As the head of the Litigation Unit, a team of 27 professionals, including 23 attorneys, the Senior Director is responsible for ensuring high-quality legal execution and internal coordination. This includes overseeing case development and implementation, translating strategic goals into impactful litigation, and ensuring the team’s legal work is timely, coordinated, and rigorous. The Senior Director also provides unified leadership across the Litigation Unit’s internal structure, directly supervising senior leaders and cultivating an inclusive, transparent, and accountable team culture. They are responsible for fostering alignment across workstreams, providing guidance to team leaders, and ensuring that staff are well-supported in their growth, collaboration, and contributions. A core component of the Center’s litigation model involves partnering with leading law firms, corporate legal departments, and other pro bono allies. In collaboration with the Center’s internal pro bono team, the Senior Director will steward and grow a robust network of pro bono partners, expanding capacity, deepening expertise, and extending the reach of the Unit’s litigation docket. Finally, the Senior Director plays a key role in external engagement, serving as a visible leader and spokesperson for the Center’s litigation work. They will represent the Center in courtrooms, coalitions, donor briefings, media opportunities, and other public forums, helping to elevate the Center’s visibility and cultivate support for its mission. This position requires approximately 35% travel. This position will be based in the Center’s New York City headquarters in a hybrid model of 3 days in-office, 2 days working-from-home. Primary Responsibilities:  Strategy Development The Senior Director of Litigation is responsible for developing and executing a bold and effective litigation strategy to advance reproductive rights and justice across the United States. They will ensure that the Litigation Unit’s work is grounded in legal excellence, responsive to emerging threats and opportunities, and advances the Center’s broader long-term strategic goals. The Senior Director will collaborate with the Chief Program Officer, U.S. Division, to ensure cohesion across the Division’s integrated strategy and will work closely with leaders of the Policy and Advocacy and Corporate Engagement teams to maximize the Center’s impact. Serve as a key strategic advisor to the Chief Program Officer and an active member of the U.S. Division leadership team. Contribute to cross-divisional priority setting, high-level decision-making, and long-term planning.  Lead the development of an ambitious, impactful, and cohesive state and federal litigation strategy to secure legal guarantees for reproductive rights, prevent regression, and advance the Center’s integrated U.S. Division strategy.  Drive strategic thinking and innovation by setting long-term goals, fostering a culture of experimentation, and translating complex ideas into actionable litigation strategies responsive to changing legal and political conditions. Collaborate with fellow senior leaders across Corporate Engagement and Policy and Advocacy Units to ensure that each team’s work is strategically aligned and mutually reinforcing. Identify timely opportunities for coordinated action on high-impact issues and in key jurisdictions, bringing forward bold and creative ideas that maximize the Center’s overall impact. Represent the Litigation Unit in division-wide and organization-wide strategic planning forums, offering insights that reflect both deep subject matter expertise and a broad, cross-functional perspective. Program Execution The Senior Director is responsible ensuring that the Unit’s work is carried out with excellence, coordination, and urgency. They are accountable for translating strategic goals into impactful legal action, overseeing the quality, timeliness, and effectiveness of the team’s litigation activities.  Ensure that litigation activities are aligned with the Division’s integrated strategy and reflect the Center’s long-term vision and values. Provide strategic input on case development, litigation priorities, and related non-litigation work, in coordination with senior leaders. Effectively execute annual and multi-year plans, while adapting to changing external conditions and emerging priorities.  Oversee development and management of Unit budget.  Track progress toward programmatic goals and ensure clear lines of accountability across the team. Identify gaps, risks, or areas where course correction is needed, and guide timely, strategic adjustments and prioritization. Lead and participate in coordinated rapid response efforts to legal and political developments by working with internal teams to take timely, strategic, and effective action in response to crises and opportunities. Stay abreast of U.S. legal developments and regularly brief the Chief Program  Officer and CEO, and the Center leadership on jurisprudential developments, emerging risks, opportunities, and their implications for the Center’s strategy and operations. Proactively elevate issues through the appropriate channels from the Litigation Unit to the Chief Program Officer and CEO, ensuring they receive timely and regular updates to support effective decision-making.  Lead and contribute to the preparation of high-quality materials and updates on litigation work for the Chief Program Officer, CEO, Board of Directors, and other senior stakeholders, including in advance of meetings and events. People Management The Senior Director will provide unified leadership for the Litigation Unit, fostering a cohesive and aligned team while directly supervising senior leaders who manage distinct teams and workstreams. The Senior Director is responsible for ensuring these leaders have the guidance, resources, and feedback needed to succeed, while cultivating a strong, inclusive team culture grounded in transparency, accountability, and collaboration. This role calls for someone who can address challenges proactively and create an environment where staff feel supported and able to thrive. Recruit, develop, and performance manage a diverse, high-performing Unit Leadership Team. Ensure all lawyers in the Unit comply with applicable ethical and practice rules. Address personnel or operational challenges with transparency and care, supporting a problem-solving culture and timely resolution of issues. Inspire commitment and build high-performing teams by developing staff, mentoring future leaders, and fostering a results-oriented culture grounded in clear direction and accountability. Cultivate an inclusive Unit that values open communication, shared ownership of successes and setbacks, and a commitment to professional growth, equity, and well-being. Communicate with clarity and purpose, share decisions transparently, and build strong relationships internally and externally, including across lines of authority, through emotional intelligence, strategic foresight, and interpersonal savvy. Model the Center’s core values (global inclusivity, integrity, impact, and excellence) with self-awareness and a steady, non-reactive presence. Demonstrate humility, learn from experience, and lead with confidence and composure. Pro Bono Relationships Pro bono partnerships are a vital component of the Center’s litigation model, enabling the Unit to expand capacity, deepen expertise, and broaden its reach across jurisdictions. The Senior Director of Litigation will maintain and strengthen relationships with leading law firms, corporate legal departments, and other pro bono partners to ensure these collaborations are effectively scoped, strategically aligned, and meaningfully integrated into the Unit’s docket. Cultivate new relationships with law firms, legal departments, and other potential pro bono collaborators to expand the Center’s capacity, extend the reach of its legal strategies, and deepen impact across jurisdictions. Serve as the lead point of contact for high-value pro bono relationships, including managing firm assignments, resolving challenges, and coordinating with Development and Communications to highlight impact and strengthen donor engagement. Partner with the Center’s pro bono team to identify, scope, and integrate pro bono support across the Litigation Unit’s active and prospective cases, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities, effective delegation, and timely communication with external partners. External Engagement Lead the Litigation Unit’s external-facing strategy and represent the Center with a range of stakeholders, including clients, donors, coalition partners, the media, and the broader legal and advocacy communities. The Senior Director will be a key voice for the Center’s litigation work and play a critical role in enhancing the Center’s visibility and strengthening external partnerships. This requires approximately 35% travel for court appearances, in-person meetings, conferences, retreats, and events. Represent the Center and our litigation work in external coalitions, at public events, and in strategic partnerships, elevating the Center’s visibility and leadership in the field.  Ensure key external relationships critical to the success of the U.S. integrated strategy are developed and well-managed to support strategic alignment, collaboration, and information sharing. Build and maintain relationships with local and diverse community-based partners, particularly those serving or led by historically marginalized groups. Ensure the Litigation Unit’s external messaging is aligned with the Center’s integrated strategy and organizational values. Serve as a spokesperson for the Center’s litigation work in media engagements, and, when appropriate, prepare other Center spokespeople for their own media appearances.  Contribute to the development and review of external communications materials, including press releases, media advisories, public statements, and website content.  Participate in donor-facing meetings. Ensure timely, strategic, and accurate reporting on the Litigation Unit’s work for funder proposals, grant reports, and donor briefing materials. Compensation: The annual salary for this position is $245,000. This salary will be subject to a downward locality adjustment if future authorization is granted to work outside the location listed in this posting. Union Status: This position is non-union. FLSA Exempt Status:?Exempt. Job Band: Senior Director (S11)  Benefits:  Health: The Center provides a comprehensive health insurance plan with no in-network deductible and best-in-class reproductive healthcare coverage, including infertility. The Center also offers Dental and Vision coverage.  Well-being: The Center offers resources to help prevent and recover from burnout through different programs that enable mental, physical, and community well-being. The Center provides generous leave, including paid parental leave, personal days, vacation, and sick leave. We are closed the last week of December to allow staff to spend winter holiday time with their loved ones. Investment: After the first year of employment, the Center will contribute 7.5%* of your annual salary to a 401(k) (*applicable only in US and Kenya). Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion The Center is committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage people from all communities to apply. If you are excited about this role but unsure about whether your experience aligns with the job description, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this or other roles. To learn more about the Center’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, please visit Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | Center for Reproductive Rights. Center policy on visa sponsorship for U.S.-based positions: Applicants for employment in the U.S. must have valid work authorization that does not now and will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. by The Center for Reproductive Rights. 

Check out the opportunity to join this great organization and be part of the effort to protect health care access and rights as Senior Director of Litigation.

The complex changes being made in the health policy space will have vast and long-lasting implications for aging communities, children, the disabled, those facing economic instability, and women. It's why it's important that we have organizations like the @reprorights.org.

Thanks to @justiceinaging.org for uplifting this report. You can read the full report below.

- A 10 percent reduction would reduce benefits by $82 billion, with ripple effects on Medicare and Medicaid eligibility.

- Many denied older workers may claim early retirement benefits, reducing their lifetime income by up to 30 percent.

- A 10 percent reduction in SSDI eligibility could result in 500,000 people losing access over 10 years, including 80,000 widows and children. An additional 250,000 beneficiaries could lose eligibility for part of the period.

- The anticipated regulation could reduce eligibility for new applicants to the SSDI program by as much as 20 percent overall, and up to 30 percent among older workers. The potential impact on the SSI program is unclear.

As noted in an impact report prepared by the @urbaninstitute.bsky.social, the impact of these policy decisions could be devastating for older individuals, those living with disabilities, and children.

Updating Social Security Disability The Social Security Administration (SSA) is preparing a proposed rule that could significantly reshape how disability eligibility is determined for two major…

⚠️ Changes to the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs ⚠️

The Social Security Administration likely to release a proposed rule this fall that could change how age and education are considered in determining disability in SSDI and SSI programs.

This summer, workers across California secured major wins for dignity, equity, and justice. Here’s what we achieved together ⬇️

Watch our informational video series for our Small Business Development Project, providing direct support in an accessible way: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...