Welcoming Immigrant Justice Corps’ Katzmann Fellows!

The Helen Gurley Brown Foundation would like to introduce and welcome the inaugural cohort of Katzmann Fellows at Immigrant Justice Corps! Immigrant Justice Corps (IJC) was founded in 2014 by the late Judge Robert A. Katzmann, who was inspired to make a change after having daily exposure to injustices surrounding representation for immigrants in court. The Helen Gurley Brown Foundation has had a relationship with IJC for three years, starting in 2019 when the Foundation awarded a grant to IJC to help in their mission to provide access to justice for all immigrants and change the narrative around immigrant advocacy.

The Foundation’s first grant given to IJC funded three Community Fellows and three Justice Fellows for two years with a particular emphasis on supporting women or adults with children seeking refuge and asylum. After the passing of Judge Katzmann, the Foundation made a second donation to the Katzmann Legacy Fund, created to continue his efforts in his name and memory. HGB’s most recent contribution to the Robert A. Katzmann Legacy Fund has helped to sponsor six fellowships: the Katzmann Fellows. This marks the first-ever cohort of Fellows supported by the Legacy Fund, enabling Judge Katzmann’s legacy to live on through their work.

We have worked with IJC’S Executive Director, Jojo Annobil, over the years to preserve this relationship and continue to stay involved in the strides being made at IJC. Jojo has demonstrated incredible dedication in his work for nearly two decades with his focus on protecting immigrants’ rights. He is an adjunct professor at New York University School of Law where he co-teaches the Immigrant Defense Clinic and also serves as Special Counsel to the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division First Department’s Disciplinary Committee on Immigration matters. The partnership has grown and flourished over the years, leading up to this culminating moment.

These six Fellows will embark on a transformative journey through this Fellowship, for themselves and the community, challenging the status quo within legal resources for those who have been historically marginalized. Meet the Fellows below!: