A Snapshot of Community Building in Austin: Graves, Dougherty

Texas Community Building with Attorney Resources
Summer 2007
A Snapshot of Community Building in Austin:
Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody, P.C.
Volunteer attorneys play key roles in the efforts of Austin Free-Net, a nonprofit that provides free technology serAustin’s nonprofit housing developers to preserve and build vices, to revise the organization’s employment policies. Orlesia
affordable housing for the community’s low-income families. Hawkins volunteered to help Foundation Communities
Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody, P.C.'s attorneys work Community Tax Centers protect its brand. The Palmer Drug Abuse
with the Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corporation Program of Austin is receiving assistance from Sandra Lee Griffin
(GNDC), a nonprofit serving an East Austin neighborhood that is a as it serves as a fiscal sponsor for a new program in Bryancommunity base for many of the city’s Latino families, shows the College Station. These comprehensive pro bono projects are in
key role that attorneys play in community development. Local keeping with Graves Dougherty’s approach to pro bono in generresidents created GNDC, one of Austin’s first community al. Will Dibrell explained, "How our pro bono practice really
development corporations (CDCs), to preserve the neighborhood works — in keeping with a long tradition begun by the firm’s
when city officials sought to tear down many of the founders — is lawyers wanting and seeking opportunities for
rewarding pro bono projects.” Whether they are helping nonneighborhood’s homes for redevelopment.
As Austin’s affordable housing crisis grew and CDCs were profits manage their risk or helping nonprofits take on more comfaced with a shortage of land, GNDC began planning two plex projects, Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody, P.C. attorlarge-scale housing developments. Graves Dougherty attorneys neys are building stronger communities in Austin.
provided GNDC with the legal expertise the CDC
needed to take on the complex and high-impact
projects. Partner Debbie Ramirez leads GNDC’s
legal team at Graves Dougherty. This team helped
form GNDC LLC, a subsidiary housing corporation
developing the subdivision. Graves Dougherty
remains involved through a Texas C-BAR community counsel partnership to help the real estate
development process. GNDC next undertook a
multi-family housing development, utilizing LowIncome Housing Tax Credits, that will provide 22
©Hatch Partnership Architects
units for families at 30%, 50%, or 60% of the area
median family income for Austin.
La Vista de Guadalupe: Building on a
Graves Dougherty attorneys have also
strong foundation, GNDC will build 22
volunteered their expertise on behalf of other
units and office space by redeveloping
two of GNDC’s original rental units.
Austin nonprofits. Karen Holody is working with
The Travis County Women Lawyers Foundation awarded Texas
C-BAR and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc. seed money to pilot the
Texas Foster Youth Justice Project. This project will help address the
myriad legal issues that youth in the Texas foster care system deal
with on a regular basis.
Teenagers in foster care programs and young adults who have
recently aged out rarely have the resources, the knowledge, or the
support structure in place to let them respond appropriately to the
myriad legal situations they encounter. Many youth have
difficulties contacting their attorneys, if they have one, gaining
access to their own sealed records, or starting their own small
business in an effort to be self-supporting. While there are
programs that help recent foster youth meet their immediate needs
of food and shelter, and others that attempt to meet emotional and
spiritual needs, the Texas Foster Youth Justice Project will offer more
long-term and long-lasting assistance to help them overcome the
legal quagmires they face and make successful transitions out of the
foster care system.
The Project has
already helped create a statewide organization for foster
youth and alumni,
Texas Foster Youth,
Inc., and is working
with local organizations to provide legal
support for the Rep. Eddie Rodriguez (center) meets with members
youth. The Project of Foster Care Alumni of Austin, Craig Elder Patrick
provided input on and Brandy Morris.
the Foster Youth Bill
of Rights introduced by Representative Eddie Rodriguez. In addition, the Project launched a web site (www.texasfosteryouth.org)
with legal resources and contact information for youth to ask legal
questions. For more information, please contact D’Ann Johnson,
Texas C-BAR’s Legal Services Director, who is leading this initiative.
Minimum Wage Action Alert
On May 25, 2007, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) was
amended to increase the federal minimum wage in three steps: from
$5.15 to $5.85 per hour effective July 24, 2007; to $6.55 per hour effective July 24, 2008; and to $7.25 per hour effective July 24, 2009. The
first increase in the minimum wage takes it to $5.85 on July 24, 2007.
Clients should also periodically check with the Texas Workforce
Commission and/or the U.S. Department of Labor to obtain updated
wage posters for their work sites.
From the Chair:
Texas C-BAR Welcomes Three New Board Members
As the 2007 Chair of Texas C-BAR’s Statewide Board, I am
delighted to introduce our three new board members.
Peggy Montgomery lives and works in Houston and is a
senior counsel at ExxonMobil. Peggy was Chair of the Houston
Volunteer Lawyers Program Board and was instrumental in the
partnership between HVLP and Texas C-BAR, helping to expand
the impact of both organizations.
Susan San Martin lives and works in San Antonio and is a
manager of the Bank of America Community Investment Program,
one of Texas nonprofits and for Texas nonprofits and for Texas
C-BAR’s founding supporters. Susan has been a key advocate for
Texas C-BAR within Bank of America.
Sandi Williams also lives and works in San Antonio. She
2
recently stepped down as Director of Alamo Area Mutual Housing
Association where she spent ten years exactly turning Alamo Area
into one of Texas’ strongest affordable housing development
corporations. Sandi is now starting her own consulting firm
for nonprofits.
We are lucky to have the new input and different perspectives
of these three talented and dedicated individuals to support
and direct Texas C-BAR.
Bryce Linsenmayer
Chair, Texas C-BAR
Partner, Haynes and Boone, LLP
©Alan Pogue
Texas Foster Youth Justice Project Launched
Tax Toolkit Initiative
LAMP’s comprehensive guide to local, state, and federal taxes for microenterprises is here. Record Keeping and Taxes: A Toolkit for Micro-Entreprenuers is
available in hard copy or may be downloaded from the LAMP website at
http://lamp.texascbar.org. Thanks to Wachovia Bank, the Department of Housing and
Urban Development, and the State Bar of Texas Tax Section for sponsoring this project.
2007 Legal Workshop Calendar
The following is a list of Texas C-BAR and LAMP’s workshops scheduled for
August through October 2007. This list may be updated as new workshops are
scheduled. For more information about any of these workshops or to request a
workshop in your area, call (512) 374-2760, or email [email protected]
Texas C-BAR Workshops
Golf, Gambling, and Galas—Issues in Nonprofit Fundraising
September 11, 2007 – Houston
This workshop is sponsored by the Houston TSCPA Foundation Community
Services Committee and the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast. For more
information call (713) 685-2787.
Nonprofit Legal Issues Update
October 16, 2007 – Austin
This workshop is part of the Greenlights for Nonprofit Success annual
conference, Crossroads: Going the Distance 2007. For more information visit
www.greenlights.org.
For information on LAMP Workshops look on the
LAMP website at lamp.texascbar.org/workshops/.
UT Law Clinic a Success!
Together student attorneys, supervising attorneys, and the following volunteer
attorneys from Texas law firms provided over $400,000 in leveraged resources to
Texas C-BAR’s nonprofit clients. Thank you!
Prof. William Allensworth, University of Texas School of Law
Cynthia Bast, Locke Liddell & Sapp, LLP
Tyree Collier, Thompson & Knight LLP
John Orton, Thompson & Knight LLP
Thomas Queen, Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody, P.C.
Debbie Ramirez, Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody, P.C.
Prof. Brian Rider, University of Texas School of Law
David J. Sewell, Stahl, Bernal & Davies, LLP
Scott Sheehan, Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Bill Stutts, Baker Botts L.L.P.
Phil Weller, DLA Piper
Texas C-BAR Welcomes
New and Returning
Attorney Volunteers
From 4/21/07 – 7/24/07
John Ale, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Angelica Alfaro, King & Spalding LLP
Curtis Anderson, Baker Botts L.L.P.
Laurie Babich, Baker & McKenzie LLP
Gerald Buechler, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
Christian Callens, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Raj Choudhary, Baker & McKenzie LLP
Jenn Cooley, Vinson & Elkins LLP
John Courtney, Andrews & Kurth
Patrick Cowherd, Baker Botts L.L.P.
Fredricka Dorroh, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
Lauren B. Duncan, Lauren B.B. Duncan
Andrew Gratz, Baker Botts L.L.P.
Sandra Lee Griffin, Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody, P.C.
Patrick Hajovsky, Baker Botts L.L.P.
Orlesia Hawkins, Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody, P.C.
Amy Hollis, King & Spalding LLP
Ashley Keene-Slania, Baker Botts L.L.P.
Mary Korby, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Amanda Legal, Baker Botts L.L.P.
Robert Lindsey, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Sarah McLean, Thompson & Knight LLP
Eric Otness, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Jessica Palvino, McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore L.L.P.
Scott Parel, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Brittany Rea Perez, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Polly Powell, Baker Botts L.L.P.
Jennifer Reith, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
J. Scott Sheehan, Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Trisha Sue Taylor, Daughtry & Jordan PC
M. Lee Thompson, Baker & Hostetler LLP
Lisa Wang, Baker Botts L.L.P.
Philip Weller, DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary LLP
Frank White, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
Robert Whitley, Baker Botts L.L.P.
Gary Wright, Bracewell & Giuliani LLP
Todd Schroeder, Baker & McKenzie LLP
Special Thanks to Texas
C-BAR’s Supporters:
Donors from 4/21/07 to 7/24/07
ConocoPhillips, Inc.
F. B. Heron Foundation
Haynes and Boone, LLP
Travis County Women Lawyers’ Foundation
Wachovia Bank
Washington Mutual
3
About Texas C-BAR
Texas C-BAR Board Of Directors
Texas Community Building with Attorney
Resources (Texas C-BAR) is a statewide business pro
bono project that provides nonprofits with
the legal tools they need to succeed in transforming
distressed neighborhoods into healthy communities.
Legal Assistance Microenterprises Project (LAMP)
provides legal assistance to very small business
owners. As a special project of Texas RioGrande
Legal Aid, Texas C-BAR currently partners with
more than 70 law firms and corporations to help
nonprofits better the lives of thousands of
low-income families throughout the state. For
more information about Texas C-BAR, LAMP, or
to participate in our pro bono program, please
contact Texas C-BAR.
Andrés Almanzán
Mounce, Green, Myers, Safi & Galatzan, P.C.
Debbie Ramirez
Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody, P.C.
Laura Bailey
Capital One
Susan San Martin
Bank of America
Cynthia Bast
Locke Liddell & Sapp, LLP
Robert “Doc” Watson
Fidelity National Title Insurance Company
Jennifer Bligh
Valero Energy Corporation
Sandi Williams
S. Williams, Housing & Community
Development Consulting
4920 N. IH-35, Austin, Texas 78751
phone: (512) 374-2710 or (800) 369-9270, ext. 2710
fax: (512) 447-3940
email: [email protected]
web: www.texascbar.org
Genora Kendrick Boykins
Reliant Energy, Inc.
Brandy Copley
Dynegy, Inc.
David Duncan
ConocoPhillips
Texas C-BAR Staff
Michael S. Forshey
Patton Boggs LLP
Frances Leos Martinez
Executive Director
Michael C. Li
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
D’Ann Johnson
Legal Services Director
Bryce Linsenmayer
Haynes and Boone, LLP
Vanessa L. Johnson
Staff Attorney, Houston
Daniel Micciche
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Andrea Beleno
“LAMP” Attorney
Peggy Montgomery
Exxon Mobil Corporation
Rebecca Kuipers
Operations Coordinator
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
phone: (512) 374-2710 or (800) 369-9270, ext. 2710
fax: (512) 447-3940
email: [email protected]
web: www.texascbar.org
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid
4920 N. IH-35, Austin, Texas 78751
Summer 2007
Texas Commu nity Building with
Atto rney Resources
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Austin, Texas
Permit No. 2837