Changing Lives for Good
Her Justice, formerly known as inMotion, Inc., extends its deepest gratitude to OgilvyOne Worldwide and its creative partners, @radical media, Outpost Digital, and PULL, for their collaborative work in producing Changing Lives for Good, our new video, which debuted at our Photography Auction and Benefit.
For the second year, under the direction of Carla Hendra, president of OglivyOne North America and Her Justice board member, Ogilvy once again marshaled its considerable resources and talent to help Her Justice tell its story.
Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, the video focuses on the positive changes Her Justice brought to the lives of three women and their children, providing insight into the dire situations many of our clients face and documenting the life-changing impact of our free legal services. We are very grateful to each of these brave women, who shared profoundly personal moments of their lives with us. Here are their stories.
Samantha and Andre
Samantha is an immigrant from Jamaica. She met and married her husband in New York in 2001. Soon after, his severe verbal and physical abuse of Samantha began. Whenever she attempted to leave, her husband threatened to take their son and to have her deported.
Describing the day that she was forced to flee her home, Andrea recounts, “He came in and was in a real rotten mood—he raced over and started to hit me—with Andre screaming at the top of his lungs, “Leave my Mommy! Leave my Mommy!” I managed to dial the police and they came.
"They looked at me, I had bruises on my face—they took pictures and did the report… I could not believe that my ex-husband could have done that, and then to do it in front of his son that he claims that he loves more than anything in the world…”
After this incident, Samantha and Andre took refuge in a domestic violence shelter. The New York Association for New Americans helped her apply for legal residency under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and referred Samantha to Her Justice for help with securing a divorce and legal custody of
her son.
Her Justice immediately placed Samantha’s cases with caring attorneys at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP. Carolyn Renzin represented her in her custody case. Samantha was awarded full custody of Andre by default when the father failed to appear in Brooklyn Family Court on three consecutive court dates. And Keeley Wettan then helped Samantha obtain an uncontested divorce. Freed from her abusive relationship and with the piece of mind that she had permanent custody of Andre, Samantha began to move forward with her life. She enrolled in a nursing program and secured a part-time job at a department store to support Andre and pay for school. Carolyn Renzin marvels, “Samantha is a superstar. She has juggled so much and persevered! She will be receiving her green card in the very near future and has now graduated from nursing school.” We are all rooting for Samantha as she prepares for her final certification exams!
Paulette* and Kareene
Paulette, also an undocumented Jamaican immigrant, came to the United States in October 2000 on a work visa. She met her future husband while employed as a housekeeper at a resort hotel in Indiana. Paulette thought she had met the man of her dreams, but soon after becoming pregnant and marrying him, her prince charming turned into her worst nightmare. Paulette survived a year of horrific violence and, miraculously, gave birth to a healthy baby girl, Kareene.
“I got beaten throughout my whole pregnancy, throughout my whole pregnancy. He gave me nothing to eat and he beat me... He came in one night, hitting my head, my back, my stomach. He beat me and I started hemorrhaging. I was bleeding like—I didn’t know if I’d live. I had to crawl to the phone. When I eventually got to the phone, I dialed 911, I could not talk. That man, he leave [left] me to die.”
After this incident, Paulette fled to New York with Kareene, taking refuge with her aunt and cousin. Paulette’s work visa had long expired and, as an undocumented immigrant, she found herself in a seemingly endless series of impossible catch-22s. She could not get an official state identification card because she did not have a social security number, driver’s license or any other acceptable form of identification. She could not enter a government building to request a social security number or assistance of any kind because she did not have an identification card.
“Without a social security number,” Paulette explains, “I was eligible for nothing. Before I came to Her Justice, everywhere I turned, the door closed in my face.”
Her Justice helped Paulette apply for legal residency. Our staff attorneys and interns worked with Paulette to draft a persuasive VAWA self-petition, documenting countless instances of abuse. Paulette’s application was accepted within a few months, allowing her to regain her work permit and obtain other important benefits while her green card was pending.
Pieces of paper have very special meaning to Paulette. “I sometimes lay all that I have accomplished out on my kitchen table. I put them all out, I sit and just look at them—my computer technology certificate, my work permit, my social security card, my driver’s license, my CPR certification and now, my nursing degree—I look in disbelief and cry tears of joy.”
This April Paulette began her first full-time job as a registered nurse in a hospital in Yonkers, NY.
Wendee* and Raven
When Wendee came to Her Justice she was unemployed, in arrears on her rent and struggling to provide for her daughter, Raven. Wendee’s family in Texas had drained their retirement accounts and nearly bankrupted themselves helping her win a bitter custody fight. For over three years, Wendee had been trying, on her own, to get child support from Raven’s father. Even though he earns a six-figure salary, the father had not paid one cent of child support; his team of attorneys had successfully fought off Wendee’s pro se petitions.
Wendee explains her state of mind when she first contacted Her Justice, “You never imagine that the person you love, or says that they love you, is going to do the things that they do. He sued me for full custody; we were in court for 2 1/2 years just dealing with the custody matter. I was falling apart. We were bankrupt. I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown.”
Her Justice placed Wendee’s case with Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP attorneys Michelle Krusko and Darin McAtee. They were able to prove that Raven’s father was hiding assets in a family-owned business and that he had recently purchased an apartment valued at over $1 million, despite his claims that he earned less than $35,000 a year. To prevent Cravath from subpoenaing information about the assets of his fiancé, who did not know that he had a child from a previous relationship, the father agreed to settle the case.
Wendee states, “We were able to reach a settlement, almost entirely on my terms, that leaves the door open for upward modification every two years. My daughter currently receives $1,200 per month in child support, full medical and dental coverage, and future college tuition. The bond formed between my attorneys and myself has turned into a lasting friendship. We cried together and ultimately celebrated together. They have committed to protecting my daughter’s support until she is emancipated!”
Three months after settling, Wendee landed a terrific job in the cast of Mamma Mia! She is currently on national tour with the traveling production of the Broadway hit. Speaking about her experience with Her Justice, Wendee states, “It changed my life, it changed my daughter’s life, and I think my attorneys would tell you, it changed their lives too. We are all different, we are all changed from this experience.”
Changing Lives for Good
Long-format PSA video
Changing Lives for Good highlights the positive changes Her Justice, formerly known as inMotion, brought to the lives of three women and their children. The piece provides insight into the dire situations many of their clients face and documents the life-changing impact of the organization's free civil legal services.
Produced by
OgilvyOneWorldwide
Directed by
Paul Bozymowski
Narrated by
Whoopi Goldberg
In-kind production support
@radical media, Outpost Digital, and PULL
Research & project management
Laurie Lichtenstein
Developed creative briefs and/or requests for proposals, obtained bids and reviewed contracts, researched and hired film production companies. Served as the organization's liaison to the creative and production teams.
Partnered with staff to identify clients and volunteers to profile in video projects. Researched cases and developed case profiles for the creative team.
Project managed creative agencies and film production companies: obtained and managed releases, coordinated schedules, locations and assisted with permits, handled communications with participating clients and volunteers.
Hired still photographers and art directed photo shoots on set; reviewed pre- and post-interview transcripts to identify key editorial content, dramatic stories and voice-over material; provided creative feedback; facilitated internal reviews and sign-offs and coordinated final deliverables.
Content strategy, copy writing, and design for print and digital channels. Coordinated and executed story cross-platform build-outs, website administration and content management. Set up and implemented email blasts utilizing NetCommunity.