John and Jean Rosenberg and Dr. Wendy Greene present keynotes at 2020 Staff Retreat
(Nov. 2020) Held virtually Nov. 12 due to COVID-19, LASP's annual Staff Retreat featured keynote remarks from John and Jean Rosenberg of Prestonsburg, Kentucky, and a CLE from Professor Wendy Greene of Drexel University Kline School of Law.
John and Jean Rosenberg shared their story of meeting at the U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division, where John was attorney and Jean was an analyst, and their 50 years in Prestonsburg, Kentucky, starting with AppalReD Legal Aid and extending into a half-century of community involvement in education, the local science center, Appalachian Citizens' Law Center, and many local nonprofits.
The Rosenbergs presented on “Living a Life of Service and Social Justice.” John is a Holocaust survivor, emigrating to the U.S. from Magdeburg, Germany with his family to Gastonia, North Carolina after Kristallnacht in 1938. He eventually served as Executive Director of the legal aid program in Eastern Kentucky, the Appalachian Research and Defense Fund, for 28 years. He met his wife, Jean, while working on civil rights and voting rights cases for the U.S. Dept. of Justice from 1962-1970. Jean, a Pennsylvania native and lifelong community advocate, currently volunteers with Prisoner Visitation and Support, based in Philadelphia.
Dr. Wendy Greene, Professor at Drexel University Kline School of Law, discussed CROWN Act legislation resulting from global workplace and school discrimination related to natural hairstyles.
Dr. Greene's CLE, “Appearance Bias and Discrimination: Exploring the Nexus Between Workplace Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity,” focused on global workplace and school discrimination related to natural hairstyles. Outlining Title VII and relevant case law, Greene noted that a growing number of states and municipalities are enacting CROWN Act legislation (Creating Respectful and Open Workplaces for Natural Hair).
David Keller Trevaskis, Pro Bono Coordinator for the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA), and David Schwager, 2020 President of the PBA, also joined LASP attorneys, staff, interns, board member and a LASP alum for the morning.
Staff awards honored the work of Staff Attorneys Deborah Steeves and Michelle Dempsky and Bristol Office Manager Patricia MacCorkle. Staff service pins were presented.
Note: A version of this story appeared in LASP e-news.