Introducing our
2024 Skadden Fellows
These 28 Fellows come from 15 law schools and will address a wide variety of civil legal needs for people living in poverty across the U.S. The Skadden Foundation has funded 990 public interest fellowships since the program's founding 35 years ago.
2024
Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, Saint Paul, MN
Luke Norquist
Luke will provide legal representation, rulemaking, and zoning code policy work to help low-income residents of a Minneapolis neighborhood contest industrial pollution.
As a Skadden Fellow, I hope to empower Minneapolis residents to resist industrial pollution near their homes. The Fellowship is an opportunity to join my home state's fight against racial and economic injustice, and I can imagine no better entry point to a career in community-centered environmental advocacy.
2024
Central American Refugee Center of New York (CARECEN NY), Hempstead, NY
Ferida Osman-Elsayed
Ferida will provide removal defense and affirmative asylum representation to especially vulnerable Afghan immigrants to support their successful resettlement in Long Island.
My inspiration to work with the Afghan community is rooted in my personal experiences growing up in Long Island and not having anyone to advocate for me or my family. My project aims to not only support Afghan nationals on Long Island but to empower the community so that future girls are not left navigating through an isolating abyss like I was.
2024
New Economy Project, New York, NY
Chelsea Diaz
Chelsea will provide direct representation, community education, and policy advocacy support to community-based organizations seeking to advance and sustain nonprofit community land trusts.
I am drawn to community land trusts because they are a key tool to assert community control over the creation and implementation of root-cause housing solutions. Community land trusts preserve affordability and foster resident-led governance, which lays the foundation for low-income people of color to remain, and thrive, in their communities.
2024
Justice Center of Southeast Massachusetts, Brockton, MA
Sara Kamouni
Sara will provide immigration legal services and launch the first centralized, digital resource hub in southeast Massachusetts. She will deliver community programming that harnesses community members’ skills to meet their legal needs through a combination of attorney assistance and self-help.
I know from experience that when people can access clear, reliable information and trustworthy support, they can be empowered to meet their own immigration legal needs. I picked my project because in legal deserts like southeast Massachusetts, it's essential to democratize legal knowledge in this way.