Global Empowerment Network, Inc. (GEN) is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting people in need in the United States, especially women and immigrants, and women and girls in Afghanistan through education, legal information and referrals, and community assistance.
Website: https://www.globalempowermentnetwork.org
Many individuals and families, particularly immigrants and people with limited financial resources, face barriers to accessing affordable legal assistance.
GEN provides legal education and helps connect people with available resources, but we do not currently have a formal network of legal service partners or a consistent referral process.
We want to establish working relationships with legal aid organizations, law school clinics, pro bono attorneys, and nonprofit legal service providers, beginning in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.
Our immediate challenge is identifying appropriate partners, initiating professional outreach, and establishing a reliable process for connecting community members with qualified legal assistance.
We seek a volunteer with experience in legal services partnerships, nonprofit collaboration, or community outreach who can help us build these relationships in practice, rather than simply preparing a list of recommendations.
By the end of this project, the volunteer will help GEN establish the foundation of a practical legal referral network through the following deliverables:
1. A targeted directory of approximately 15–20 legal aid organizations, law school clinics, and pro bono programs in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, including their services, eligibility requirements, and referral procedures.
2. Professional outreach materials introducing GEN and requesting referral partnerships or introductory meetings.
3. Direct assistance with contacting an initial group of at least 8–10 appropriate organizations and coordinating follow-up communications.
4. Support in arranging introductory conversations with interested legal service providers and documenting potential partnership opportunities.
5. A simple referral workflow explaining how GEN can direct individuals to appropriate providers, including basic confidentiality safeguards and referral tracking.
6. A practical handover guide so GEN can maintain and expand the network independently.
Success means GEN has an organized, usable referral system, documented outreach to potential partners, and initial professional relationships that can support future referrals.
We understand that partnership acceptance depends on the external organizations and cannot be guaranteed.
GEN is not seeking to provide legal representation directly. All legal advice and representation would remain the responsibility of appropriately qualified legal service providers.
