Session Three Workshops
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Putting Opportunity Back in Housing Opportunity
For more than forty years the Minnesota Human Rights Act and the Fair Housing Act stood for two goals: end housing discrimination and promote integration. Even while sometimes aggressively prosecuting the first goal, some consider the second little more than a dream. This workshop will outline a proposal for developing a regional affirmative marketing plan, describe the benefits of integrated communities and provide case examples. It will ask participants to share their thoughts and concerns, gather ideas for accomplishing the laws neglected goals of promoting integration. (League track.)
Presenters: Luke Grundman, Esq., and James Wilkinson, Esq., Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis
Immigration Relief for Children and Other Vulnerable Individuals
Federal immigration law provides a number of forms of humanitarian relief specific to vulnerable immigrant populations such as juveniles, victims of certain crimes, victims of human trafficking and others. This presentation will provide an brief overview of how the U.S. immigration system works, and then a more detailed examination of current immigration laws related to the VAWA visa, U and T visas, and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), a path to lawful permanent residency specifically available to abused, neglected or abandoned children. The presentation will conclude with a discussion of barriers faced by vulnerable immigrants, who are in particular need of access to the justice system and to legal services.
Presenter: Ana Lisa Peña, Esq., Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
Keynote Q & A with Coach Herman Boone
This session is structured to follow a question-and-answer format with keynote speaker Coach Herman Boone. Join Coach Herman Boone for a discussion about this keynote speech and learn from others' questions.
A Legal Overview of the Shepard/Byrd Hate Crime Act
This session will provide an overview of Title 18 United States Code Section 249, the Shepard/Byrd Hate Crime Act and current federal criminal civil rights law. Enacted in 2009, the Shepard/Byrd Hate Crime Act makes it a federal civil rights violation to willfully cause bodily injury or use a weapon against an individual where the violence is motivated by national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity.
Presenter: Ann M. Anaya, Esq., United States Attorney's Office
Union Rights and Discrimination: National Labor Relations Act
What rights do employees have at work to participate in activities aimed at improving their terms and conditions of employment? This session will review the rights employees have under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and what happens if employees suffer discrimination or retaliation based on exercising those rights. It will address both union organizing activity and protected concerted activity, such as complaining about and seeking to improve wages, hours or other working conditions on behalf of workers.
Presenter: Pamela Scott, Esq., National Labor Relations Board
Workshops and workshop schedule subject to change.
