Law School to award 2010 Patsy Takemoto Mink Legislative Fellowship

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
Cynthia D Quinn, (808) 956-6545
Dir, Comm & External Rel, William S Richardson School of Law
Posted: Apr 6, 2010

UH Mānoa's William S. Richardson School of Law is proud to announce that it will again honor the memory and many accomplishments of the late Congresswoman Patsy Takemoto Mink by awarding the 2010 Patsy Takemoto Mink Legislative Fellowship to Melanie Legdesog. There will be a special celebration on April 8 starting at 6:00 p.m. in Law School classroom 1.
 
This year’s celebration will feature a panel discussion on Patsy T. Mink’s achievements in seeking equality through increased language access, as well as efforts to break down language barriers. Patsy T. Mink had the foresight to acknowledge the existence of language barriers and she believed that “the right to benefit from the government should not be limited due to language barriers.”  Congresswoman Mink recognized the critical role that language access plays in our democratic society. Despite her efforts however, substantial language barriers still exist that impede the efforts of minority groups to obtain justice. 
 
Jennifer Rose, Gender Equity Specialist at UH Mānoa, will moderate a panel discussion featuring Shari Dela Cuadra of the Hawai‘i Department of Education’s Civil Rights Compliance Office; Dr. Sheila Forman, cultural diversity expert; The Honorable Sabrina S. McKenna, First Circuit Court Judge; and Pat A. McManaman, Deputy Executive Director for the Hawai‘i Civil Rights Commission. They will provide a historical perspective and current examination of the struggle to address linguistic access to both social services and justice. 
 
The Patsy Takemoto Mink Legislative Fellowship was created by law students at UH Manoa's William S. Richardson School of Law in 2003 to honor the legacy of Congresswoman Mink. Each year, the Fellowship enables a UH Mānoa law student interested in public policy and social justice the unique opportunity to intern at a congressional or senate office in Washington D.C. The Fellowship is funded by donors committed to continuing Congresswoman Mink’s extraordinary leadership. This year, Melanie Legdesog will spend the summer working for Senator Daniel K. Akaka.
 
This event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited; $5 parking at Lot 20. Please RSVP via email to lawevent@hawaii.edu or call 956-6857.