Weekend in DC

For a bit of news that has nothing to do with Pearson, Iqbal, or (at least directly) the law--

I'm in Washington, DC this weekend at the annual "Legislative Weekend", part of the YMCA DC Youth & Government Program. The program brings together high schoolers from across the District to discuss and debate issues that are important to them, to play the role of Youth Mayor, Council Members, etc., and "pass" bills into law. Some of the bills introduced during the high schoolers' program have gone on to become law in Washington, DC. The youth leaders from the program contribute to community and civic life as well; most recently, students from the program testified before the DC City Council.

I helped start this program eight years ago and it's grown well beyond its humble origins. I'm proud to be part of such an impressive program and encourage you to read more about it and support it if you are so inclined.

Law Professor Seeks to Raise $100,000 for Charity

Suja Thomas, the Mildred Van Voorhis Jones Faculty Scholar at the University of Illinois Law School, has posed an interesting challenge to readers of her new blog, "The Give Blog." Continuing a promise that began on November 23, 2009, she plans to potentially donate $50,000 of her own money to five charities:

To celebrate the launch of this blog, with your help, we hope to give away $50,000 to five charities – The Hunger Project, The Grameen Foundation, Safe Passage, Catholic Charities USA and the Eastern Illinois Foodbank. . . . [Through December 24], [w]e will match contributions of up to $100 from new donors to these charities, and each charity can receive up to $10,000 from us. (We will match up to $100 of new donations to each of the five charities such that a person who has not given to any of these charities in the past could be matched up to $500.) So together, with your contributions, we can give $20,000 to each of these charities, or $100,000 to all five of them.

We commend these efforts, and encourage everyone to take a look at the site. If you desire to participate, you may send an email "stating the amount that you will donate and make the donation directly to the charity. The charity will confirm that you are a new donor and the amount of your donation, and then [The Give Blog] will match your contribution."