The Fellows, The Lady, & The Champ Rappaport Fellows Summer 2016

Meet The Rappaports!

Jerry Rappaport “The Champ”

Phyllis Rappaport “The Lady”

Visionaries On May 25, 2016, the Fellows met at Somerville City Hall with Mayor Joseph Curtatone. The Mayor is a Boston native who attended Somerville High School, Boston College for undergrad, and later received his Juris Doctor from New England School of Law. Mr. Curtatone was elected in November 2003 and still remains Mayor as of 2016. He immediately began implementing his vision of a safer and cleaner Somerville upon getting into office and has successfully enacted reforms to stem gun violence, prevent drug abuse, and promote clean and efficient buildings. The Mayor’s reforms not only impact Somerville but also have given him national recognition, as demonstrated by an invitation to the White House. Mayor Curtatone explained that his childhood forced him to face many issues that are still rampant in Somerville, which is why he has been so adamant about changing the very streets he grew up on. He revamped the police department which included removing the position of Police Chief from civil service. He then sought out public opinion for consideration on the next police chief hire. Mayor Curtatone not only focused on the top of the food chain but also got the community involved as well. To obtain many of the statistics about current gang violence and other issues, his team surveyed the inhabitants of Somerville. He understands that to get to the root of an issue you must attack it from all sides. His idea of implementing change came into fruition with the Neighborhood Impact Teams which focused on improving health, safety, and the appearance of businesses and residential areas. Mayor Curtatone’s accomplishments are plentiful and include creating award winning public schools, restoring and sustaining community traditions, and creating an improved law enforcement for community policing. I came away with a blueprint for tangible change and success. Joseph Curtatone taught me that true change can only be achieved if both ends of the spectrum are striving for the same goal. He keeps the citizens of Somerville engaged because he knows that they are the true source of power and the only hope for monumental change. I will continue to watch the City of Somerville as it progresses and hopefully I can emulate Mayor Curtatone’s success in my future endeavors.

Flying Among Stars On June 1, 2016, we went to the Social Law Library in the John Adams Courthouse building. We were greeted by Jessica Pisano Jones, a reference attorney who shared the library’s history and encouraged us to contact her for help regarding any of our legal research problems. The Social Law Library is specifically tailored to the needs of current law students as well as practicing attorneys. They offer databases, programs, and services geared toward finding cases, treatises, and other information that is of great value to legal writing and research. I can personally attest to the Library’s efficiency and unmatched research skills. I emailed Ms. Jones about an amendment that had been under consideration and she found the transcript of when it was discussed and the location of the bill in less than 24 hours. The Fellows were then introduced to Julie Kobick, an Assistant Attorney General in the Administrative Division of the Attorney General’s Office, who discussed her legal career and described the Commonwealth’s duty to defend. Ms. Kobick, in her role as a government lawyer, defends cases that constituents bring against entities of the Commonwealth. She described different ways of approaching a case and also shared her experiences and sentiments when faced with cases that take an emotional toll. Not only did Ms. Kobick give us a glimpse of what being a government attorney entailed, she also embodied the results of ambition, hard work, and perseverance. To close out this session, Ms. Medvedow instructed each of us to share a little bit of our background, why we chose to attend law school, and why we chose to work at our current summer internship programs. Rodline Louijeune began the session and Stephanie Johnson concluded it. As each Fellow divulged her/his story, it was simply phenomenal to hear the eclectic and riveting stories that each of us shared. The Fellows are diverse in every aspect: age, race, gender, ethnicity, etc. Our group is teeming with accomplishments including Fellows who were in the Peace Corps, who taught mentally challenged kids, army veterans, creators of voting software, immigrants, and individuals who have studied abroad or are going to in the near future. As each of us added our stories to the collection I slowly began to realize how surreal and blessed we all were to have met Lissy and become Rappaport Fellows. I knew then that this summer would be unforgettable because I was surrounded by such an unprecedented amount of brilliance; I was flying among the stars and I hope this journey never ends.

A Truly All Encompassing Facility On June 8, 2016, the Fellows went to the Codman Academy Charter School in Dorchester, MA. We met with Bill Walczak, one of the Academy’s Founders; Scotland Huber, Director of Communications; and Chetna Naimi, Partnership Director. The Academy is a charter school encompassing kindergarten to twelfth grade housed in two buildings separated by a street. The adjoining Codman Square Health Center contains a dentist, a doctor’s office, an optometrist, and OBGYN services. The Academy began as an idea where students, through the connecting Codman Square Health Center, would get a first-hand taste of the professional world before venturing off to college. Students apply by lottery with enrollment preference given to Boston residents and those who have siblings already attending the Academy. The kids go to school every day of the week except for Sunday, learning in an environment enriched with future possibilities. Saturday, the sixth day, not only gives the students an advantage because they have more time to learn, it also gives families peace of mind. Dorchester can be a rough neighborhood and having school on Saturday keeps the kids engaged and out of trouble. Parents are kept involved as 100% of parents engaged in a face-to-face meeting with a staff member in the past year. Codman Academy proves to be an ideal place for education, not only for the kids but for parents as well. The curriculum is also pioneered to set up the graduates for a successful future. Seniors are required to do an internship and most of them choose to complete that requirement at one of the many offices within the Health Center. A perk of being a senior is the opportunity to eat with professionals in an outdoor café during lunch time. Not only does Codman Academy nurture their students while they are on campus but they also conduct post graduate follow ups. The faculty understand that a new environment can shape and change a young freshman’s mindset and they seek to keep the Codman graduates on track by continuously checking on them and offering any assistance that is needed. The tour of the Academy showed the level of care that was taken into creating this school. The schools were meticulously to cater to the different age groups. The lower school (elementary and middle) is painted with pastel, inviting colors. Through the adjoining Health Center, the upper school (high school) students are getting a lesson on professional behavior as a bonus to their curriculum. Melding these two worlds has statistically proven to be beneficial; it is only a matter of time before this idea is used in every state in America.

Legislation & Elevation On June 15, 2016, the Fellows were afforded the opportunity to visit the State House and meet with Cathy Judd-Stein, Deputy Chief Legal Counsel to the Governor; and Stephanie Gunselman and Martha Kwasnik, General Counsel and Associate Counsel, respectively, to the Senate Ways and Means Committee. We began by meeting the latter two lawyers in the Office of Senator Karen E. Spilka, Chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. The attorneys explained the process of creating a bill from the Senate Ways and Means Committee viewpoint. Ms. Gunselman and Ms. Kwasnik discussed how compromises are reached when the Senate and House of Representatives lobby for different amendments. Essentially, the House or Senate proposes a bill, sends it to the opposite house, changes or additional amendments are proposed, and then the bill is sent back to its original author. If the House and Senate cannot agree, the bill goes to Conference Committee where representatives from the House and Senate sit down together and try to come to a compromise. This process can take anywhere from a couple of months to a year and although tedious, ensures equal representation and preserves the system of creating legislation that is most beneficial to the citizens of the Commonwealth. The Fellows then met with Cathy Judd-Stein, Deputy Chief Legal Counsel to Governor Baker. She is a true public servant having served the past four governors. Ms. Judd-Stein exudes a calm, quiet demeanor and was inviting and warm as she shared her experiences and wisdom. She took time to get to know each one of us individually. Ms. Judd-Stein not only told us about her legal career and pathway to her current position, she also engaged all of us and gave us each an opportunity to be a part of her story. The message that she instilled in me is the power of “the pivot.” She explained that each Governor comes into office with an idea in mind of what his/her legacy will be to impact Massachusetts. Governor Baker, for example, came into office with a vision which most likely did not include having to deal with the worst winter in State history and possibly becoming known as the “Snow Governor”. Governor Baker had to revamp transportation systems and other facets of the Commonwealth affected by the winter of 2015. Our visit to the State House soared when Ms. Judd-Stein took us into the Governor’s chambers. The high ceilings, historic paintings, and aged wood teemed with history and evolution. Massachusetts is a liberal state that was home for many historic individuals and evolutionary changes to the meaning of life and liberty. Visiting those rooms forced us to internalize the power and prestige of the legal career. Our last stop on the tour was the balcony that looks over Beacon Street and the Boston Commons. As my colleagues took pictures of each other and the view, I gazed over Boston and I couldn’t help but realize how small I was in comparison. Then it hit me that one person is all it takes to make a difference. One person is all it takes to shape the future of fellow citizens. I want to be that person and sharing that desire with eleven other budding legal pioneers is a gift that cannot be measured and one that will never be forgotten.

The Future Begins Now On June 22, 2016, the Rappaport Fellows visited Boston City Hall. John Fitzgerald, the Deputy Director of Imagine Boston 2030, introduced us to a mini replica of what Boston will look like in 14 years according to the plans. The future Boston will be just as beautiful but will contain more buildings and housing communities. Apparently, many Bostonians think these changes might cause overcrowding but statistics show that currently, the city’s population is about 670,000 people as compared to the 1970s when Boston had close to 900,000 residents. Boston 2030’s goal is to design and mold the city into a more dynamic, diverse, livable, workable, and playable city. The designers of the model are not its original architects, the people of Boston are. The design team conducted surveys through text messages, phone calls, and even written questions at your local coffee shop. Completing the survey took less than two minutes and asked questions about Boston and how it could improve. Unfortunately, in order to make monumental improvements to the city, there must be construction and that can affect an individual’s living area. Fortunately, the discomfort of some construction is far outweighed by the pros of “Imagine Boston 2030” such as a decreased unemployment rate. The Fellows then met with the Mayor’s Innovation and Technology Department including Kelly Jin, the Citywide Analytics Manager. Their mission is to engage and improve the life of citizens of Boston by using technology and data. For example, video cameras are used to monitor traffic patterns at particularly busy locations. By using data analytics, the City is able to more efficiently direct money and energy towards helping the Commonwealth. The Mayor’s Innovation and Tech Department is using technology to enhance our lives, making them innovators who are best equipped to satisfy our needs.

Orange Vests & Hard Hats On June 29, 2016, the Fellows got the opportunity to participate in a Big Dig Tour. This tour, directed by Adam Hurtubise, Chief of Staff for the MBTA, told the tale of the biggest construction project in the history of Boston. The Big Dig was a megaproject that was supposed to reroute the chief highway into the Thomas P. O’Neill Jr. Tunnel. The plan also included other projects such as the bridge that is now over the Charles River. The official planning began in 1982 and construction took place between 1991 and 2006. The entire project concluded in December 2007 with a budget that ended up being millions more than projected. The tunnels are now an everyday staple of the lives of the citizens of the Commonwealth. We began with a short safety meeting where our guide told us to keep our hard hats and vests on at all times, to be aware of leaks, and to always step cautiously. The guide led us into an elevator that could hold up to 18 people and we descended 100 feet below ground. When the elevator doors opened, we were welcomed with 20-foot high ceilings and long spacious hallways. After descending four more flights of stairs, we entered the control room. This room, although tiny, held the major controls for the tunnels. There was an abundance of leaks, not major, but when asked about the probability of water damaging the control center, the guide assured us that the highest the water could go was about five feet and the controllers would still function under that pressure. Our next stop was the wind/air tunnel room which held multiple 50-foot tall machines that ensured that workers would always have enough air. Lastly, we were able to peak in a highway tunnel during rush hour. Our guide opened a door and we were inches from cars driving sixty miles an hour through the tunnel! That adrenaline rush will be hard to replicate!

There’s Always More than What Meets the Eye

On July 6, 2016, we toured the John Adams Courthouse, spoke with Associate Justice Geraldine Hines, and toured the chambers of the Supreme Court Justices. We began the tour, guided by Barbara Berenson, Senior Attorney for the Supreme Judicial Court, in the center of the building which is teeming with beauty and history. The center chamber holds eight breathtaking statues that each symbolize a valuable aspect of the law. The ceiling is a beautiful piece of art that was perfectly preserved even after a pipe-smoking era. Connected to the center chamber are two rooms, created by Ms. Berenson, that tell stories of two historical events and people in the Commonwealth’s history: John Adams, and Sacco and Vanzetti. John Adams was the lawyer who tried the case for the Boston Massacre. Adams is an historic pioneer of the justice system, not only for Massachusetts, but for the United States of America. This tribute to him includes pictures, newspaper articles, and replicas of important documents such as the constitution for Massachusetts. The most impressive piece to this collection stands in the back of the room. It’s a wooden fixture that contains audio of Adams arguing in court, including his address for the Boston Massacre case. Sacco and Vanzetti were two Italian men whose stories embody the sanctity and seriousness of the practice of law. These two men were executed for an armed robbery after receiving an unfair trial. The men were convicted and executed and their stories have now been retold through plays, books, and movies as one of the most unjust trials in history. This room is a symbol to all lawyers to do their job with integrity and to the best of their capability at all times. The Fellows were then afforded the opportunity to meet Associate Justice Geraldine Hines of the Supreme Judicial Court. This Mississippi native graduated from Wisconsin Law, litigated in Roxbury defending prisoners rights, and will end her career as a justice in the highest court in Massachusetts. She taught us that passion and perseverance are keys to a fulfilling and meaningful career. She wears the trials she overcame as shields of honor and told us to do the same. As she unraveled her story, I realized that I was just beginning mine and I vowed right then to make my story as filled and eventful as hers.

Sprinkles, Strawberries, or Fudge? The Decadent Debate

On July 13, 2016, we visited the Edward M. Kennedy Institute and embarked on a journey to thoroughly understand the insides of legislation and be a Senator for the day. Edward M. Kennedy, former United States Senator, was a Democrat elected by Massachusetts who served for almost 47 years. He loved the mechanics of legislation, creating laws, and watching them come into fruition so much that he created the Institute to tell of the Senate’s history, train new U.S. Senators, and give visitors a chance to embody a Senator. The tour began with a reenactment of the debate surrounding the League of Nations. There were four actors who recited a speech impersonating different stand-out senators of that time who were both allies and opponents of the bill. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge was an avid opponent to the bill and went on a national tour explaining why the League of Nations was an idea that would inevitably undermine the strength of the United States. A video presentation, coupled with the actors’ performances, made for a memorable experience. We then continued our tour with iPad-like devices which allowed us to take a picture of ourselves, choose a party, and pick a state to represent. Our job as Senators began with an activity where we split into groups of roughly ten individuals and had to choose five amendments to put forward for gun legislation. Each card was given a numerical score. If your five cards totaled over 14, your views were too radical; under six, your views were considered too conservative. If the score was between seven and 13, it was an even balance and the amendments would most likely pass. My group totaled ten. We then sat in the nearly virtual rendition of the Senate and actually voted on an amendment. Even though the voting was simulated, tensions were high and persuasion tactics were in full force. The Fellows were then afforded the opportunity to tour a replica of Senator Kennedy’s office which was filled with photographs and historic decisions of which he was a part. Lastly, we took part in an exercise that illustrated how a bill is passed. For the “Ice Cream Sundae” bill, we were tasked with choosing two toppings from a list that included whipped cream, strawberries, oranges, sprinkles, fudge, Oreo pieces, and gummy bears. Initially, the group chose strawberries and sprinkles. The House, however, chose raisins and orange slices. A compromise failed and we redid the voting and passed the bill choosing whipped cream and oranges. Although this was just a glimpse of what Senators deal with, I found myself extremely engaged, lobbying with conviction and making compromises in hopes that my topping would become victorious. This was my favorite scholastic trip, and one that I will always remember.

Temporary Cement Walls; Permanent Life Evolutions

On July 20, 2016, we took a tour of South Bay House of Correction led by Rachelle Steinberg, the Deputy Superintendent. The tour included access to the booking area, the library, the recreational area, and medical area; we were also able to observe an auto mechanics class. Even though the walls were bare, the hallways echoed, and individuality was kept to a minimum, it is evident that the South Bay facility puts time and effort into creating a forward seeking environment. The facility currently holds about 1,500 individuals, each of whom received sentences of 2.5 years or less. The institution offers a plethora of programs that span from three to six months in order to prepare the inmate for life after incarceration. These programs include an auto mechanics class, a culinary class, yoga, as well as jobs that pay between one and three dollars a day for services. The South Bay facility operates using an all-encompassing philosophy. There are programs tailored to each inmate’s mental health, physical health, financial stability, as well as programs focused on preventing recidivism. The medical facility is well staffed and handles the inmates on an individual basis beginning with a mandatory consultation with a counselor when they initially enter the facility. The medical staff is equipped to deal with an array of issues such as drug addiction, pregnancy, diabetes, etc. If the care needed exceeds the ability at South Bay, they also coordinate with a hospital in close proximity. Their biggest issue is the lack of health care provided by MassHealth. When incarcerated individuals have less than 30 days until their release date, South Bay will work to try and get them follow up appointments post release as well as insurance to possibly cover or minimize expenses. South Bay tries to ensure optimal health beginning with the inmate’s required physical after booking. If an individual comes into the institution pregnant, she is immediately sent to the partner hospital for a complete physical. The institution considers itself a detox facility as well. Anyone who comes in with a hint of opioid use immediately begins detoxing. When incarcerated individuals are a month or two from being released, they often receive naloxone, an inhibitory drug that attaches to receptors to block the craving for opioids in the future. Inmates also have access to two basketball courts during recreation time in order to provide them with an opportunity to stay active. Steinberg informed us that South Bay has multiple programs with a dual purpose: create financial stability and prevent recidivism. These programs offer the inmates exposure to job opportunities for when they are released. South Bay wants to create an atmosphere of hope and focuses on the inmates’ lives post incarceration.

Jaki Fishkin Northeastern School

of Law

Stephanie Johnson Boston College Law

School

Paul Kominers Harvard Law School

Rodline Louijeune Boston College Law

School

Mary McBride UMass School of

Law

Kenneth Meador Boston University

School of Law

Jon Mosher Northeastern School

of Law

Amar Patel Boston College Law

School

Courtney Person New England Law

Rachel Rose Boston University

School of Law

Gustav Stickley Suffolk Law School

Anne Stark Harvard Law School

2016 Rappaport Fellows

THANK YOU FOR AN AMAZING SUMMER!!!!!