Wing Haven

  • If you’ve ever driven down Ridgewood Avenue in Charlotte’s Myers Park neighborhood, you may have passed Wing Haven without noticing the treasure tucked behind our brick walls and iron gates. However, those who step inside quickly discover a sanctuary of winding paths, luscious green tree canopies, birdsong, and blooms that have enchanted visitors since 1927. 

    For years, thanks to the dedication of volunteers, staff, and donors, Wing Haven has been expanding the reach of our garden’s magic—inviting thousands of children, families, and neighbors into experiences of learning, healing, and connection with nature.

    The Early Roots of Outreach

    In 1996, a small team of volunteers and staff launched the Preschool Environmental Education Program (PEEPs), our first children’s outreach program. Named by longtime volunteer Susan Wall, PEEPs welcomed just 30 children in its first year. The idea was simple but powerful: inspire young children through books, art, and hands-on activities with nature.

    Over the last 29 years, that number has grown to more than 600 preschoolers each month. Today, in addition to PEEPs, we offer a host of educational outreach programs and opportunities that serve thousands of children each year, including Brookstone Explorers, Nest Explorers, and Camp Wing Haven scholarships. 

    Since 2017, we have been able to offer 61 Camp Wing Haven scholarships to local underserved youth to ensure every child, regardless of financial background, can explore, play, and learn in the garden. This summer – thanks to generous sponsors – we had nine scholarship students from Nest Academy who also received camp kits including reusable lunchboxes and water bottles, healthy lunches each day, and camp clothes and shoes. 

    Former Executive Director Dia Steiger reflected, “PEEPs provides such a rewarding volunteer opportunity and is a good way to carry forward Elizabeth Clarkson’s notion that the garden should be available to all.”

    Expanding Branches: Partnerships and Access

    As Wing Haven continues to grow, so does our outreach. Over the years, we’ve worked with local nonprofits, schools, and community groups—Freedom School, Braveworks, Phillips Academy, Hope Haven, Monarch, Covenant to Serve, local Girl Scout troops, and more. With each relationship forged, we’ve advanced our goal to bring new faces and voices into the fold. 

    Our commitment to accessibility has also deepened. In 2015, we began participating in Blue Star Museums to offer free admission for active military personnel and their families. In 2023, we joined Museums for All to offer free admission for SNAP/WIC card holders. We have also partnered with Ronald McDonald House Charities to provide admission passes for families in need of respite. 

    In addition, staff and board members participated in a year-long national IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility) Cohort organized by the American Public Gardens Association to connect with gardens around the country and advance IDEA initiatives at Wing Haven. 

    Combined with the addition of new staff and auxiliary positions, all to focus on outreach and IDEA initiatives, we have set the stage for even greater accessibility in the years ahead. 

    Looking Ahead: Deeper Engagement

    Outreach has brought thousands of people through our gates. Engagement invites them to help shape our future. Conversations, partnerships, advisory groups, and community-driven projects are helping us create a Wing Haven that not only preserves its history but also evolves to meet the needs of today’s Charlotte.

    As one Phillips Academy teacher shared, “Every volunteer shift is curated to our students’ unique abilities. The young adults look forward to this every month. We have loved volunteering at Wing Haven and hope to continue.”

    Stories like this are why we continue to invest in the resources to foster community connections. The seeds planted decades ago by dedicated volunteers are now blossoming into a wide-reaching, inclusive network of programs, partnerships, and opportunities that bring people and nature together.

    Perhaps the best way to answer the question—What can a garden do for the community?—is simply this: Wing Haven can be a place where everyone finds belonging. A place that supports learning, well-being, and the missions of our partners, that educates about sustainability and conservation, that inspires people to find their own personal community, and influences all of us to carry beauty and stewardship back into the world. 

    Just as the Clarksons envisioned nearly a century ago, Wing Haven remains a sanctuary of nature in a busy city. But today, it is also so much more: a hub of outreach, engagement, and shared purpose—rooted in history, thriving in the present, and growing toward a vibrant future.

    A Fortuitous Conversation

    As I was finishing this article, the last thing I needed was information about the first year of PEEPs. The day this article was due, by pure coincidence, Susan Wall walked in the door. We began chatting, and I learned that she was the one who had named PEEPs, knew the volunteers who created the program, and had an abundance of stories about Wing Haven. She was the exact person I needed to hear from at the exact time I needed the information. 

    Through encounters like this, I’m continuously reminded of how extraordinary Wing Haven and our community is. Our gates are always open—I look forward to hearing your stories and getting to know you too.

  • Elizabeth Clarkson had a passion for sharing her gardens with the community. It’s our goal to honor this legacy when collaborating with other nonprofits and local organizations. As we prepare to celebrate Wing Haven’s Centennial in 2027, we would like to highlight several of our current programs with outreach partners and the important impact these organizations make in Charlotte.

    Garden Passes for Ronald McDonald House

    Ronald McDonald House of Greater Charlotte houses families whose children are receiving treatment at Charlotte’s nearby hospitals. Last summer, several Wing Haven staff members visited the RMHC campus. Located just minutes from Wing Haven, the organization’s mission of caring for families during difficult times aligns closely with our own values of healing, hospitality, and community.

    One of the simplest ways we can share our gardens is by providing complimentary garden passes to fellow nonprofits. For RMHC families, these visits offer a peaceful place to spend time outdoors—a quiet respite from the challenges of a medical stay. 

    “We love being able to offer families a meaningful respite and uplifting experience during what is often a very stressful medical stay. There's nothing better than spending time outdoors to reset, and Wing Haven provides such a peaceful, relaxing and beautiful location to do just that!”

    –Elizabeth Lee, Family Services Manager, Ronald McDonald House of Greater Charlotte

    Seeing families enjoy these passes is a wonderful reminder of the Wing Haven Foundation’s original 1971 charter, which set a simple goal: to open the gardens to those who need them most.

    We are grateful for the opportunity to play a small role in supporting such a remarkable local organization. To learn more about Ronald McDonald House of Greater Charlotte and how you can support their mission, visit rmhclt.org.

    Meditation in the Garden

    I met Angela Gala, co-founder of Youth Meditation and senior instructor at Charlotte Meditation, through SHARE Charlotte. Youth Meditation is a nonprofit that provides mindfulness programs in local schools, helping children develop skills to manage stress and build emotional resilience at an early age. 

    Angela’s work in mindfulness and mental wellbeing fit right in with Wing Haven’s belief in the restorative benefits of spending time in nature.

    “Nature has its own peaceful frequency and because we come from nature our body naturally aligns to it. This is why you feel so much more calm when you are in the woods, or a garden or sitting by a body of water. Meditation is a practice to bring you into that peaceful alignment on your own but when you can meditate in nature… what a gift!”

    –Angela Gala

    We look forward to continuing to partner with Angela in the future, ensuring Wing Haven remains a sanctuary for peace and relaxation. 

    Learn more about Charlotte Meditation at charlottemeditation.com or Angela’s nonprofit work at youthmeditation.org.

    Nest Explorers

    Over the last decade, the number of children served by Wing Haven’s children’s education outreach programs has grown by more than 290%. One example is our partnership with Nest Academy, a trauma-informed K–12 private school serving refugee, underprivileged, and under-represented students in Charlotte.

    Wing Haven’s Nest Explorers program was launched in January 2023 to serve 30 Nest students, grades 1-8. Each month, students visit the gardens to share lunch, enjoy free exploration, and participate in guided hands-on lessons based in nature. Each student also receives a personal nature journal to record written and drawn observations of the natural world. 

    “We are so grateful for the priceless partnership with Wing Haven and 

    for the way you invest in our students.” 

    –MC Hildreth, Founder, Nest Academy

    You can learn more about Nest Academy and how to support their work at thenestacademy.org.

    Expanding Community Outreach

    Wing Haven continually uses insights from stakeholder feedback and outreach partnerships to better understand and serve the needs of our community, including underserved audiences. By working with local partners, we explore new programming opportunities that help reach individuals who may face barriers to visiting the gardens.

    If you know of a group that might benefit from time in the gardens or participation in our programs, please contact Emma Hynek at Wing Haven at 704-331-0664 ext. 103 or emma@winghavengardens.org.

  • Celebrate Earth Day by tapping into the power you have to protect our environment! Keep reading to discover ways you can make a difference.

    Grow Native Plants

    Growing native plants is one of the easiest and most beneficial things you can do for the planet. In contrast to non-natives, native plants require less water, manage rainwater runoff and protect the soil from erosion, and are the best plants for pollinators. In North Carolina, native plants include coneflowers, bee balm, blanket flowers, Black-eyed Susans, and more. Find a list here.

    Support Pollinators

    Pollinators (bees, butterflies, insects, birds, and small mammals) are the key to ensuring all aspects of the natural ecosystem are healthy and stable. Between 75% and 95% of all flowering plants on earth need help with pollination! It's easy to support these superheroes. Grow native plants, provide bird baths and ground water dishes for birds and bees, and avoid using pesticides - these sprays may kill pests, but they also harm pollinators.

    Plant a Tree

    You can never have too many trees! Stop by Wing Haven this week or this weekend during our Gardeners' Garden Tour and adopt a free tree provided by Bartlett Tree Experts.

    Plus, visit TreeFest on April 25th for a family-friendly day of environmental learning and activities hosted by TreesCharlotte! Be sure to visit Wing Haven's table.

    Create a Backyard Wildlife Habitat

    People have our homes to find refuge in - help wildlife do the same!

    It's easy to do this. By growing native plants, avoiding harmful sprays, and leaving dead leaves and seed pods on the ground instead of clearing them in the fall, you are giving nature's creatures a place to call home.

    Get your habitat certified here!

    Keep the Movement Going

    While we celebrate Earth Day once a year, it's important to protect the planet year-round with eco-friendly habits. If you'd like to learn more about what you can do support our natural environment, visit the websites below:

    https://www.pollinator.org/

    https://www.earthday.org/

    https://www.nwf.org/

    City Nature Challenge

    You can also visit Wing Haven this weekend to get involved in our City Nature Challenge!

    This is a citizen science project for people to document the plants and wildlife they discover in their cities. It’s an effort to support urban biodiversity, encouraging conservation efforts all over the world. 

    The dates of this year’s Challenge are April 24-27. To participate, download the iNaturalist app, take a photo of what you see, and upload your photo to the app. It can be any wild plant, animal, fungi, mold, or any other evidence of life within Charlotte. Any observation helps us learn more about the world around us.

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  • Extensive research shows a clear connection between time spent outdoors and improved mental health. The American Psychological Association cites findings that state “...exposure to nature has been linked to a host of benefits, including improved attention, lower stress, better mood, reduced risk of psychiatric disorders, and even upticks in empathy and cooperation.” Here at Wing Haven, we can vouch for that! 

    Elizabeth Clarkson recognized patterns of good health associated with how much time she was spending in her gardens. With that in mind, physical and mental wellbeing became a founding pillar of Wing Haven. Today, we continue to promote the beneficial properties of nature through programming, adult and children’s education, and local partnerships. 

    With four acres of curated gardens, woodland trails, and water features, Wing Haven has no shortage of peaceful refuge. Take a moment to reflect or do a walking meditation as you wander beneath our tree canopy, or choose a bench in the midst of our spring blooms to sit and spend time reading or writing. Even just a quick stroll on our brick pathways offers relief from stressors. If community is what you’re looking for, join Wing Haven as a volunteer and take advantage of the benefits of socializing and getting your hands in the soil. 

    Your mental health matters. In the age of technology, it’s easy to lose sight of the real world around us. Urban green spaces, woodlands, parks, and gardens are more important than ever to keep us grounded and connect us with the natural world. The garden gates are always open to you! Come recenter yourself at Wing Haven. 

    Article Link

North Media

  • A Historic Recognition 

    This year’s Founders’ Awards mark the first time the Florida Justice Association® (FJA) has given the recognition to an all-female slate of recipients. This year’s candidates were submitted by the FJA Women’s Caucus, and the final recipients were voted on by the FJA Board at the annual meeting at Convention in June. The all-female roster of award recipients has received an overwhelmingly positive reaction from the legal community. 

    “The Women’s Caucus is a beacon of light within the FJA,” said FJA member Nick Johnson, who is of counsel at Cohen Milstein. “The practice of plaintiff personal injury has been dominated by men for decades, and the Women’s Caucus has succeeded in creating a growing group of female practitioners, who serve as an inspiration to not only other women within the organization, but to anyone who can appreciate the tremendous value of increasing diversity within the FJA, and how this diversity inures to the benefits of our clients, and society as a whole.” 

    Molli McGuire, chair of the FJA Women’s Caucus, believes this year’s slate of recipients represents decades of membership and leadership in the FJA that is now appropriately being recognized. “Each and every one of the award winners are absolutely fearless leaders. They serve as an example that vigorous advocacy can and must be combined with unwavering professionalism. They are constant providers of support and guidance to young women in our organization interested in leadership,” McGuire said. She anticipates more female members receiving these awards in the future. 

    “It is only fitting that the recipients of the awards this year were nominated by the Women’s Caucus and were resoundingly approved by the FJA Board of Directors,” Johnson added. 

    Perry Nichols Award 

    The Perry Nichols Award is the highest honor given by the Florida Justice Association. It is awarded to a nominee who has demonstrated exceptional dedication to improving the justice system over the course of their career. This year’s recipient of the Perry Nichols Award is Justice Peggy A. Quince. 

    With her uniquely remarkable and distinguished career, Justice Quince stands out as a leader in the legal profession. She started her career opening her own law office in 1978 and practicing general civil law until she became an assistant attorney general in 1980. This was followed by a position on the Second District Court of Appeal. In 1998, she was appointed to the Florida Supreme Court, where she served for 20 years and served as the chief justice from 2008 to 2010. Justice Quince was the first African American female chief justice on the Florida Supreme Court. 

    “Justice Peggy Ann Quince stands as one of the greatest and most important figures in Florida’s history. She has an extensive career as a champion for justice. Undoubtedly, she is a living example for all, and has accomplished innumerable firsts,” said Judge June McKinney. 

    Over the years, Justice Quince has provided counsel in the most complicated of legal situations, including death penalty cases, attacks on voter’s rights, Florida’s Combating Public Disorder Bill in 2021, and, famously, the 2000 election dispute between President George Bush and Vice President Al Gore. 

    Although she is now retired from the bench, Justice Quince has not stopped her work within Florida’s civil justice system. She currently works on the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County, reviewing sentences for selective cases to prevent the unjust sentencing of an innocent person.

    Justice Quince was on the Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters of Florida for six months and has been described as a mentor for many young women lawyers and a role model to every person who deals with her on a level of activism. “She is personable, passionate, knowledgeable, open, willing to learn, she’s an activist. She’s a true example of a patriot and a citizen of the United States,” said former League President Patricia Brigham. “Her commitment to the Constitution, democracy and justice, is obviously powerful.” 

    “Justice Quince is a wonderful person. She’s been a dedicated public servant, she’s smart, she’s made some historic decisions,” said Carolyn Stewart. I think that it’s a well-deserved honor for someone who’s retired from the bench.”


    Al J. Cone Lifetime Achievement Award 

    The Al J. Cone Lifetime Achievement Award is given to a person who demonstrates: “A career of leadership; A career of example setting; A career of devotion; A career of courage.” Julie Braman Kane of Colson Hicks Eidson is the recipient of this year’s award. 

    Kane is a personal injury lawyer at Colson Hicks Eidson and has been a partner at the firm for 22 years. She is the lead and liaison counsel in the In Re: Monat Hair Products Multidistrict Litigation, on the Executive Committee for Allergan Biocel MDL and on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for the In Re: 21st Century Oncology Customer Data Security Breach Litigation. 

    Kane has been a member of the American Association of Justice for more than two decades and has served as the organization’s president. She founded and was the chair of the Voter Protection Action Committee, which works to protect voter rights, and was trustee and co-chair of the National College of Advocates. Kane has been on the Board of Directors at FJA, commissioner of the Florida Elections Commission and president of the Miami-Dade Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers. Kane is also the former chair of the FJA Women’s Caucus. 

    She has been recognized with a variety of awards and honors, including the American Bar Association’s Pursuit of Justice Award in 2017. Kane has given multiple legal presentations and has had her writing published several times. 

    “Julie is a true leader, and she’s a leader in the sense if she asked me to walk off a ledge, I’d be right behind her. She’s not going to ask anyone to do anything she’s not willing to do herself 10 times over and I think that’s really a sign of a leader,” said Brenda Fulmer, shareholder at Searcy Denney. “It’s not ego, it’s not having an entourage, it’s basically getting in there and doing what needs to be done to solve a problem or to achieve a goal, and that’s Julie.”

    B.J. and Tom Masterson Award for Professionalism 

    The criteria for the B.J. and Tom Masterson Award for Professionalism include excellence in advocacy, a distinguished and ethical career, and contributions that have advanced the cause of professionalism in the practice of law. This year’s recipient, Leslie Mitchell Kroeger of the Cohen Milstein law firm, has gone above and beyond in demonstrating why she is deserving of the award. 

    Kroeger’s career began as an assistant public defender for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida. She served as an assistant state attorney in Miami-Dade County before moving into private practice and is now a partner at Cohen Milstein and becoming co-chair of the firm’s Complex Tort Litigation practice group. Her practice areas include catastrophic injury and wrongful death, complex tort litigation, environmental toxic torts, managed care abuse litigation, PFAS litigation and unsafe and defective products. 

    As a trial lawyer, Kroeger has worked to promote FJA priority legislation, including legislation on improved tire safety and a 2014 bill that became law which increased booster seat requirements for children in Florida. In October of 2015, Kroeger was honored with the FJA’s Champion of Consumer Safety award for her work with the 2014 legislation. 

    “As Leslie has devoted years of work to the Florida Justice Association, she has been an advocate for safety for all Floridians. Her work with providing car seats for infants and children is a perfect example of that,” said Laurie Briggs, a personal injury lawyer at Searcy Denney. 

    From 2019 through 2020, Kroeger served as only the second female president of the FJA. Her work as FJA president is one of the many reasons she appeared on this year’s slate of Founders Awards’ recipients. 

    “The truest test of professionalism is the ability to demonstrate grace under fire. As president of FJA, Leslie faced unprecedented challenges, but she never wavered in her commitment to do what is best for the global good,” said Natasha Diemer, chief strategy officer of Dominick Cunningham & Whalen. “She is a woman who has always led with courage and conviction and the superhuman power to face opponents head on with grace, grit, and a warm Southern smile.” 

    Kroeger has been praised by her colleagues as a dedicated attorney defined by her poise and professionalism, and an inspiration to all aspiring leaders in the law profession. 

    “The B.J. and Tom Masterson Award recognizes an individual who, in his or her lifetime of practicing law, epitomizes ethical professionalism and who is a model to which all lawyers should aspire. Leslie fits this description to a ‘T,’” said Johnson. “In my over 14-year career, Leslie stands out as one of the most passionate, diligent, and ethical lawyers I have ever encountered.”

    Jon E. Krupnick Award 

    The Jon E. Krupnick Award recognizes and honors a trial lawyer champion whose efforts on behalf of a particular client reflect relentless commitment, perseverance and fortitude to seek justice and achieve success through all obstacles and legal roadblocks that were encountered. This year, FJA is honoring two judges with this recognition — Judge Jennifer Bailey and Judge Bertila Soto. 

    Judge Jennifer Bailey 

    Judge Bailey attended the University of Georgia School of Law and, in 2018, got her L.L.M. in judicial studies from the Duke University School of Law. She has been a circuit court trial judge in Miami-Dade, Florida, for 27 years and is currently the administrative judge for the 25-judge Circuit Civil Division. 

    “I can honestly say there is no judge in Miami who is more committed to the legal profession, and to our court system, than Jennifer Bailey,” said Judge Kevin Emas. “I think Judge Bailey’s commitment can best be exemplified by her eager willingness to take on projects and tasks that others will not. She volunteers for the dull and dreary with the same enthusiasm as the contentious and controversial, and all with the same problem-solving goal in mind — making sure we deliver access to civil justice.” 

    Throughout her career, Judge Bailey has chaired and served on the boards of various legal organizations, which currently include the Board of Governors of Directors of the National Center for State Courts, the Board of Advisors for the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, and the NCSC Institute for Court Management. She previously served as dean of the Florida College of Advanced Judicial Studies, as chair of the Florida Bar Civil Procedure Rules Committee and as vice-chair of the Florida Court Education Council for four consecutive terms, appointed by four different chief justices of the Florida Supreme Court. She served on the Civil Justice Initiative Committee and chaired their Court Operations subcommittee. 

    She has won several legal awards and has taught or presented for several organizations and schools, including the Florida Judicial College at the College of Advanced Judicial Studies, Florida Circuit Court Conferences, and the University of Miami Law School. 

    “If excellence in what she does is the criteria [for this award], she deserves it. Judge Bailey is distinguished as a judge, has a tremendous work ethic, understands the law, applies it impartially, and treats everyone well,” said Rodolfo Sorondo, a former Third District Court of Appeal judge and now a partner at Holland & Knight. “She is 100 percent invested in what she does.”

    Judge Bertila Soto 

    Judge Bertila Soto obtained her J.D. degree from the University of Miami, where she was a member of several legal organizations while a law clerk at her father’s firm, Osvaldo N. Soto and Associates. 

    Following law school, she transitioned from an intern to an assistant state attorney in the Dade County State Attorney’s Office. She became an associate at Osvaldo N. Soto and Associates in 1992. She then served on the Miami-Dade County Court from 1997 until 2002, when she was appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush to the circuit court. 

    During her time on the circuit court, she worked in the family and criminal divisions. Judge Soto was elected as the chief judicial officer of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida in 2013, the first female, the first Hispanic and the first Cuban American to hold the position. 

    “Chief Judge Soto served with great honor as chief judge for the maximum of four full terms, over eight years. The job of chief, while prestigious, is filled with tasks and duties that most judges would never want to do and could never do well. Judge Soto was our face and our voice in the courts, in the community, and in Tallahassee. Simultaneously, she had to manage the major and minor day to day issues that arise among 123 independently elected constitutional officers and the 11 buildings we work in and the many people and agencies with whom we interact,” said current Chief Judge Nushin Sayfie. 

    “This was a herculean task that I have witnessed Berti master firsthand through the incredible challenges of successfully advocating for a new Civil/Probate Courthouse and navigating an unprecedented global pandemic,” Sayfie added.

    In addition to her duties in court, Judge Soto actively passes her legal knowledge on to the community. She is an adjunct professor in Miami Law’s Litigation Skills Program and mentors students from her alma mater, Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, an all-girls high school in Miami. Many of the girls she mentors are now lawyers, and Judge Soto’s daughter, Assistant United States Attorney Bertila Fernandez, says her mother’s involvement in these girls’ professional lives has allowed her to shape a younger generation of female leaders. 

    Fernandez cites her mother’s dedication and hard work as the reasons she won the award. “Her commitment to this community is why she deserves this award. Her clients are the people of Miami-Dade County, and she wakes up every morning prepared to serve them better than her best, especially as chief. There isn’t a problem she can’t handle and there isn’t anyone she isn’t willing to work with. She is always willing to fight for the people she serves no matter the cost because she knows it is the right thing to do. She loves her job because of the people she is able to serve, not because of the title,” Fernandez said. 

    S. Victor Tipton Award 

    The S. Victor Tipton Award is given for superior achievement in legal writing and was awarded this year to Maegen Peek Luka of Newsome Melton Law Firm. 

    Luka has extensive experience in the legal field. She attended University of Florida College of Law, where she was symposium editor for the Florida Law Review and the recipient of several book awards. Following law school, Luka clerked for the Honorable Emmett R. Cox on the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals before joining a private practice as a litigator. 

    “Maegen is one of the smartest people I know. It’s the reason we asked her to come work with us — we knew how gifted she was when it comes to complex legal issues. She is incredibly bright, incredibly gifted, and analyzes things on a different level than most people,” said attorney Frank Melton. “She is committed to clients and committed to each case.” 

    In 2019, Luka received the Defender of the Realm award from the Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers Association. She is a member of multiple professional associations and has been published several times. Luka’s writing has been described by colleagues as unique, detailed, and a testament to her hard work. She has also been commended for her ability to notice an argument others may have missed. These talents have propelled her legal career and helped drive the Newsome firm’s success on behalf of their clients.

     “Maegen can express a dry and complicated point in a way that is both interesting and easily understood and compelling, and she understands her audience. A good brief is one that meets the needs of the judge who will decide the case. It is not about the emotional needs of the client or the behavior of the opposing party. Maegen understands this well and that is why she has been so successful in persuading appellate judges to rule in favor of her clients,” said former colleague Phil Padovano. 

    “She has prevailed for her clients in a wide variety of cases from a complex Medicaid reimbursement case in the Florida Supreme Court to numerous tobacco cases in the district courts of appeal,” Padovano added. 

    Luka’s law partner Rich Newsome also noted Luka’s commitment to excellence in writing and representing clients, including her pro bono work. “Maegen has gone above and beyond by working as a volunteer, writing amicus briefs to the Florida Supreme Court for major issues that affect access to the court and the civil justice system and then garnering support by making phone calls to retired judges and reputable members of the bar to sign-onto her amicus briefs,” Newsome said. 

    “She has also tirelessly worked as a volunteer to write and present white papers to educate the plaintiff’s bar about new cases and developments in the law that will affect their practices. She continues to write in her own practice and for her own clients as a trial lawyer, handling complex and important litigation representing women in human trafficking cases, and other clients with catastrophic injuries,” he added. 

    Luka is chair of the FJA’s Appellate Practice Section. 

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  • It only takes one conversation with incoming Florida Justice Association President Curry Pajcic to know you’re speaking to a leader. 

    His colleagues will tell you the same thing. “Curry is a born leader, a passionate advocate for justice, not just in the courtroom, but in his hometown of Jacksonville and in the halls of the Florida Capitol. The fight for justice is more than a profession for him; it’s his legacy,” says 2021-22 FJA President Tiffany Faddis. 

    He comes from a family that, as FJA Deputy Director Jeff Porter puts it, “comes from a pedigree of public service.” Pajcic’s father, uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather all worked in the legal field in some capacity, and as a result, he has always known the value of justice. Curry Pajcic’s definition of justice “means making things right and even. Our clients have had something taken away from them, and the scales are out of balance. We have to make it even.” 

    Pajcic reflects on the lessons of justice instilled in him from a young age. “When I was a kid, and my brother Curt and I would get in a fight, if I hit him and he went running to tell my dad, my dad would tell him to make it even,” he says, laughing. “We knew from the time we were kids that we had to make it even.” 

    Becoming an attorney is what Pajcic was called to do. “God has given us all gifts,” he says. “We have a responsibility to use these gifts for the good of others. He gave me a passion for helping the little guy, the downtrodden, the forgotten.” 

    Growing up, Curry ate each Sunday night dinner at his grandfather’s house. “The last thing my grandfather would say before we ate was to always be mindful of those less fortunate,” Pajcic recalls.

    Pajcic spent his undergraduate years at the University of Virginia, where he played varsity baseball. He then attended the University of Florida College of Law, where he founded the school’s Honor System, co-authored the Honor Code, and was elected the first chair of the Honor Committee in 1993.

    It is important to note that although he attended the University of Florida College of Law, Pajcic is a die-hard Florida State University Seminoles fan. His father, Gary Pajcic, was Florida State’s quarterback at the same time Steve Spurrier was the University of Florida’s quarterback. In 1966, the Seminoles and Gators faced off in what would become one of the most highly contested games in school history. 

    It was the fourth quarter of the rivalry match, and the Seminoles were down by four with 17 seconds left in the game. On fourth down, Gary Pajcic threw a bomb to receiver Lane Fenner, who was wide open in the corner of the end zone. Fenner made the catch, his knee went down, and he rolled out of bounds. Although Fenner does appear to be down in pictures of the play, the referee called it an incomplete pass and the Gators won the game.

     “The ref was a Gators fan. He called Fenner out of bounds and my dad was so angered by the injustice that he went on to become a lawyer,” Pajcic jokes. “I went to Florida for law school and my dad was not happy. I loved UF, but I hate the Gators.” 

    After his graduation in 1994, Pajcic became a prosecutor with the State Attorney’s office. He was awarded the Jury Trial Award in 1997, and the following year, he joined the family business, The Law Firm of Pajcic and Pajcic, as a trial attorney. His father and his uncle, Steve Pajcic, started the firm in 1974. Pajcic was able to practice law with his father for eight years before Gary passed away. “He was my best friend. He was a great mentor, and he taught me everything I needed to know,” Pajcic says. 

    Over the course of his career, Pajcic has been honored multiple times for his accomplishments as a trial attorney. In 2014, he was recognized by the National Trial Lawyers’ list of Top 100 Trial Lawyers. He has been named to Florida’s Legal Elite and chosen as a Florida Super Lawyer. In 2018, he was Jacksonville’s Trial Lawyer of the Year, and in 2019, he was named Florida Trial Lawyer of the Year by the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Pajcic has also been given the 7th Amendment Award by FJA.

    Pajcic credits his wife, Annie, their four children, and his colleagues for helping to make his career possible, saying everything is a team effort — a “we,” not an “I.” 

    “I know Curry is a great leader because he is a man of tremendous faith,” says Annie. “He is a great leader because he balances patience and kindness with his passion for justice in the state of Florida. He is wise and discerning, he leads with experience, compassion, and humility — always with the best interest of the Floridians he is representing. He is a visionary, not only looking at the immediate needs of the FJA but also building the foundation for future attorneys.” 

    His oldest daughter, Daley, is on her way to becoming one of those future attorneys herself. Pajcic says he encouraged her career path, but not because it was also his. He encouraged his daughter to pursue whatever her gift is, saying, “I would love to see her follow in my footsteps, but her footsteps are bigger than mine! She’s more than holding her own.” 

    Daley is attending law school at FSU and is currently the president of the school’s FJA Student Section. She says that after working alongside her father for a semester in college, she knew she wanted to earn the chance to continue to work alongside him for years to come. 

    “My dad has always been my role model,” Daley says. “I constantly look up to him in every aspect of life. He has always encouraged me to follow my own path and to identify the passions that God has instilled within me. He has taught me that leadership is not just about being in charge or guiding others, it is about humility and serving others. 

    “My dad embodies the true definition of leadership through his dedication to service, humility, and passion for justice. He is always the first to give credit elsewhere without the need to take the credit for himself. That is what a true leader is; someone who leads from selflessness and service to others,” Daley notes. 

    Pajcic says he’s encouraged about the growing number of female trial attorneys and that it’s one of the best developments he’s seen at FJA and throughout the legal field during his career.  

    “This has given the legal industry a better perspective and given FJA more diversity,” he says. “Something we need to be intentional about is encouraging diversity. This is the fabric of America and of Florida, so it should be the fabric of FJA too. We should represent all viewpoints, backgrounds, and histories.” 

    After 24 years of membership in the FJA, Pajcic is now set to become the organization’s 63rd president. 

    His goal during his presidency is simple: to ensure the rights of citizens in Florida are protected and preserved. “Be a good neighbor,” he says. “You’ve heard of the parable of the Good Samaritan? That’s a defining one for me. If someone in your path has a need that you can meet, you have a responsibility to stop and help.” 

    He is committed to bringing justice to each Floridian, and when his term as president is completed, he hopes to have left a lasting positive impact on the organization.

    Article Link

  • PASOs Releases COVID-19 Impact Report

    Report Details Racial and Ethnic Disparities in SC Resulting from COVID-19

    Columbia, SC —A recently published COVID-19 impact report details the effects of the pandemic and how one organization worked to provide support to minority populations.

    Over the course of the pandemic, PASOs, a community-based organization and part of the Center for Community Health Alignment (CCHA), conducted the following efforts to support health and well-being in Latino and Hispanic communities throughout South Carolina:

    • 83 in-person outreach events (including COVID-19 informational events), reaching a total of 2,974 community individuals face to face;

    • 1,573 adults provided with general COVID education and support;

    • 718 individuals received financial aid to assist with COVID-19 setbacks; and

    • Over 500 individual community agricultural workers were reached during 10 outreach events that focused on COVID-19 education, navigation of resources, and connection to medical care and vaccines.

    • 64 Covid-related outreach events held throughout the state, reaching over 1500 community members.

    PASOs also provided education about the vaccine as well as access to the COVID-19 vaccine; today nearly 60 percent of the Latino and Hispanic population in South Carolina is vaccinated. This is compared to only about 50 percent of all South Carolinians receiving the vaccination.

    In collaboration with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC), PASOs held 56 events across South Carolina to offer testing and vaccination support,

    including free grocery giveaways and outreach with Latino media partners. The Promotores de Salud de PASOs' collaboration with DHEC allowed for these events to have better reach in the community by providing COVID-19 education and access to vaccines in places frequented by Latino individuals and families, such as tiendas, panaderías, and peluquerias. In total, PASOs helped 694 adults and 46 children receive the vaccine from April 2020 to April 11th, 2022.

    "PASOs' efforts to help the Latino community get vaccinated are clear when looking at the data.

    About 58.7 percent of the Latino population is vaccinated compared to 53.4 percent of the entire South Carolina population," the report notes.

    The report also highlights the vast health disparities experienced by Hispanic communities throughout the pandemic.

    "Nationally the Hispanic unemployment rate was 18.1 percent in April 2020. The Hispanic community was also disproportionately impacted by COVID cases and COVID deaths. More than 50 percent of Latinos have a family member who has become ill or died from COVID-19," the report states. "This community is more likely to work at jobs that require them to be out in public during

    the pandemic - putting them at higher risk."

    The report explores the introduction of vaccines and their effectiveness in curbing the spread of

    COVID-19 and its subsequent adverse health challenges. Read more.

    About CCHA

    The Center for Community Health Alignment (CCHA) is a community focused organization within the U of SC Arnold School of Public Health. Our network of partners work alongside community leaders to align efforts addressing health inequities in South Carolina by bringing together three major initiatives: PASOs, the Community Health Worker Institute (CHWI), and Equity through Meaningful Community Engagement (EMCE).

    CCHA's work helps drive greater utilization of the available health resources, reduces barriers to critical services and expands community resources, helping build more resilient communities.

    About PASOs

    PASOs, meaning "steps" in Spanish, utilizes the Community Health Worker/Promotor model statewide to serve individuals and families and strengthen leadership within Latino communities to advance health education and awareness, advocacy, resource navigation, resource connection and leadership development. PASOs is also focused on the advancement of the CHW workforce and improving our systems to better reach and serve Latino communities for a healthier and stronger South Carolina.

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  • Tallahassee Bar Association Young Lawyers’ Section to Host ‘Adulting 101’ Event

    Dean Mead attorney Jordane Wong among board members hosting seminar


    Tallahassee, FL — The Tallahassee Bar Association Young Lawyers’ Section is set to host its second annual virtual seminar titled ‘Adulting 101.’As a member of the Tallahassee Bar Association YoungLawyers’ section Board of Directors, Dean Mead attorney Jordane Wong will be helping lead the seminar.

    The event works to provide local high school students with the life skills they need to succeed personally and professionally. Among other topics, various board members will prepare presentations about money management, job hunting, and knowing your rights. This is the second year the Tallahassee Bar’s Young Lawyers’ section has hosted this event. The event features cash prizes and an opportunity to apply for a scholarship. Dean Mead will be providing a portion of the scholarship funds for the event.

    “I’m excited to help put on such a great event for high school students in Leon County,” Wong said. “The goal is to provide them with real world knowledge they can use in their everyday lives.Dean Mead is committed to making investments in the local community and we’re excited about this opportunity to positively impact the younger generation in our community.”

    ‘Adulting 101’ will take place on Tuesday, May 10th at 5:30 p.m. on Zoom. Interested students can find more information on Dean Mead’s Facebook page.

    About Dean Mead Dean Mead is a business law firm providing full-service legal representation, government relations and lobbying throughout Florida. The firm has six offices with 56 attorneys and four government relations professionals in multiple practice areas including: federal tax, state and local tax, estate and succession planning, business litigation, corporate law, labor and employment, government relations and lobbying, regulatory compliance, employee benefits,bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, commercial real estate, leasing, construction law, lending, environmental, land use, water law, utilities law, and eminent domain. For more information, please visit http://www.deanmead.com.

    Dean Mead is a long-standing affiliate member of ALFA International. ALFA is widely regarded as the premier global network of independent law firms with 150 law firms in the United States and Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa.###

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