Please join us in supporting Fair Shake’s work for an evening of food, live music, and storytelling on Thursday, September 12th at 6:00pm at TreePittsburgh in Lawrenceville!
On June 28, 2024, the Supreme Court released an opinion that dismantled Chevron deference—a legal principle of administrative law that has been relied on for forty years—leaving the country to grapple with the uncertainty of what comes next. We hope this conversation can help shed some light on what Chevron was, why it was created, how this ruling could impact the Ohio River Valley, and how environmental advocates may be able to fill the gaps left in its place. Read more at: https://www.fairshake-els.org/blog/post-chevron.
Join us and partners from across PA, OH, and WV for this virtual discussion. Register at:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpf-GgqzgtHdwuCbBq0xlrsloeM7tTpg6G
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
RSVP HERE! https://forms.gle/teu8tP7nczuZ9NfV9
Join neighbors for a legal workshop for landowners to understand your rights and what to look for before you sign a pore space or storage space lease.
Fair Shake Environmental Legal Service Attorneys will be talking about:
What is carbon capture and storage;
What’s in a contract for pore space or storage space;
Red flags to watch out for; and
What you can discuss and negotiate.
RSVP HERE! https://forms.gle/teu8tP7nczuZ9NfV9
This event is designed to educate the public, and should not be constructed to be legal advice or to signify the formation of a lawyer-client relationship.
Nonpartisan Advocacy: How 501(c)(3)s Can Educate and Advocate During Election Season. Hosted by Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services, New Sun Rising, and Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, and facilitated by Bolder Advocacy.
Though public charities must remain nonpartisan, they have a critical role to play throughout the election cycle! Not only can public charities engage in issue advocacy during election season, but they can also conduct robust voter and candidate education campaigns and mobilize the public to get out the vote. After this session, you will have a better understanding of how to safely engage in nonpartisan advocacy during an election.
Participants will learn:
- How you can continue to advocate for your issues during election years;
- How you can educate the public through candidate forums and questionnaires;
- How you can respond to candidate statements objectively;
- How you can conduct nonpartisan voter registration and ensure get-out-the-vote efforts are conducted legally;
- How you can safely support or oppose ballot measures without being partisan; and
- How staff and volunteers’ partisan activities in their personal time can be kept separate from their activities on behalf of the organization.
Register at: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcscO2gqTkuH9E5-BxDLanzuljx7NycxjGD
Hosted by Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services, and facilitated by Bolder Advocacy.
501(c)(3)s play an important role in educating the public about policy issues and actions taken by elected officials, including the President. Elected officials vote on bills, make public statements and executive decisions, and set the course for public policy on a wide range of issues. These actions may be consistent with or conflict with a nonprofit's position on an issue. After this workshop you will have a clear understanding of how to maximize your advocacy, the kinds of advocacy activities 501(c)(3)s can engage in, and when a communication is considered lobbying.
Participants will learn:
1. How federal tax law permits lobbying for charities and how lobbying is defined;
2. One easy step most charities can take to maximize the amount they're allowed to spend on lobbying;
3. Yearly lobbying limits for charities;
4. Tips for taking advantage of the narrow definitions of lobbying – which will help charities make the most of their lobbying limit; and
5. The application of these rules to ballot measure activities.
Register at: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAtdu6trDkrH9RVdRW8486P89orQMs5pR4f
Hosted by Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services and Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, and facilitated by Bolder Advocacy.
501(c)(3)s play an important role in educating the public about policy issues and actions taken by elected officials, including the President. Elected officials vote on bills, make public statements and executive decisions, and set the course for public policy on a wide range of issues. These actions may be consistent with or conflict with a nonprofit's position on an issue. After this workshop you will have a clear understanding of how to maximize your advocacy, the kinds of advocacy activities 501(c)(3)s can engage in, and when a communication is considered lobbying.
Participants will learn:
1. How federal tax law permits lobbying for charities and how lobbying is defined;
2. One easy step most charities can take to maximize the amount they're allowed to spend on lobbying;
3. Yearly lobbying limits for charities;
4. Tips for taking advantage of the narrow definitions of lobbying – which will help charities make the most of their lobbying limit; and
5. The application of these rules to ballot measure activities.
Register at: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwscu2spz0pEtftekj3_RMqIUj6lE8WZQqR
Hosted by Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services and New Sun Rising, and facilitated by Bolder Advocacy.
501(c)(3)s play an important role in educating the public about policy issues and actions taken by elected officials, including the President. Elected officials vote on bills, make public statements and executive decisions, and set the course for public policy on a wide range of issues. These actions may be consistent with or conflict with a nonprofit's position on an issue. After this workshop you will have a clear understanding of how to maximize your advocacy, the kinds of advocacy activities 501(c)(3)s can engage in, and when a communication is considered lobbying.
Participants will learn:
1. How federal tax law permits lobbying for charities and how lobbying is defined;
2. One easy step most charities can take to maximize the amount they're allowed to spend on lobbying;
3. Yearly lobbying limits for charities;
4. Tips for taking advantage of the narrow definitions of lobbying – which will help charities make the most of their lobbying limit; and
5. The application of these rules to ballot measure activities.
Register at: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwvde-trz8rH9DXORyUx3AGEzlZBZiJJhWD
Fair Shake is partnering with River Valley Organizing, Community Legal Aid, Case Western Reserve School of Law Environmental and Health Law Clinics, and Ohio Environmental Council to hold another free legal advice clinic for residents of the East Palestine area impacted by the train derailment. Stop in if you have legal questions about the train derailment. There's no commitment and no fee! The clinic is this Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM and will be at the East Palestine First Church of Christ, 20 W Martin St, East Palestine, OH 44413. For more information, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/2636513483163704?ref=newsfeed
Join us in celebrating 10 years of environmental legal aid in Appalachia! Enjoy an evening of food, drinks, live bluegrass music and silent auction with items from partners such as Patagonia & learn how we work to support equal access, environmental justice, and community democracy.
Purchase tickets here!
This "Choose Your Own Adventure" website helps communities find levers they can pull to impact the issue(s) they care about, and offers tools and resources to drive change.
During the launch, we will explore the River together, supports available for communities, and how we can use it to move from vision to action.
Find the River at: https://www.fairshake-els.org/community-resources
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwtf-msqjojHdzEgww17I7ynvQ9ehDp9wHf
On Saturday, June 10th, Fair Shake is partnering with River Valley Organizing, Case Western Reserve University School of Law Environmental Law Clinic, Community Legal Aid, and Ohio Environmental Council to hold a free legal clinic for residents of East Palestine impacted by the train derailment. Our goal is to provide free legal consultation, not to solicit clients. Please stop in if you have any questions about the train derailment. For more information or to register: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=576091401330181&set=a.568386502100671&type=3
Join Fair Shake as a Community Ambassador to:
Engage and network with neigbhors,
Discover how decisions are made about the places you live, work, and play, and
Take action to drive the vision!
Location & Details Coming Soon!
Register here: https://www.fairshake-els.org/ambassador-community
This "Choose Your Own Adventure" website helps communities find levers they can pull to impact the issue(s) they care about, and offers tools and resources to drive change.
During the launch, we will explore the River together, supports available for communities, and how we can use it to move from vision to action.
Find the River at: https://www.fairshake-els.org/community-resources
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwkdeioqzwsEtJFTpyra0MTMih-mqJveTu1
Join Fair Shake as a Community Ambassador to:
Engage and network with neigbhors,
Discover how decisions are made about the places you live, work, and play, and
Take action to drive the vision!
Register here! https://www.fairshake-els.org/ambassador-community
Have questions about how it works, ways to finance, and where to start?
Want to know more about tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act?
Interested in a solar co-up and want to learn about next steps?
Come join Fair Shake and Solar United Neighbors for a community conversation - breakfast provided & families welcome!
Have questions about how it works, ways to finance, and where to start?
Want to know more about tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act?
Interested in a solar co-up and want to learn about next steps?
Come join Fair Shake and Solar United Neighbors for a community conversation - breakfast provided & families welcome!
Join Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services, The Ohio Environmental Council, and your neighbors for a workshop on:
The decision-making process to approve new industrial developments;
Chances for public participation in decisions so you can ask questions, understand what is happening, and make your voice heard;
Tips and practice to make impactful public comments.
Dinner Provided & Families Welcome!
This event is designed to educate the public on processes to engage with state agencies and other government decisionmakers regarding projects that impact the environment and public health. It is not intended to propose particular strategies or methods to oppose specific projects or permits currently under review by any government entity.
Have questions about how it works, ways to finance, and where to start?
Want to know more about tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act?
Interested in a solar co-up and want to learn about next steps?
Come join Fair Shake and Solar United Neighbors for a community conversation - food provided & families welcome!
RSVP here by 9/10! https://forms.gle/LrcNDtiFJk3xUBGw7
RSVP here by 7/27! https://forms.gle/LrcNDtiFJk3xUBGw7
RSVP by 7/25: https://forms.gle/LrcNDtiFJk3xUBGw7
Where can you locate a public dock and how do you get a permit? This is for the dock permitting crowd. We’ll consider questions about siting and permitting docks in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware. A robust question and answer session will always be included in these meetings.
Join us! These meetings are free, virtual and open to the public.
Whether you’re an angler, enjoy SUPing or kayaking, or swimmer, this seminar on waterway access is for you. We’ll consider questions of recreational access to waterways and planning for solo and group recreational events on waterways. A robust question and answer session will always be included in these meetings.
Join us! These meetings are free, virtual and open to the public.
We’ll focus on methods to reduce risk when accessing waterways where concerns about water quality and health are present. When contamination is present in a lake, stream or river, how should you engage in planning? We’ll walk you through methods to work toward legally & safely accessing those waterways and reducing risk. A robust question and answer session will always be included in these meetings.
Join us! These meetings are free, virtual and open to the public.
Rural waterways are often surrounded by private land owners and often questionable in terms of whether the public can legally and safely access them. We’ll walk you through methods to work toward legally & safely accessing rural waterways and reducing risk. A robust question and answer session will always be included in these meetings.
Join us! These meetings are free, virtual and open to the public.
Urban waterways are unique in the waterway access puzzle. Sometimes fenced off, flowing under buildings and often of questionable quality, we’ll walk you through methods to work toward safely accessing urban waterways and reducing risk. A robust question and answer session will always be included in these meetings.
Join us! These meetings are free, virtual and open to the public.
Fair Shake’s Community Democracy Series aims to give people the tools they need to participate in the processes that shape their communities. Each segment of our FREE 5 part webinar series will be hosted by our staff attorneys and dive into important aspects of our local and regional democratic processes that are often overlooked. Some examples include urban and suburban farming, building communities through zoning, understanding the permitting process, protecting your community from lead hazards, working together for environmental justice, and community lawyering for a better future.
We will begin this week-long series on August 24th, 2020.
You can register for the events here: https://fairshake-els.salsalabs.org/communitydemocracywebinarseries/index.html
Monday, August 24th @ 2pm - John Heer, Esq.
Fair Shake’s Community Democracy Series aims to give people the tools they need to participate in the processes that shape their communities. In this FREE webinar, we will introduce you to our newest outreach program that aims to help communities get ahead of environmental risk by working beside them to plan the future they want to see.
Would having your own attorney help your community reach its goals?
For most communities in our region having a personal attorney is just not feasible. We want to change that. That is why we are beginning to offer pro bono legal services to at-risk communities with strong leadership who want to change their future for the better. Join us on August 24th at 2 pm to learn how you can engage with our attorneys and get your community on the track to success.
Tuesday, Aug. 25th @ 2pm - Tim Fitchett, Esq.
Do you know what risks your community is currently taking on?
Communities have been assuming risks that they have not agreed to and would never agree to and the situation is only getting worse. We want to help stop this vicious cycle by providing you with practical tools that will help you end this vicious cycle. Some of you’ll learn will include:
Environmental permitting
Public participation laws
Open records laws
Gathering the facts
Organizing for advocacy
We at Fair Shake want to go beyond the courtroom to give community members the tools they need to become equal players in the decisions about their health and future. Community strength against risk comes from knowledge and action. Understanding the laws in place will help you take your communities back and defend your environment.
Wednesday, Aug. 26th @ 2pm - Ryan Hamilton, Esq.
How can you participate in deciding the fate of your communities?
Zoning laws provide an opportunity for building successful communities through proactive decision-making and we want to help you understand the process so you can make the positive changes you want to see in your neighborhood. When used wisely they can fix problems like systemic and environmental racism, but only when the public's voice is heard.
Join us as we teach you the basics of zoning permitting, land use planning, how you can engage in the zoning process through leadership, and holding elected officials accountable. We will also provide context through some of our favorite examples of real communities using zoning to make a positive change throughout our region.
Thursday, Aug 27th @ 2pm - Andy Karas, Esq.
Do you have what it takes to turn a risk into an opportunity? We think so!
Lead is prevalent throughout the Rust Belt region in our drinking water and in the paint inside our homes. This heavy metal is a toxin that provides a serious risk to children and developing youth, yet many do not know that they are exposing themselves to it. Understanding where risks lie and the laws that protect you is an important step to a safer healthier community.
Friday, Aug 28th @ 2pm - Emily Collins, Esq.
Are you an urban or suburban farmer or food producer? Have you experienced hardships while trying to navigate the complicated legalities of multiple revenue sources? Are you trying to get ahead of issues that might arise? We are here to help!
Fair Shake’s Community Democracy Series aims to give people the tools they need to participate in the processes that shape their communities. Strong, healthy communities cannot exist without access to sustainable, local agriculture, so we want to help urban and suburban farmers succeed in providing this critical service.
We know that farming in the cities and suburbs provides unique challenges and in this FREE webinar we will talk about some of them and how we can work together to help you overcome the issues holding you back. We also hope to help you identify future hurdles you may face and discuss how you can get ahead of the curve and avoid costly risks. Your work is too valuable to your communities to let laws get in the way. We want to help you rebuild democracy by revitalizing our food system!
Each of these events will feature a 45-minute presentation followed by 45 minutes of Q&A with our staff attorneys. All webinars are free of charge though donations are always accepted. Follow this link to register for the events and/or make a donation today: https://fairshake-els.salsalabs.org/communitydemocracywebinarseries/index.html
We are proud to announce the first annual Stories of Sustainability Farm-to-Table Dinner where we invite one of our clients to share their story with you, our friends and supporters and engage in a deeper discussion of access to a sustainable future, all while eating a fresh farm-to-table meal prepared by Black Radish Catering!
A brief overview (starting promptly at 10 am)
Information handouts
Private one-on-one time with our staff attorney (20-minute sessions on a rolling basis from 10:30 am - 2 pm)
A brief overview (starting promptly at 4 pm)
Information handouts
Private one-on-one time with our staff attorney (20-minute sessions on a rolling basis from 4:30 pm-8 pm)
