The Council voted on July 28 to restore funding to the ATJ Initiative at $31.7M. The Commission is incredibly grateful to the Council for prioritizing access to justice for our most vulnerable neighbors. We encourage D.C. residents, businesses, and organizations to thank each Councilmember for supporting the Initiative.

We have included some tools that you can use when reaching out to the D.C. Council. These are designed to be sent now. D.C. Council contact information is available at www.dcaccesstojustice.org/council and below.

To learn more about the value of the District’s investment in the Initiative and its impact, go to: https://dcaccesstojustice.org/access-public-funding/

SAMPLE E-MAILS

From Legal Services Organization Leadership

Dear Chairman Mendelson, D.C. Councilmembers, and Budget Director Budoff:

I am reaching out on behalf of [Organization Name] to thank you for your support of the Access to Justice Initiative in the FY26 budget.

The Council’s continued investment in this program reflects its strong and long-standing commitment to ensuring civil justice for low-income District residents.

[Feel free to edit as you wish: When D.C. residents have access to justice, it contributes to greater housing stability, public safety, economic opportunity, stronger families, and a better overall quality of life in the community. Every day, the District’s network of civil legal services funded through the Initiative help your constituents maintain affordable housing, protect wages and jobs, stabilize credit, help children and families get healthy, guard against abuse, and protect District elders.]

This investment means so much to our organization and the clients we serve. [Feel free to add examples if you wish.] Thank you.

Sincerely,

[Executive Director and/or Board President]

From D.C. Resident

Councilmember [CM name]:

I am reaching out to thank you for your support of the Access to Justice Initiative in the FY26 budget.

As a D.C. resident (and a resident of your Ward), I am proud of our District government’s long-standing commitment to ensuring civil justice for low-income District residents.

[Feel free to edit as you wish: What makes me proud to live [and work] in D.C. is its commitment to our most vulnerable communities. This program helps my fellow neighbors whose safety, health, housing, and economic stability are at risk if legal help is unavailable to them. To me, this is a community value – I want our government to help low-income and vulnerable District residents maintain affordable housing, protect wages and jobs, stabilize credit, help get healthy, and be protected from fraud, discrimination, and abuse.]

Again, thank you.

[Name and Address]

From Pro Bono Attorney or Law Firm Pro Bono Leadership

Dear Chairman Mendelson, D.C. Councilmembers, and Budget Director Budoff:

I am reaching out to thank you for your support of the Access to Justice Initiative in the FY26 budget. I am a resident of D.C. and live in Ward [insert #].

As a lawyer who lives and works in DC, I want to help my neighbors and so I volunteer with [insert legal services organization]. It is a way I can use my legal background to help people who otherwise probably wouldn’t have access to a lawyer. I would not be able to volunteer without the support of the legal services lawyers.

Thank you!

Sincerely,

[Name and Address]

Dear Chairman Mendelson, D.C. Councilmembers, and Budget Director Budoff:

Our law firm is reaching out to express our thanks to the Council for its support of the Access to Justice Initiative in its FY26 budget. Our law firm partners with many Initiative-funded organizations.

Your support of the legal services organizations with whom we partner will allow us to continue to provide pro bono support to District residents through our lawyer volunteers, who’d be reluctant to practice in unfamiliar areas without that help.

We know that you have many pressing issues to consider, which makes your support for the Initiative all the more appreciated.

Sincerely,

[Firm leadership and/or Pro Bono Counsel]

Council E-Mail information available at https://dcaccesstojustice.org/council/

Group E-Mail

TO: pmendelson@dccouncil.gov; kmcduffie@dccouncil.gov; abonds@dccouncil.gov; rwhite@dccouncil.gov; chenderson@dccouncil.gov; bnadeau@dccouncil.gov; bpinto@dccouncil.gov; mfrumin@dccouncil.gov; jlewisgeorge@dccouncil.gov; zparker@dccouncil.gov; callen@dccouncil.gov; wfelder@dccouncil.gov; jbudoff@dccouncil.gov

SAMPLE MESSAGES – GENERAL

Potential tag lines: #dcciviljustice #ATJfunding #theInitiativeworks
Consider tagging: DC Council (@councilofdc); Councilmembers (see below); Commission (@DCATJComm); DC Bar Foundation (@DCBarFoundation)

Sample Tweets (remember 280 character limit – or do a thread)

Thanks for supporting Access to Justice Initiative funding today @chmnmendelson @anitabondsdc @CM_McDuffie @robertwhite_dc @CMCHenderson @CMnadeauOffice @CMBrookePinto @CMFrumin @CMLewisGeorgeW4 @CMZParker5 @CMcharlesallen @CMWendellFelder @dccouncilbudget

Access to legal services is essential. More DC residents have access to #legalhelp through the #access2justice Initiative. @councilofdc – thank you for your support of #dcciviljustice cc: @dcbarfoundation

The ATJ Initiative sets DC apart committing to #access2justice @chmnmendelson @anitabondsdc @CM_McDuffie @robertwhite_dc @CMCHenderson @CMnadeauOffice @CMBrookePinto @CMFrumin @CMLewisGeorgeW4 @CMZParker5 @CMcharlesallen @CMWendellFelder @dccouncilbudget

1/2 The #access2justice Initiative provides thousands of District residents with life-changing legal services and promotes public safety, housing stability, and economic opportunity #dcciviljustice

2/2 Thank you @chmnmendelson @anitabondsdc @CM_McDuffie @robertwhite_dc @CMCHenderson @CMnadeauOffice @CMBrookePinto @CMFrumin @CMLewisGeorgeW4 @CMZParker5 @CMcharlesallen @CMWendellFelder @dccouncilbudget

Group X Message: @chmnmendelson @anitabondsdc @CM_McDuffie @robertwhite_dc @CMCHenderson @CMnadeauOffice @CMBrookePinto @CMFrumin @CMLewisGeorgeW4 @CMZParker5 @CMcharlesallen @CMWendellFelder @dccouncilbudget

Group BlueSky Message: @chmnmendelson.bsky.social @anitabondsdc.bsky.social @robertwhitedc.bsky.social @cmchenderson.bsky.social @brianneknadeau.bsky.social @cmfrumin.bsky.social @cmlewisgeorgew4.bsky.social cmzparker5.bsky.social @cmcharlesallen.bsky.social