June President's Column: Mid-Year Momentum: Celebrating Progress and Pride

As we step into Pride Month, it is a moment to celebrate the progress we have made, reflect on the work still ahead, and reaffirm our commitment to inclusion. Halfway through the year, we continue to draw strength from the resilience of our nonprofit partners and the transformative work they do for marginalized communities. Our nonprofit partners have faced immense challenges this year, from policy setbacks to funding constraints, yet they continue to deliver essential legal services that empower those in need. Their strength fuels our determination to break down barriers to justice. Pride Month serves as a reminder that justice is not just a concept, it is practice, and it must include and uplift the LGBTQ+ community, especially those facing compounded challenges in accessing safety, healthcare, housing, and legal recognition. At its core, civil legal aid is about ensuring that no identity leaves anyone vulnerable to injustice. We celebrate the advocates, staff, and clients who live this mission every day, fighting for equality under the law.
Across Philadelphia and beyond, our nonprofit partners are leading efforts to protect LGBTQ+ individuals and families. Through civil legal aid, they are defending the rights of transgender clients, fighting discrimination, and defending the basic rights of all. This Pride Month, we honor the work of these changemakers and reaffirm our commitment to defending the constitutional rights of all, especially when hard-won freedoms are under significant threat. Justice is not just about laws; it is about lived experience. Our mission is to ensure that these experiences are safe, free, and equitable for all members of our community.
As we reflect on the first half of the year, we are proud of the progress we have made. We have awarded transformative grants, strengthened our partnerships, launched impactful initiatives, and opened new doors for engagement with those who share our vision for justice. We have celebrated powerful moments, our nonprofit partners’ victories in court, the success of our spring fundraising campaigns, and the emergence of new leaders through our programs. Looking ahead, we are building momentum for the second half of the year with important milestones: the Philly Justice Awards on November 6, celebrating this year’s honorees, and year-end fundraising efforts that will strengthen our grantmaking capabilities and sustain our work for justice. This is no time to slow down. The momentum we have built must carry us through to the second half of the year, where we deepen our impact and continue to drive change.
Let us stand with those advancing inclusive justice every day. Recognize and support the nonprofits that are leading the way to protect and empower LGBTQ+ individuals and families. Donate, volunteer, and share their stories to help sustain the legal lifelines they provide. In every act of advocacy, we reaffirm a simple truth: Justice thrives where inclusion is non-negotiable. Let us carry that energy forward into the second half of the year, working together to deepen our impact and continue advancing justice for all.
P.S. Sometimes when the world is crazy you need an old-fashioned thriller. Harlan Coben’s new book Nobody’s Fool fulfills that need. Sami Kierce is a down on his luck private detective who finds a clue to a missing part of his life. With the help of the class he teaches, which is filled with amateur sleuths, he solves the mystery that changed his life and the life of a prominent family. This is an enjoyable fast-paced read!