We the People of the Guild

(November 2005)

Urszula Masny-Latos, issue editor, writes:

The November issue of Mass Dissent was conceived differently than most issues: rather than include a series of articles on a legal topic, we chose to write about 'Who We Are' in the Guild. As law students, legal workers, and lawyers dedicated to social change, it is common to find ourselves so consumed by work that we neglect personal connections with our colleagues. This issue highlights some of the individual histories from an array of our membership from lawyers to activists, legal workers and supporters to Board members. We have given special attention to the stories of those long-time members who help us understand how 'Who We Are' in the Guild has developed over the decades.

We begin with a profile of Jan Solet, written by Daniel Rodriguez. Jan, one of the founding members of the Massachusetts chapter, tells a story that goes back over seventy years. From her beginnings as a housing advocate in New York in the 1930's, Jan has been involved with the Guild literally from its creation to the present day.

Next we have the story of Bob Cohen, another long-time member, as profiled by Sara Pic Harrison. Bob, a self-described 'aging hippy' lawyer tells a story that will be familiar to many of our members, about having devoted a lifetime to the law while maintaining hope about the possibilities for social change.

Cary Playter's profile, written by Dawn Johnson, is another exemplary story of the commitment and extraordinary good spirit of so many Guild lawyers. Through her various incarnations as law student, legal worker, and finally lawyer, Cary has taken on a number of projects with the Guild that are highlighted in the article.

The story of current Board member Neil Berman is an unconventional and thought-provoking one. His profile, written by Eleanor Newhoff, tells of an iconoclast who progressed towards a career in the law over years of social and self-analysis.

In our last article, Daniel Rodriguez profiles Ben Kublin, a community activist and long-time Guild supporter. We end with Benís story of how his work as a psychologist informs his unique vision of social change, and how he has contributed his vision to the work of the Guild over the years.

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