help in domestic violence cases and Medicare helplines. “We hear a broad scope of
problems that low-income people have,” Swerlick says. “Being able to hear from them directly allows us to assess information about what we can provide that can really make a huge diff erence in their lives.” Charles F. Elsesser Jr., senior liti-
CHARLES ELSESSER, ANNE SWERLICK, AND KENT SPUHLER “Wage theft is rampant in Florida,” Spuhler says. “T e
most common experience is when the day laborer works all day, and then the employer says they didn’t make enough money off of the job so they will not get paid. We see other cases where they regularly shortchange the workers’ pay. T ere is almost an underground operation of people taking advantage of people who are desperate to get some money. “Alone it would be very diffi cult for someone to
fi ght. We have collected over $500,000 in Miami Dade for workers.” According to Florida Legal Services, the state has the
third highest rate of uninsured people in the nation. T e organization is working to help remedy the problem. “We are doing work on legislation to try to get our
Medicare program expanded,” says Anne Swerlick, FLS deputy director of advocacy. “For years our local legal aid offi ce heard gut-wrenching stories about people not being able to have access to healthcare for their family. We are doing a lot of work this session to convince lawmakers that it makes a lot of sense on many levels.” As a grassroots organization, FLS off ers a large range of services that are critical to the community including
MCCA.COM
gation attorney in the Community Justice Project, has been on the front lines working from the Miami offi ce with local groups, since 1996. “We work to assist them in their eff orts to change policy and enforce
their rights,” Elsesser says. “We work with immigrant rights groups, public housing rights groups, mobile home residents, and homeowners in foreclosure, or tenants in housing that is being foreclosed.” For Elsesser, connecting with and becoming an integral
part of the community has been at the core of the organiza- tion’s success throughout the state. “I always felt the way to secure meaningful change is by
helping people join together to enact change,” says Elsesser, who has fought for poor communities for more than 40 years. “It’s only meaningful if it results in positive change in the lives of people and their ability to direct that change. “It’s extremely rewarding. T e way we work makes me
feel closely in touch with the communities that we serve. T at’s the energy that drives you. If you get divorced from the people, you can get burned out. T eir enthusiasm and brilliance at solving problems is the reason I continue to do this all these years.” D&B
Dianne Hayes is a freelance editor and writer based in Maryland.
MARCH/APRIL 2013 DIVERSITY & THE BAR® 43
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