On September 11, 2009, the University of Miami School of Law hosted Representation to Realize Rights: A Summit on Counsel for Children in Miami. The event was sponsored by the HOPE Public Interest Resource Center, Children’s Legal Advocacy Forum of South Florida, and the ABA Children’s Right Litigation Committee and brought together leading experts to address the unmet legal needs of children.  The all day summit focused on five areas of law: education, child protection, health, juvenile justice and immigration. Facilitators included UM clinical faculty members, JoNel Newman, Bernard Perlmutter, and Rebecca Sharpless.  Each led highly engaging discussions designed to brainstorm solutions to some of the most egregious gaps in access to justice for children.

The Summit also highlighted HOPE Fellows, Marissa Gray (3L) and Colin Milne (2L) and their advocacy initiative: the Law, Education, and Advocacy Referral Network (LEARN), that will be designed to assist children who are suspended or expelled pending trial.   Overall, the Summit was the beginning of a conversation linking children's advocates to holistically approach the delivery of services to children in need.