Legal clinics help Mary's Place guests pursue a path forward

The conference room hummed with a quiet energy. Families trickled in - their arms laden with hopes as tangible as the folders of paperwork they carried. Children clung to their parents' hands, eyes wide with uncertainty and anticipation.

Set at tables throughout the room, attorneys stood ready to help. Representatives from Amazon Legal, Co-Counsel New York, and Fenwick Law Firm had transformed this room into a beacon of possibility. Today’s legal clinic was focused on immigration processes.

Over the last two years, the number of asylum-seeking families arriving at Mary's Place with no place else to go while they navigate the immigration process has continued to grow – along with the need for legal services to assist.

Yousri Omar, Associate General Counsel at Amazon and Mary's Place Board member, watched as the first family approached. He knew this was more than just a legal clinic. This was about rebuilding lives, one document at a time. "When we learned this critical need was straining Mary's Place's resources, we knew we had to step in," said Yousri. "Thanks to this week's incredible work, we've caught up on asylum and work permit applications. But there's still more to do."

Behind the scenes, Mary's Place staff orchestrated support for the day's work. In one corner, the youth services team entertained children while the housing team helped to gather documents for guests. Meanwhile, the kitchen staff ensured no one went hungry during the long day ahead.

Amazon Legal and partners plan to continue offering training and legal clinics to support families at Mary's Place and hope to host broader clinics for unhoused migrant families who are not in shelter.

Dominique Alex, Mary’s Place CEO, thanked these superhero volunteers for creating such an impactful event. "This was a coming together from all levels of our community to make sure our guests have a path forward to pursue ways to support themselves. We're deeply grateful for their work, which helps our families and provides our staff with critical information that we can use to help families in the future," said Dominique.

Over two days, more than 40 families found hope. Work permit applications were filed, asylum claims processed, and the complex maze of immigration began to look a little less daunting.