| In May 2001, a group of NWLS
employees from the Erie office went to the Community Access
Television studios in downtown Erie to tape the first
episode of a program dealing with civil legal issues facing
low-income people. Most of the Erie staff were newcomers to
the field of television broadcasting, but they were willing
to get involved in a project that promised to bring
important information about legal services to the homes of
cable television viewers throughout the city.
Four years, and nearly 50 television programs later,
“Access to Justice” continues to air on Erie Community
Access Television (Channel 2), bringing news and information
about substantive areas of civil law to the low-income
community we serve. The half-hour program is broadcast on
Erie Cablevision Monday and Wednesday evenings at 9:30 p.m.;
and Saturday and Sunday night at 7 p.m. NWLS executive
director Robert Oakley remains the host for the show that
has featured guests ranging from judges, social workers and
legal aid attorneys, to members of our client community.
In 2004, NWLS produced television programs in languages
other than English for viewers with limited English
proficiency. A program on Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
was done in Spanish, Russian and Bosnian for newcomers to
northwestern Pennsylvania who speak these languages as their
native tongue.
Throughout it all, the goal of the series has been to
help low-income individuals and families by providing
information they can use to improve the quality of their
lives.
NWLS staff continue to produce, direct and edit all of
the shows, including all of the technical aspects of camera
work, set design, and the audio mixing board, including the
use of the Chroma-key for special effects and PowerPoint
presentations. The series has been made possible by the
generous support of the Pennsylvania Interest on Lawyer’s
Trust Account (IOLTA), and the willingness of NWLS staff to
bring community legal education into the homes of the people
we serve.
Programs Produced in 2004
“Tax Tips” Changes in the federal income tax that affect
individual taxpayers, along with information on Earned
Income Tax Credits for low-income taxpayers. Guest: James
Daugherty, Territory Manager, Stakeholder Partnerships,
Education, Communication (SPEC), Internal Revenue Service.
“PALawHelp.org” Online resources available to the
low-income community in Pennsylvania through PALawHelp.org.
Guest: Attorney Hank Leone, Pennsylvania Legal Services.
“General Utility Information” (Russian version) -- What
low-income residents of the Commonwealth can do if problems
arise with gas and electric companies regulated by the PA
Public Utilities Commission. Guest: Attorney Harry Geller,
Director, PA Utility Law Project.
“Supplemental Security Income” – Information about
disability benefits for individuals with limited income and
resources. Guest: Chief Administrative Law Judge Alma S. deLeon, Social Security Administration Office of Hearings
and Appeals.
“Supplemental Security Income” (Spanish Version) –
Information about disability benefits for individuals with
limited income and resources. Guest: Chief Administrative
Law Judge Alma S. deLeon, Social Security Administration
Office of Hearings and Appeals.
“Powers of Attorney and Living Wills” (Part 1) – The
importance of planning ahead with legal documents such as
durable powers of attorney and living wills. Guest: Attorney
Joseph M. Olimpi, Neighborhood Legal Services Association.
“Powers of Attorney and Living Wills” (Part 2) – The
importance of planning ahead with legal documents such as
durable powers of attorney and living wills. Guest: Attorney
Joseph M. Olimpi, Neighborhood Legal Services Association.
“Supplemental Security Income” (Russian Version) –
Information about disability benefits for individuals with
limited income and resources. Guest: Chief Administrative
Law Judge Alma S. deLeon, Social Security Administration
Office of Hearings and Appeals.
“Supplemental Security Income” (Bosnian Version) –
Information about disability benefits for individuals with
limited income and resources. Guest: Chief Administrative
Law Judge Alma S. deLeon, Social Security Administration
Office of Hearings and Appeals.
“Public Benefits” – Information about public benefits
including TANF, food stamps, special allowances and energy
assistance. Guest: Jeannine Lawton-Knepper, NWLS Public
Benefits Advocate
“Pennsylvania Public Benefits Project” -- Overview of
state program that focuses on helping eligible low-income
clients to receive public benefits. Guest: Jeannine
Lawton-Knepper, NWLS Public Benefits Advocate
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