Teri McNally

COMMENTARY: Diversity, equity & inclusion opens doors for all President Lyndon B. Johnson delivers Howard University’s commencement speech on June 4, 1965. AP File Photo by janet Gullickson, Teri McNally, angela freeman and Andre Pineda Civil Rights leader James Farmer, who helped then-Vice President Lyndon Johnson develop the concept of affirmative action, considered affirmative action a blunt instrument and a stop-gap measure.

COMMENTARY: How to have an impact on the future of your community Allen Schmidt/Free Lance-Star By Michele Mansouri and Teri McNally “IF YOU had not come to court with me, I would be dead right now.” These are the words of a domestic violence survivor to her pro bono attorney. There is no right to a free attorney when you face a civil legal matter, but can’t afford one. The right to a free lawyer is guaranteed only if you are charged in a criminal matter.

The Community Foundation stands with everyone affected by the coronavirus pandemic: people who are ill, people who are grieving, people facing economic uncertainty and profound disruptions to our way of life. We are grateful to every individual, business and organization rising to the challenge and meeting our community’s needs at this difficult time. Area nonprofit organizations are a vital and necessary protection for many of our most dramatically affected fellow citizens.