Sinapi Law Associates, Ltd. is proud to participate in the Roger Williams University School of Law Pro Bono Collaborative’s Challenge entitled, “Racial Justice Challenge: Housing.” 
The purpose of the Challenge is to increase awareness of the inequities plaguing the current state of housing stemming from racism and unlawful discrimination, whether systemic, institutionalized, or otherwise. The Challenge also invites and provides the general public with opportunities to take action to join the effort to eliminate these injustices. This is the first time that the Pro Bono Collaborative has created an initiative for the general public to learn about a particular area of social injustice and to take action to help eradicate it. The Challenge runs from February 1, 2023 until May 31, 2023. To participate in the Challenge, click here.
By participating in the Challenge, participants agree to select and do one challenge from each of the four categories below:
1. READ:
A. Articles:
i. Neighborhoods Don’t Have To Be Rich To Be Vibrant, an article about: Thanks for Everything (Now Get Out), Can We Restore Neighborhoods without Destroying Them?
ii. The City of Providence’s reparations committee report: A Matter of Truth, The Struggle for African Heritage & Indigenous People Equal Rights in Providence, Rhode Island (1620-2020).
B. Books and Reports:
i. The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein (2017).
ii. Evicted by Matthew Desmond (2017).
iii. 2022 Housing Fact Book (Housing Works RI).
2. WATCH:
A. Segregated By Design. This short film examines the forgotten history of how our federal, state and local governments unconstitutionally segregated every major metropolitan area in America through law and policy. Directed by Mark Lopez.
B. Providence Lost. A short nonfiction film that follows a family undergoing an eviction in Rhode Island and their subsequent search for a new home. Directed by Oscar Dupuy d’Angeac.
C. “Some Kind of Funny Porto Rican?” A Cape Verdean American Story (2006 55″ PBS version).
D. 13th. a full length Netflix documentary (2016).
E. Close Up: Where We Don’t Live, Rhode Island Historical Society, Struggle for Fair Housing (1965). Edited footage from the WPRO (WPRI) documentary series “Close Up.” This episode, entitled “Where We Don’t Live” gave voice to Black Rhode Island residents who faced housing discrimination.
3. LISTEN:
A. Stuff You Should Know, How Housing Discrimination Works.
B. Less to Lean On: Housing Insecurity in Rhode Island and the Nation, Podcast Series.
C. Seeing White, Podcast Series, Scene on Radio.
4. DO:
A. PBC Racial Justice Challenge: Housing Law Kick-Off Event, “What Does Housing Have to Do With Race?” (Recording from event on February 15. 2023). A great introductory event for anyone interested in learning about housing discrimination.
B. Attend RWU’s “Hidden Truths: Stories of Race and Place,” series presentation “Why Zip Code Matters” on March 7, 2023 at 7 pm. Recording here.
C. Take the “RWU Roger Pledge,” a commitment inspired by the Birmingham Pledge to uphold our individual responsibilities and actions to treating all people with dignity and respect and to eliminating racial prejudice.
D. Join the Affordable Housing Walk in May. Date TBA.
E. Visit the Eviction Help Desk. The help desk operates Monday through Friday between 9 am and noon, outside of Courtroom 3E of the Garrahy Judicial Complex; and/or volunteer one day at the Eviction Help Desk. The help desk operates Monday through Friday between 9 am and noon, outside of Courtroom 3E of the Garrahy Judicial Complex. Email Eliza Vorenberg to schedule a visit: evorenberg@rwu.edu.
Roger Williams University School of Law’s Pro Bono Collaborative provides pro bono legal services using a three-way partnership model involving law firms and individual attorneys, law students, and community organizations. Attorney Joshua Xavier participates in the Pro Bono Collaborative’s “Special Immigrant Juvenile Project” in which he provides pro bono legal services to juveniles in an effort to assist them in obtaining Special Immigrant Juvenile (“SIJ”) Visas. To learn more about the Pro Bono Collaborative, click here.
Sinapi Law Associates, Ltd. has a proven track record over a period of nearly 40 years of protecting and vindicating the civil and constitutional rights of individuals. If you believe your rights may have been violated, you can submit a request for a free case evaluation here or give us a call at 401-739-9690.
