SIDEBAR Summer 2017 - 12

MONTGOMERYBAR.ORG

SIDEBAR FEATURE

MONTGOMERY BAR FOUNDATION HOSTS
FIRST ACCESS TO JUSTICE SUMMIT

the continuing efforts to address them. Each speaker was direct,
informative, and inspiring, and they expertly laid the groundwork
for the work ahead.

n April 4, 2017, over 60 Montgomery County leaders
- judges, bar leaders, pro bono attorneys, social service
providers, business community members, and law
enforcement officials - gathered at the Montgomery Bar building
for the county's first Access to Justice Summit. Sponsored by
the Montgomery Bar Foundation - in furtherance of its 30year mission to improve, facilitate, and support justice and fair
treatment for all - the Summit was developed in an effort to
support and advance the collective efforts of its attendees. The goal
was to identify resources, redundancies, and gaps in the access to
justice work in the county and foster more effective collaboration.
The morning was filled with energy and determination, as those
committed to serving county residents engaged in important and
productive conversation.
Barbara M. Smith, Montgomery Bar Foundation Trustee,
kicked off the event. As Co-Chair of the Foundation's Grant
Committee who first proposed the Summit, Ms. Smith was a key
member of the Summit Planning Group. After explaining the goals
for the Summit, and warmly welcoming all attendees, she passed
the baton to the event's three esteemed speakers - the Honorable
Garrett D. Page (Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas);
Barbara O'Malley (Director of Montgomery County Department
of Health and Human Services); and Chief Mark Talbot
(Norristown Police Department). These three community leaders
shared anecdotes and data conveying the County's needs and

12 SIDEBAR

Sharon Browning, the event moderator then took the reins.
Ms. Browning is the former Executive Director of Philadelphia
VIP and founder of JUST Listening, an organization which
fosters transformation through the practice of non-judgmental
communication. She introduced the seven panelists, asking each to
speak briefly about her respective organization:
Elizabeth W. Fritsch, Esq. (Legal Aid of Southeastern PA)
Mary C. Pugh, Esq. (Montgomery Child Advocacy Project)
Beth Sturman (Laurel House)
Nelly Jimenez-Arevalo (ACLAMO)
The Honorable Lois E. Murphy (Elder Access to
Justice Roundtable)
Robin Jordan (The Women's Center)
Elizabeth DiArcangelo (Community Connections)
These purposefully succinct presentations were packed with
details, and provided an excellent window into the noble work
already happening throughout the county, as well as the challenges

https://montgomerybar.org/

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SIDEBAR Summer 2017