Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As: Legal Services of Southern Piedmont
Mailing Address: 5535 Albemarle Road
City: Charlotte
State: NC
Postal Code: 28212
Main Phone: 704-376-1600
Main Fax: 704-376-8627
Organization Website: https://charlottelegaladvocacy.org/
Employer ID Number: 56-1202940
Organization Tax Status: tax-exempt under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: March 31, 2025
Requested Amount: 10,000

Project Title: Unaccompanied Children Program
Project Description:

Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy (CCLA) provides legal services to vulnerable populations in the Charlotte region to ensure that everyone has access to justice. Among those most vulnerable to exploitation in our community are immigrant children and their families, who face serious issues including human trafficking, domestic abuse and discrimination. Vital services for victims are often out of reach for those whose immigration status is insecure. CCLA offers legal support to unaccompanied migrant children under 18, both by providing direct legal representation as well as conducting legal orientations, known as “Know Your Rights” clinics, to migrant children who cross the border alone and are in federal government shelters.

In March 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services terminated nearly all government contracts funding such legal work, which severely impacts CCLA’s Unaccompanied Children Program, affecting more than 300 active cases. Due to this funding cut, the Advocacy Center does not have the financial resources needed for these current cases when these children go to immigration court, and we cannot take on new cases. Hundreds of immigrant children, many of whom have suffered abuse, neglect, abandonment and other forms of harm, will be left defenseless and without adequate legal representation.

It is virtually impossible for a child to understand their legal options or successfully navigate complex legal proceedings alone, without a specialized children’s rights attorney. According to the Congressional Research Service in 2021, attorneys have a dramatic impact on children’s cases; immigration judges were almost 100 times more likely to grant legal relief to unaccompanied children with counsel than to those without. Most clients served by our Immigrant Justice Program are under age 18. These cases are ongoing, and the Advocacy Center is seeking diverse sources of funding to safeguard these children’s right to safety and stability.

Total Project Budget: 250,000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA); Immigrant Justice Corps (IJC); subcontract through Acacia Center for Justice; subcontract through Global Refuge

Project Duration: 1 year (October 2025 – October 2026)
Geographical Area Served: Greater Charlotte region (cases processed in the Charlotte Immigration Court)
Age Group To Be Served: Under 18

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Alexandra
Contact Last Name: Lebron
Contact Title: Grants Specialist
Contact Phone: 980-202-7338
Contact Email: ally.lebron@charlottelegaladvocacy.org