Legal Services Alabama received an award from the City of Birmingham during CDBG week April 2-6. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and the City Council presented the award and proclamation on Tuesday, April 3 to only three of the 36 grantee organizations, and LSA was one of three organizations to be recognized for its community development program.
Michael Letson, Birmingham Attorney who came to LSA in October 2017 and was assigned to CDBG, believes the award and proclamation from the City of Birmingham is, a “major achievement” for the Birmingham Office.
“This would not be possible without our support staff,” Letson said. “Everyone put forth the effort – pitched in to help [with execution of wills], and not a single person who wanted a will done got turned away. We have a really great support staff. I am so proud!”
Deputy Director, Jaffe Pickett said she was elated to learn LSA would receive the recognition from the city.
“We received the Birmingham CDBG grant for the first time in 2014 and we began a wonderful partnership with the city and filled a critical need serving citizens through our Property Protect Project, so I was elated to learn that Legal Services Alabama was one of the organizations selected to be recognized during the CDBG awards ceremony,” Pickett said. “It is always a great honor for staff to receive recognition for their dedication to our mission, and our Birmingham grant team did an excellent job ensuring the grant goals were met. LSA is thankful to Mayor Woodfin and the City of Birmingham and so proud that our Birmingham Office is filling such a great community need by providing free legal services and vital community outreach and education to Birmingham citizens.”
Letson stated he “appreciates the past dedication” of former LSA CDBG Attorney Angela Jenkins, who worked extensively with the grant since 2014. As the no. 1 goal of the CDBG program is to execute wills, Letson said the program also hopes to continue informative Facebook Live sessions with the City of Birmingham, as well as offer help with powers-of-attorney, divorces, and social security cases.
