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Tennessee Voices, Episode 349: DarKenya Waller, Legal Aid Society of Middle TN/Cumberlands
This Memorial Day marks three years since George Floyd was murdered, resulting in a national racial reckoning that caused many leaders and organizations to become more fully engaged in how they see and solve systemic inequities.
Among them is DarKenya W. Waller, executive director of Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands.
On this episode of the Tennessee Voices video podcast, Waller talked about become more intentional about racial justice and social justice work. Equity gaps were exposed by COVID-19, which emerged shortly before Floyd’s murder.
She said people struggled with getting unemployment benefits, obtaining Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for the first time and dealing with systemic barriers brought to light by the pandemic.
LAS Executive Director DarKenya Waller
Among them is DarKenya W. Waller, executive director of Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands.
On this episode of the Tennessee Voices video podcast, Waller talked about become more intentional about racial justice and social justice work. Equity gaps were exposed by COVID-19, which emerged shortly before Floyd’s murder.
She said people struggled with getting unemployment benefits, obtaining Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for the first time and dealing with systemic barriers brought to light by the pandemic.
Waller also talked about her recent guest opinion column on how achieving racial justice is an all-year pursuit.
Legal Aid Society is the state’s largest nonprofit law firm and focuses on civil cases, be it, for example, issues of evictions or domestic violence. The incidence of the latter spiked with COVID.
There is no constitutional right to an attorney in a civil trial so the organization offers many free resources for civil legal services in these cases.
Call 1-800-238-1443 or visit https://las.org/ to learn more.
Published by: The Tennessean on May 11,2023