Best-selling author and economic justice advocate Stephanie Land to headline Jacksonville Area Legal Aid’s Sept. 18 Equal Justice Awards Celebration honoring the Jacksonville Eviction Diversion Program Robert J. Beckham Equal Justice Awards Celebration Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, 6:30 p.m. Jacksonville Public Library, 303 N. Laura St. Note: Land’s headshot can be downloaded from the event page.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Aug. 4, 2025 – Best-selling author and economic justice advocate Stephanie Land whose memoir was the inspiration for Netflix’s Golden Globe and Emmy Award-nominated original series Maid, will deliver the keynote address at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid’s 23rd Equal Justice Awards Sept. 18 at the Jacksonville Public Library.
Land’s bestselling debut memoir Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive recounts her harrowing saga as a single mom navigating the poverty trap. Her unflinching testimony exposes the physical, economic, and social brutality that domestic workers face, all while radiating a parent’s hope and dedication.
JALA’s Equal Justice Awards features the presentation of the Robert J. Beckham Equal Justice Award, named for a former JALA board member and longtime supporter. It is bestowed on a person or organization who has notably promoted the cause of equal justice for low-income residents of Northeast Florida.
The 2025 honorees are JALA’s partners in the Jacksonville Eviction Diversion Program, a comprehensive, community-driven initiative aimed at preventing evictions and promoting housing stability across Duval County. This program was launched in early 2024 through a collaboration among the City of Jacksonville, United Way of Northeast Florida, the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court, and The LJD Jewish Family & Community Services (JFCS), and JALA. Together, these organizations offer resources for both tenants and landlords to address housing-related challenges, prevent eviction filings, and sustain long-term housing stability. As of mid-July 2025, more than 330 households have been served. “Our community partners in the Jacksonville Eviction Diversion Program richly deserve this recognition for their forward-thinking approach to reducing the number of evictions in our community, ensuring greater stability for tenants and landlords alike,” said JALA President & CEO Jim Kowalski. “So far, the program has had 83 percent of participating families remain housed six months after receiving assistance, which is a remarkable outcome.”
Tickets and event sponsorships can be purchased online at www.JaxLegalAid.org/EqualJusticeAwards
Cocktails and dinner are included. All donations will support the work of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid. The event begins at 6:30 p.m.
About Jacksonville Area Legal Aid
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid is a nonprofit law firm focused on delivering economic, social, and housing justice to low-income and at-risk individuals and families on the First Coast.
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