project leader
Lauren B
location
540 President Street
(New York City)
latest update rss
We Made It!

the project

We are launching a campaign to fight back against sexual harassment and assault in our New York City neighborhoods. The recent #metoo hashtag that swept social media has helped to increase awareness of gender-based harassment in the workplace. Many of the stories in the news pertain to professional women, most of whom hold power in their field or are high income earners. These women can access lawyers who charge for their services. By comparison, low income victims seeking access to justice are often disproportionately disempowered to come forward because they lack the financial means to hire counsel.

GELC currently works to eradicate sexual harassment and assault in the workplace, but the increased need for our pro bono work has become more evident than ever. In the wake of the alarming number of survivors of harassment that have bravely come forward, we are seeking to expand our free legal services for low income women, in direct response to this increased need.

By reaching our fundraising goal for this project, we will increase our capacity to advise and consult with more victims of sexual harassment. The money that is raised will also support a public education campaign so that employees understand their rights to earn a wage while remaining free from sexual harassment at work.

the steps

  • Launch a free legal clinic to address issues of sexual harassment at work.
  • Expand the reach of our hotline to give free legal advice, referrals and representation to workers experiencing sexual harassment.
  • Implement an outreach campaign to increase the volume of cases we take on to have the most systemic impact.
  • Develop sexual harassment public education trainings to increase our community’s understanding of the law so that victims of sexual harassment know their rights and employers know their obligations in maintaining a safe and affirming work environment.

why we're doing it

Sexual harassment in the workplace has been illegal for decades, but the recent headlines tell us that this has in no way put an end to sexual harassment, nor has it empowered women to come forward. Although there has been a radical illumination on sexual harassment and assault in nearly every industry, for every powerful woman who feared coming forward for the loss of her career, there are many, many low income women for whom this reality is exacerbated by fear over loss of their income, their home, their healthcare, and their ability to care for their children. Our work centers on empowering and supporting those women who cannot afford to hire private lawyers so that those women are heard, believed, supported, uplifted and given access to the social and legal services they need—regardless of income and social status.

In light of the recent exposures illustrating just how pervasive sexual harassment is in many workplaces, GELC is committed more than ever to fighting back against the renewed and plentiful efforts to roll back rights for women.

 “When I found the Gender Equality Law Center, they put all the pieces back together and became the voice I needed so that I could be heard and taken seriously. GELC became my fiercest advocate.” - GELC Client

 

budget

DISBURSED BUDGET:

Raised = $10,335.00
less ioby Platform Fee $35.00
less ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%) $300.00
Total to Disburse = $10,000.00

BUDGET:

Materials for Know Your Rights: $700
Maintaining the Free Legal Hotline: $1200
Community Trainings and Seminars: $2,000
Office Space for Pro Bono Legal Representation and Clinics: $7,000
Representing New Clients Experiencing Sexual Harassment: $25,000 

STRETCH GOAL (as of 11.30.17):



SUBTOTAL = $10,000
ioby Platform Fee $35
Donation Processing Fee of 3%  $300
TOTAL TO RAISE = $10,335

ORIGINAL GOAL:



SUBTOTAL = $8,000
ioby Platform Fee $35
Donation Processing Fee of 3%  $240
TOTAL TO RAISE = $8,275

 

updates

We Made It!

We are elatated to announce that we reached our goal of $10,000 and it is all because of you! Thank you so much for your unwavering support, for sharing our page, for donating and standing with us all the way to the end.

Because of you, we will be able to reach more low-wage workers who experience sexual harassment with the services they need. Because of you, more people will have access to the justice they deserve. Because of you, we are one step closer to putting an end to sexual harassment in the workplace once and for all. 

Please keep in touch for updates on our work: www.genderequalitylaw.org

From all of us at the Gender Equality Law Center, we thank you! 

 

There's Only One Way To Go, And That's Up!

It is with GREAT excitement to announce that we have less than $1000 to go to hit our original goal. And it is ALL because of YOU. THANK YOU for your early dedication to this movement!

Just three weeks ago we launched "#metoo: GELC's campaign to fight back against sexual harassment" and the response has been incredible. Nearly 60 people supported our efforts to expand our free legal services for low income women who have faced sexual harassment in the workplace. Your donation has already had a major impact on our services and has allowed us to tell more people about the critical work we do.

Because of the generous support in the first weeks of the campaign, we are EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE our new "stretch" fundraising goal of $10,335! YES!

We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please take a few minutes to share our campaign with your friends and family and tell them what it means to you! ioby.org/project/metoo

Woah, We're Halfway There! Take My Hand, We'll Make It I Swear!

Reaching 50% of our fundraising goal is a big milestone - but it is an even bigger win for our clients. We want to THANK YOU, because your support has put us on a direct path toward hitting our goal, and most importantly, increasing our capacity to provide free legal services to more victims of sexual harassment. 

We know you are deeply connected to this work, but there is one more thing you can do. Share our campaign link with your friends and family and ask them to pledge their commitment to helping low wage victims of sexual harassment, too! www.ioby.org/project/metoo 

We could not have reached this point without your support - thank you for being an integral part of our team!

 

- All of us at the Gender Equality Law Center 

 

 

photos

This is where photos will go once we build flickr integration

donors

  • Michele Kahane
  • Madeline Hildebrand
  • Amy R.
  • courtney K.
  • Millie Hildebrand
  • Bess Rothenberg
  • Anonymous
  • Deb Friedman
  • Carol P.
  • Anonymous
  • Ditmas Art Feminist Salon
  • Alison Greenberg, Esq.
  • Sandra Abramson
  • Anonymous
  • Cathy R.
  • Shauna
  • Anonymous
  • kathy ann betters
  • Francesca Miller
  • Bonita Betters-Reed
  • Dan Shainker
  • Lisa Marciniak
  • Kristen David
  • Johanna Hildebrand
  • Anonymous
  • Nzinga Misgana
  • Anonymous
  • Heather Pena
  • the house that casting built
  • Anonymous
  • Tish Streeten
  • Zachary Liszka
  • Anonymous
  • Katharine Betters
  • Deborah McAdams
  • Jon & Jenny Crumiller
  • Arati Chaudhury
  • Margaret Sommer
  • Kristin Gallagher
  • Steven Ruan
  • L Caballero
  • Anonymous
  • Marla Klinger
  • #metoo gender justice supporters
  • Lynn Appelbaum
  • cathy e.
  • Sarah M.
  • Anonymous
  • Shannon Pelcher-Rao
  • DR.. MARY GENKINS
  • Christina Webb - ioby!
  • Rich and Bander LLP CPAs
  • Nicole Kumpf
  • Anonymous
  • S&P Modena
  • Deirdre L Fishel
  • Konidaris Law
  • Delayn Saling
  • Vincent L.
  • Jennifer Paulson
  • Anonymous
  • Katie Rust
  • Stefanie Santangelo and Chandra Smith
  • Anonymous
  • Alex McAdams
  • Toni moy
  • Caitlin Gerber
  • Anonymous
  • Emily L.
  • Anonymous
  • Anonymous
  • Amanda L.
  • brenda brown
  • Ryan Betters
  • Allegra Fishel
  • Lauren Betters