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For me, a meaningful life
means being involved in the
larger world around me in a useful way. |
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I'm wary of people who turn interests
into virtues, so I'll just focus on the interest side.
I started reading Time Magazine when I was 13. When I
was 15 my mom and I listened to NPR analyze the just-released
Bakke decision, as she drove me to my first stint at debate
camp in Redlands, California.
Throughout high school, I participated in competitive
speech and debate, which focused almost entirely on current
events and public policy. My civic interests are have
been strong for a long time! |
I've participated in a number of causes as a citizen (of
the U.S. and of the larger world).
Happily, my work in the past years has sometimes allowed me
to contribute my professional skills as well. |
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The
Center for Family Life, Sunset Park, Brooklyn. I'm on the
board of directors of this amazing social-service organization
that helps very poor immigrants in Brooklyn succeed in their
new lives. CFL is nationally known for innovation and effectiveness.
For example, they recently helped a group of women launch worker-owned
cooperatives for childcare and home cleaning. These cooperatives
allow their members to market effectively, earn more money and
therefore have more time to care for their own families. |
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Comprehensive
Development, Inc. /
Manhattan
Comprehensive Night and Day High School
I'm on the board of CDI, a partner organization to Manhattan
Comprehensive Night and Day High School. Manhattan Comp is a
transfer school that makes it possible for 18-21 year-old students
who have fallen out of the standard school system - or have
never been part of it - to finish high school. It provides an
integrated set of tutoring, health, legal, job-training and
placement services to make sure that these students have a strong
platform to have great lives. I was introduced to both CDI and
CFL through another great New York institution, Robin
Hood Foundation. |
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When I practiced an attorney,
I worked at Davis
Polk & Wardwell, which is extremely supportive of its
associates doing pro bono legal work. One of the highlights
of my time there was collaborating with Evan
Wolfson of Lambda
Legal Defense & Education Fund. In 1996, when Congress
was in the process of passing the fraudulently named "Defense
of Marriage Act" - which attempted use federal law to preclude
gay people from having equal marriage rights - Evan and I constructed
arguments about the unconstitutionality of this law that were
used in the Congressional debates and which have contributed
to the evolution of legal argumentation since then. One of the
best parts of this effort was working with a team of 7 associates
and summer associates to help with the research and writing.
Our DPW team was privileged to include several people who are
now considered among the brilliant minds of the legal world,
most notably Noah Feldman. |
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Another proud moment was assisting
a Burmese filmmaker, Win Pe, to win political asylum. This work
was supported by the Lawyers
Committee for Human Rights and Pro
Bono Net. |
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I am a semi-regular attendee
to the TED
Conference in Long Beach. I can't say I do much other
than listen and talk to lots of people, but it's a thrill to
be part of such an enriching community of big ideas. |
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Here are some of the charities
I give to (I'm sure they would welcome your money as
well.)
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