Equal Justice Awards Celebration
September 18, 2025
Jacksonville Public Library & Conference Center
303 N. Laura St.
Jacksonville, FL 32202
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm: Cocktail Reception
6:30 pm: Dinner and Awards Ceremony
QUESTIONS?
Please contact Dennis Harrison,
JALA Chief Development Officer
904-356-8371 ext. 296
dennis.harrison@jaxlegalaid.org
Equal Justice Honoree
JALA’s partners in the
Jacksonville Eviction Diversion Program
Keynote Speaker
Stephanie Land
Best-selling Author and Economic Justice Advocate
Honoree
The Jacksonville Eviction Diversion Program is a comprehensive, community-driven initiative aimed at preventing evictions and promoting housing stability across Duval County, Florida. This program was launched in early 2024 through a collaboration between the City of Jacksonville, United Way of Northeast Florida, the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA), and The LJD Jewish Family & Community Services (JFCS). Together, these organizations offer resources for both tenants and landlords to address housing-related challenges, prevent eviction filings, and sustain long-term housing stability.
Program Objectives
The Jacksonville Eviction Diversion Program serves two primary goals:
- Rental Assistance: For tenants who face short-term difficulties in paying rent, utilities, or home energy costs due on or after November 1, 2023, the program provides up to three months of financial support to help cover overdue payments and stabilize their housing situation.
- Eviction Prevention: By fostering open communication and mediation between landlords and tenants, the program aims to reduce the number of eviction filings and ensure housing stability for at least six months following the receipt of assistance. Through this approach, the program strengthens community bonds and alleviates the stress often associated with potential housing loss.
Keynote Speaker
Stephanie Land
Stephanie Land is the bestselling author of Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive, a powerful memoir that chronicles her journey as a single mother navigating poverty, domestic violence, and the flawed social safety net. Her story, which inspired the acclaimed Netflix series Maid, brings national attention to the economic and emotional toll of low-wage domestic labor and the challenges faced by millions living on the margins.
Land’s unflinching honesty and deeply personal storytelling have resonated with readers worldwide, making Maid a New York Times bestseller and a cultural touchstone. Her follow-up memoir, Class: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger, and Higher Education, continues her journey as she pursues a college degree and a writing career while raising her daughter alone.
Today, Land is a vocal advocate for economic justice, domestic workers’ rights, and survivors of abuse. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and more. As a writing fellow and ambassador for the National Domestic Workers Alliance, she continues to elevate the voices of those too often unheard. Her keynote will speak to resilience, injustice, and the urgent need for systemic change.
For more information about Stephanie Land, please visit her on Substack, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and at stepville.com.
Past Honorees
The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic (2024)
Mary Kelli Palka (2023)
Mike Freed (2023)
The Honorable Hugh Alfred Carithers (2018)
George E. “Buddy” Schulz Jr. (2017)
Samuel S. Jacobson (2016)
William “Bill” Sheppard (2016)
Dominic C. “Donny” MacKenzie (2015)
Robert Spohrer (2014)
The Honorable William A. Van Nortwick, Jr. (2013)
Paul C. Doyle, Esq. (2012)
Florida Coastal School of Law (2011)
The Jacksonville Bar Association (2010)
Harrell & Harrell, PA (2009)
Jack D. Webb, Esq. and Glorious Johnson (2008)
Robert J. Beckham, Esq. (2007)
Kevin E. Hyde, Esq. (2006)
Rogers Towers, PA (2005)
Hank Coxe, Esq. (2004)
Eddie Farah, Esq. (2003)
Gary C. Pajcic, Esq. and Stephen J. Pajcic, Esq. (2002)
Robert F. Spohrer (2001)
Douglas J. Milne, Esq. (2000)
Wayne Hogan, Esq. (1999)
2025 Sponsors
Partners In Justice Sponsors
Firm/Corporate Table Sponsors
THE FIORENTINO GROUP
JALA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
KATHY & BUD PARA
Pro Bono Service Honorees Sponsor
