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/. D.C. Council contact information is available at www.dcaccesstojustice.org/council and below.

SAMPLE E-MAILS

From Organizational Leadership (Grantee or Community Partner)

Dear Chairman Mendelson, D.C. Councilmembers, Council Budget Team, and Council Staff:

I am reaching out on behalf of [Organization Name] to thank you for supporting the restoration of Access to Justice Initiative funding in the Fiscal Year 2027 Local Budget Act of 2026.

The Council’s continued investment in this program reflects its twenty-year commitment to ensuring civil justice is available to low-income District residents. This support has and will continue to make a marked difference in the lives of thousands of 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 the clients we serve. [Feel free to add examples if you wish.] Thank you.

Sincerely,

[Executive Director and/or Board President]

From Client

Don’t Know Your Ward? Find out at https://planning.dc.gov/whatsmyward

Dear Chairman Mendelson and D.C. Councilmembers:

I am a resident of D.C. and live in Ward [insert #]. I don’t know where I would be in my life without the services offered through the Access to Justice Initiative. I am reaching out to thank you for your support of the Access to Justice Initiative in the FY27 budget.

The legal process is very confusing and complicated. For me, it felt impossible to navigate without the help of a lawyer. [Insert specific example. For example, “I was at risk of losing my housing. But with a lawyer’s help, I was able to work something out with my landlord to stay housed.” or “My family was dealing with domestic violence and I was so worried about my safety and the safety of my children. My lawyer helped me get a protection order that I believe saved our lives.”]

As a D.C. resident and one of your constituents, thank you for restoring funding to the Access to Justice.

Sincerely,

[Name and Address]

From D.C. Resident

Don’t Know Your Ward? Find out at https://planning.dc.gov/whatsmyward

Councilmember [CM name]:

I am reaching out to thank you for your support of the Access to Justice Initiative in the FY27 budget.

As a D.C. resident (and a resident of your Ward), I am proud of our District government’s 20-year commitment to supporting access to justice.

[Feel free to edit as you wish: This program helps my fellow neighbors who are at risk if they can’t get legal help. 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, Council Budget Team, and Council Staff:

I am reaching out to thank you for your support of the Access to Justice Initiative in the FY27 budget. [ADD IF RELEVANT: 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 wouldn’t have access to a lawyer because they cannot afford to hire one. Your funding for legal services organizations is so important because 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, Council Budget Team, and Council Staff:

Our law firm is reaching out to express our thanks to the Council for its support of the Access to Justice Initiative in its FY27 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; 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; dcrawford@dccouncil.gov; twhite@dccouncil.gov

CC: bstum@dccouncil.gov; ecash@dccouncil.gov; lwalton@dccouncil.gov; jhudson@dccouncil.gov; spiekara@dccouncil.gov; swilson@dccouncil.gov; jpillai@dccouncil.gov; cwiskur@dccouncil.gov; mshaffer@dccouncil.gov; hedelman@dccouncil.gov; grogoff@dccouncil.gov; afoster@dccouncil.gov; rdinkins@dccouncil.gov; mrose@dccouncil.gov; nrivero@dccouncil.gov; dmeni@dccouncil.gov; sqadi@dccouncil.gov; ghulick@dccouncil.gov; Erodriguezlabrada@dccouncil.gov; amitchell@dccouncil.gov; iboyd@dccouncil.gov; lcmiles@dccouncil.gov; kdegood@dccouncil.gov; khunt@dccouncil.gov; jkauffman@dccouncil.gov; npcholkin@dccouncil.gov; rroberts@dccouncil.gov; nbrown@dccouncil.gov; kmitchell@dccouncil.gov; anunes@dccouncil.gov; dhouseal@dccouncil.gov; sbunn@dccouncil.gov; tnorflis@dccouncil.gov; aphelps@dccouncil.gov

SAMPLE X OR SOCIAL MEDIA 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)

TY for prioritizing Access to Justice Initiative funding @chmnmendelson @anitabondsdc @robertwhite_dc @CMCHenderson @CMnadeauOffice @CMBrookePinto @CMFrumin @CMLewisGeorgeW4 @CMZParker5 @CMcharlesallen @CMWendellFelder @cmdonicrawford @trayonwhite @dccouncilbudget

Access to legal services is essential. More DC residents will have access to #legalhelp through the #access2justice Initiative. @councilofdc #dcciviljustice cc: @dcbarfoundation

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

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