The National Center for Law and Economic Justice (NCLEJ)
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The National Center for Law and Economic Justice (NCLEJ)
@nclej.bsky.social
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NCLEJ advances racial, economic, and disability justice through high-impact litigation, policy advocacy, and support for grassroots organizing. Everyone deserves to thrive, not just survive.

www.nclej.org
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In this critical moment, we are doubling down on our mission to advance racial justice on behalf of the communities who need it most.

Learn more and support our mission at nclej.org.
October 30, 2025 at 6:55 PM
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The John Dewitt Gregory Racial Justice Fund will help secure much-needed relief from racist policies and practices and will seek to increase political power for the marginalized.
October 30, 2025 at 6:55 PM
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We’d like to give our warm thanks to everyone who attended last week’s reception honoring late NCLEJ Board Member John Dewitt Gregory! And we’d like to thank Shinder Cantor Lerner LLP for graciously hosting.
October 30, 2025 at 6:55 PM
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Contingency Funds to Prevent Lapse in SNAP Benefits. Due to the ongoing government shutdown, and the USDA’s refusal to tap into its contingency funding, food stamp benefits for over 40 million people are set to lapse at the end of this week. And nearly 40% of them are children. NCLEJ is closely monitoring the situation for our low-income clients in states where we are actively litigating against ongoing SNAP delays, including New York, Alaska, Georgia and Missouri. In a shameful display of callousness toward the millions of families that rely on SNAP benefits to put food on the table, the Trump administration has signaled its willingness to allow this preventable emergency to jeopardize the well-being of Americans all across the country. NCLEJ joins SNAP advocates around the nation in urging the USDA to release their emergency contingency funds to prevent a lapse in SNAP benefits this November. This is an extremely precarious moment for the low-income communities that NCLEJ serves around the country. SNAP is an invaluable lifeline of economic support that helps tens of millions of people stave off severe hunger and poverty each year, and we are fighting every day for our clients’ rights to these life-saving resources.
October 29, 2025 at 8:24 PM
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Last night’s reception celebrating the launch of NCLEJ’s John Dewitt Gregory Racial Justice Fund was an enormous success, and we’d like to thank everyone who joined us for an incredible evening. We'd also like to give a huge thank you to Shinder Cantor Lerner LLP for graciously hosting.
October 24, 2025 at 8:54 PM
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We are deeply excited to welcome Jason D. Williamson as NCLEJ’s next Executive Director! As we celebrate our 60th anniversary, our work is more important than ever. Visit nclej.org to learn more about our efforts to advance racial, economic, and disability justice.
A blue graphic featuring a photo of Jason D. Williamson. The text reads “Welcome! Jason D. Williamson joins NCLEJ as Executive Director. Jason joined NCLEJ in August 2025 as Executive Director. Prior to NCLEJ, he served as Executive Director at NYU School of Law’s Center on Race, Inequality and Law, spent more than 10 years as a staff attorney and deputy director with the ACLU’s Criminal Law Reform Project, and served at the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. Jason began his legal career in New Orleans in the months following Hurricane Katrina, first as a staff attorney for the Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana, and later as a founding member of the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights (f.k.a. Juvenile Regional Services).”
August 25, 2025 at 5:33 PM
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On Juneteenth, we commemorate the end of chattel slavery in the US. We must recommit our efforts to advancing racial justice and dismantling structural inequality for black and brown people.
June 19, 2025 at 2:06 PM
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LGBTQIA+ women earn about 87 cents for every dollar the typical worker earns. Wage equity means more than just a paycheck—it also means fair access to benefits like #PaidLeave and workplaces where everyone is safe, seen, and supported.
June 17, 2025 at 6:03 PM
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The work of NCLEJ is needed now more than ever. Visit nclej.org to learn more and support our high-impact litigation.
May 15, 2025 at 7:17 PM
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We’d also like to thank this year’s honorees Lisa Wolmart, Donna Hylton, Audrey Johnson, Jalil Muntaqim, Wilfredo Laracuente, and Martin Garcia for their incredible work to advance racial and economic justice.
May 15, 2025 at 7:17 PM
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Our 2025 Justice Maker Awards was an incredible success, and we’d like to thank our sponsors and guests for joining us in celebration of our 60th anniversary.
May 15, 2025 at 7:17 PM
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There is still time to get your tickets! Please join us for our Spring Gala on Tuesday, May 13. View ads and sponsorship levels here: secure.qgiv.com/for/2025just...
A blue graphic highlighting NCLEJ’s 2025 Justice Maker Awards. The graphic features six photos of this year’s honorees, including Lisa Martinez Wolmart of Prudential Financial, Donna Hylton of A Little Piece of Light, Audrey Johnson of A Little Piece of Light, Jalil Muntaqim of Citizen Action NY, Wilfredo Laracuente of Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow, and Martin Garcia of The Marshall Project.
May 9, 2025 at 2:59 PM
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We are incredibly excited to host our 2025 Justice Maker Awards on May 13. Our event will honor incredible changemakers who make a difference in the lives of marginalized communities. View ads and sponsorships here: secure.qgiv.com/for/2025just...
A blue graphic highlighting NCLEJ’s 2025 Justice Maker Awards. The graphic features six photos of this year’s honorees, including Lisa Martinez Wolmart of Prudential Financial, Donna Hylton of A Little Piece of Light, Audrey Johnson of A Little Piece of Light, Jalil Muntaqim of Citizen Action NY, Wilfredo Laracuente of Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow, and Martin Garcia of The Marshall Project.
May 2, 2025 at 6:44 PM
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This #MayDay, we fight to end ALL forms of exploitation, including forced labor in NY prisons. Support the No Slavery in NY Act. Dignity can't wait. #13thForward #EndForcedLabor #NoSlaveryInNY 13thforward.com
A green graphic with the text “No more slavery for forced labor in NYS.”
May 1, 2025 at 7:05 PM
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Join us on May 13 for our biggest event of the year! Our Spring Gala promises to inspire as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of our founding. View tickets and sponsorships here: secure.qgiv.com/for/2025just...
A gradient graphic with deep shades of blue and a photo of lady justice in the background. The text reads “RSVP Today! NCLEJ Justice Maker Awards 2025 60th Anniversary Celebration. Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Cocktail Hour from 6 PM to 7 PM. Awards ceremony from 7 PM to 9 PM. Location at Current, 59 Chelsea Piers, New York, NY 10011.
April 28, 2025 at 7:07 PM
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Please join us for our Spring Gala on May 13 as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of NCLEJ! View tickets and sponsorships here: secure.qgiv.com/for/2025just...
A gradient graphic with deep shades of blue and a photo of lady justice in the background. The text reads “RSVP Today! NCLEJ Justice Maker Awards 2025 60th Anniversary Celebration. Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Cocktail Hour from 6 PM to 7 PM. Awards ceremony from 7 PM to 9 PM. Location at Current, 59 Chelsea Piers, New York, NY 10011.
April 10, 2025 at 6:54 PM
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We’re deeply excited to welcome Tripti Poddar to NCLEJ as a Staff Attorney! Learn more about our efforts to advocate for low-wage workers and advance economic justice at nclej.org.
A blue graphic featuring a photo of Tripti Poddar, NCLEJ Staff Attorney. The text reads: “Welcome! Tripti Poddar joins NCLEJ as staff attorney. Tripti Poddar is a staff attorney at NCLEJ. In this capacity, she works at the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, as well as at the Fair Food Standards Council. Before this, Tripti litigated at the Supreme Court of India and state High Courts. She also consulted on implementation of the legal empowerment model with non-profits in India, including serving as the Legal Officer at Nazdeek for 5 years. In court, she has represented Rohingya refugees, housing disenfranchised communities, tea plantation workers, and other marginalized communities on a range of issues, including access to socioeconomic rights”
April 9, 2025 at 3:02 PM
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We are excited to invite you to our 2025 Spring Gala! Our program promises to inspire as we celebrate our 60th anniversary and highlight our incredible work to advance racial, economic, and disability justice. View ads and sponsorships here: secure.qgiv.com/for/2025just...
A blue graphic highlighting NCLEJ’s 2025 Spring Gala. The event will honor Lisa Martinez Wolmart, Chief Legal Office of Global Retirement and Insurance at Prudential Financial. The event will be held on Tuesday, May 13 at Current, 59 Chelsea Piers.
April 3, 2025 at 3:39 PM
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What causes the wage gap to keep gappin’ year after year? 🤔 Gender & racial discrimination, harassment at work, job segregation and a lack of policies that support families and caregiving all keep the wage gap alive.
#equalpayday
March 25, 2025 at 7:20 PM
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We’re excited to welcome Lisa Zucker to the NCLEJ team as Pro Bono Attorney! Learn more about our efforts to advance racial, economic, and disability justice at nclej.org.
A blue graphic featuring a photo of Lisa Zucker, NCLEJ Pro Bono Attorney. The text reads “Welcome! Lisa Zucker joins NCLEJ as Pro Bono Attorney. Lisa joined NCLEJ in February 2025 as a pro bono attorney. She has over thirty years of experience in civil liberties and civil rights matters, including workers’ rights, reproductive rights, church/state and anti-discrimination. Prior to joining NCLEJ, Lisa was a senior attorney for legislative affairs at the New York Civil Liberties Union, where she specialized in low-wage workers’ rights policy and legislation. Lisa has authored various “Know Your Rights” materials and articles related to workers’ rights. She has taught at Rutgers, New York and Yale law schools, and is a member of the Advocacy Council of the Citizens Committee for Children.
March 5, 2025 at 10:23 PM
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We’re very excited to welcome Stefen Short to the NCLEJ team as Special Counsel for Disability Justice Projects! Learn more about our efforts to advance justice for people with disabilities at nclej.org.
A blue graphic featuring a photo of Stefen Short. The text reads “Welcome! Stefen Short joins NCLEJ as Special Counsel for Disability Justice Projects. Stefen R. Short is Special Counsel for Disability Justice Projects at NCLEJ. He was previously Chief Counsel at Worth Rises, Supervising Attorney and Acting Deputy Director of the Prisoners’ Rights Project of The Legal Aid Society, and a Staff Attorney with Disability Rights New York. Stefen has litigated and advocated for incarcerated people on matters including access to medical and mental health care, access to education, diversion from solitary confinement, free exercise and expression, and protection from harm. He is an adjunct professor of law at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University.”
February 10, 2025 at 6:35 PM
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SAVE THE DATE! Our Annual Justice Maker Awards Gala will be held on May 13, 2025. Join us as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of our founding and showcase our work at the intersection of racial, economic, and disability justice. Sign up for emails at nclej.org to stay in the loop.
A blue graphic highlighting NCLEJ’s upcoming Justice Maker Awards. The text reads: “Save the date! NCLEJ Justice Maker Awards 2025: 60th Anniversary Celebration. Honoring Lisa Martinez Wolmart, Chief Legal Officer, Global Insurance Businesses, Prudential Financial. Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Cocktail hour from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Awards Ceremony from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Location at Current, 59 Chelsea Piers, New York, NY 10011.”
February 4, 2025 at 4:03 PM
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Executive Director Dennis Parker has announced his retirement for Summer 2025. Join us in the search for our new Executive Director: https://buff.ly/4aJfH7F
A blue graphic featuring a quote and photo of Executive Director Dennis Parker. His quote reads: “My service as Executive Director for NCLEJ was one of the great honors of my legal career. For such a small staff, NCLEJ has punched well above its weight. The team we have assembled is among the best in the legal services field, and I can enter retirement knowing that over these last six years, we’ve made an incredible impact on so many people through our work. I’m excited to capstone my tenure on a high note as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of NCLEJ and begin our search for my successor.”
February 3, 2025 at 3:00 PM
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The work to continue the mission of Dr. King is now more important than ever. We recommit our efforts to dismantle barriers to economic access and equity, fight back against institutional racism, and ensure that people’s basic needs are met.

Let us never lose infinite hope.
A blue graphic with a photo of the MLK Jr Memorial in the background. A quote from MLK Jr reads: “I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality, and freedom for their spirits.”
January 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM