July 22, 2019
The article details the firm’s launch of an innovative new mentoring program with the New York State Judiciary that matches at-risk young adults with adult mentors.
Willkie’s collaboration with New York state court officials and client Marsh & McLennan to launch a first-of-its-kind mentoring program for those aging out of foster care was featured in a New York Law Journal article that ran on July 12. The article discussed Willkie’s role in piloting the program following discussions between New York State Chief Judge Janet DiFiore, Mrs. Matilda Raffa Cuomo, and partner Mitch Auslander. Mr. Auslander and Kim Walker, counsel and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, among others, have served as mentors since the launch of the program in September, along with three attorneys from client Marsh & McLennan. Each of the attorneys meets with an assigned mentee at least once every two weeks for sessions that last more than an hour. Judge Jeanette Ruiz, administrative judge of the New York City Family Court, and Judge Karen Lupuloff, Supervising Judge, Family Court of the City of New York, oversee the program.
In the article, Mr. Auslander discussed the program’s purpose, which is to provide guidance to young adults who will be losing the services they received from the state through foster care. The program is geared toward young adults between 18 and 21 years old, which is when individuals age out of the state’s foster program, he said. The program is expected to double later this year, with three more attorneys from both Willkie and Marsh signing on to become mentors.
The article can be read here.
