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Recognizing and Honoring the 50th Anniversary of Philadelphia's Public Interest Law Center for its pioneering litigation, which has dramatically advanced the civil, social, and economic rights of communities in the Philadelphia region.
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WHEREAS, Over the last 50 years, the Public Interest Law Center has used high-impact legal strategies to protect, defend, and advance fundamental human rights. Its attorneys, organizers, and support staff have fought for environmental, education, healthcare, housing, employment, and voting justice, and the organization's work is rooted in a deep-seeded, relentless commitment to pursuing racial justice and social equity through public interest law; and
WHEREAS, The Law Center was founded by Ned Wolf, who served as the Director of Philadelphia's branch of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law in Philadelphia. In 1969, Wolf founded the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia as an organization of lawyers that used the power of high impact litigation to champion civil rights in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection, and its surrounding region; and
WHEREAS, In its very first case, the Law Center challenged a neighborhood development plan that would have concentrated public housing in East Poplar, thus compromising efforts of racial and economic integration. The Law Center, on behalf of a diverse group of East Poplar residents, successfully prevented this further racial segregation of low-income housing, compelling the Department of Housing and Urban Development to ensure its projects do not increase or perpetuate segregation. Since then, the Public Interest Law Center has been a leader for housing justice, successfully defending tenants facing eviction. Currently, the Law Center is spearheading a new initiative to couple tenant organizing with high-impact litigation, legal support and capacity building; and
WHEREAS, The Law Center has played an active role in supporting the rights of public sc...
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