Posted October 13, 20234:00 pm
We provided this update on local events, community updates, and other newsworthy items to our community partners and public officials.
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Hello from Legal Aid! Legal Aid is available in person, by phone, and online to meet our clients’ needs. Find details about how to apply for Legal Aid’s help on our website: lasclev.org/apply. Please reach out with any questions or requests. We look forward to hearing from you!
Please share the following information with your colleagues, clients, and communities!
Ohio has changed fees owed for first time noncompliance driver’s license suspensions. Effective as of October 3, this change lowers the reinstatement fee associated with a first-offense noncompliance driver’s license suspension from $100 to $40. Check out Legal Aid’s resource sheet on what you can do if your driver’s license is suspended.
Join a conversation about debt-related driver’s license suspension laws – October 17 at 4pm
Ohio remains one of the states that use driver's license suspensions to severely penalize those in debt, resulting in a viscous cycle of poverty and criminalization. Join Legal Aid and others for a community conversation about the impacts of these suspensions and potential policy reforms. Learn more & register to attend the October 17 event.
Read Legal Aid’s full report: Road to Nowhere: Debt-Related Driver’s License Suspensions in Ohio.
Find resources for emergency financial, housing, and food assistance at FindHelp.org – visit their website to find specific emergency assistance programs in your area.
Lorain County Resources:
- Free Digital Skills Training – Goodwill Industries of Lorain County is hosting a free digital skills training series for Elyria residents focusing on basic digital, software, and daily use skills. To reserve a spot, call 440-244-3174.
- LGBTQ+ Lorain County offering SafeZone Training on November 4 – learn more and sign up for this free workshop.
- Oberlin Community Services (OCS) has moved to the Cooper Community Resource Center located at 500 East Lorain Street, Oberlin. For more information, including the new schedule for food assistance, visit their website.
- Oberlin Social Equity and Skill Development Promise provides Oberlin residents an opportunity to earn a free short-term certificate in fields like information technology, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare. Learn more about this program from Lorain County Community College.
Ashtabula Municipal Court has introduced Live Chat Support to provide enhanced public communications and allow citizens to engage in real-time conversations with court representatives. By providing this service, the court aims to reduce call wait times, improve user experience, and provide instant support. Citizens can access Ashtabula Municipal Court’s Live Chat here: AMC Live Chat (socialintents.com).
Fair Housing and Landlord Tenant Training – October 19 from 6-8PM at Parma City Hall Council Chambers – attend this free training to learn more about your rights and responsibilities under Fair Housing Law and landlord-tenant laws. Experts from the Fair Housing Center for Rights & Research and Legal Aid will share valuable information on your housing rights. The event is free, but registration is required.
2023 Union Co-op Symposium – October 20-21 in Cincinnati, Ohio. This event will focus on combining the best of the co-op and union movements to forge a new economy rooted in connection. Activities will highlight equity, labor, and community wealth-building. Details and registration are available online.
National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week – October 22–28, 2023
National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week is a call to bring together individuals, organizations, industry, and governments to increase lead poisoning prevention awareness in an effort to reduce childhood exposure to lead. Get involved with these local events:
- Lead Poisoning Awareness and Resource Fair – October 28 from 10AM-2PM at the East Cleveland Public Library Performing Arts Center
- Walking into a Lead Safe Cleveland 2023 – October 28 beginning at 10AM at the Western Reserve Fire Museum
For additional information and resources about local lead poisoning prevention efforts, contact the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition’s Lead Poisoning Resource Center.
Legal Aid in the Community: Resource Fairs & Presentations
Legal Aid provides trainings and presentations to community groups on a variety of topics, we also welcome invitations to attend community resource fairs. If your organization is hosting an event, please consider inviting Legal Aid to attend. Send an email to outreach@lasclev.org with all the details (date, time, location, audience) providing as much advance notice as possible. If we are not available to attend, we can always provide informational materials.
Upcoming Legal Clinics - Need help with a civil legal problem?
In the coming weeks, Legal Aid will host free brief advice clinics in Ashtabula, Cleveland, Lorain, and East Cleveland. Please visit the events page on our website to view the full clinic schedule, or share the PDF flyer of all fall clinics: Fall 2023 – Free Legal Advice Clinics.
Tuesday, October 17 at Ashtabula Public Library
4335 Park Avenue, Ashtabula
Call 440-992-2121 for an appointment.
Saturday, October 21 at Cleveland Public Library, Hough Branch
10:00 – 11:00 AM – No appointment needed.
6530 Lexington Avenue, Cleveland
Tuesday, October 24 at El Centro
2800 Pearl Avenue, Lorain
Call 440-277-8235 for an appointment.
Wednesday, October 25 at Cleveland Public Library, Main Branch, Louis Stokes Wing
2:00 – 3:00 PM – No appointment needed.
525 Superior Avenue, Cleveland
Saturday, November 4 at Stephanie Tubbs Jones Health Center
10:00 – 11:00 AM – No appointment needed.
13944 Euclid Avenue, East Cleveland
Thank you for your partnership in striving for justice throughout Northeast Ohio. As always, please reach out with any questions, ideas, or opportunities for collaboration.
Sincerely,
Anne K. Sweeney
Managing Attorney for Community Engagement
The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
serving Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Lorain counties
Direct: 216.861.5242 / Main: 216.861.5500
Email: anne.sweeney@lasclev.org
lasclev.org
Rights. Dignity. Justice.