{"id":1030,"date":"2022-11-11T15:07:26","date_gmt":"2022-11-11T15:07:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/?p=1030"},"modified":"2024-09-10T20:47:55","modified_gmt":"2024-09-10T20:47:55","slug":"a-passion-for-giving-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/a-passion-for-giving-back\/","title":{"rendered":"A PASSION FOR GIVING BACK"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1030\" class=\"elementor elementor-1030\" data-elementor-settings=\"[]\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-section-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b68a8fc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b68a8fc\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c33aa12\" data-id=\"c33aa12\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-042fb2e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"042fb2e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4>By Adam Stone<\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-101ed3a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"101ed3a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e0539d9\" data-id=\"e0539d9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e7d1782 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e7d1782\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">For <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Pooja Shivangi Amin, J.D. \u201907<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, joining the UB <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Law Alumni Association board means that even though she lives some 1,400 miles way \u2014 in Houston, Tex. \u2014 she can still give back to the institution that gave her a strong start in her legal career.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cI\u2019m not the only alumna who lives outside of the state. I hope I can build on my own experience to find ways for us to connect with other alumni, so we can all further the mission of the law school,\u201d she says.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Amin recently accepted an opportunity of a lifetime that combines her passion to help those in need and make an impact in her community. Amin serves as the general counsel at one of the largest grant makers in Houston, the Greater Houston Community Foundation. Greater Houston Community Foundation partners with individuals, businesses and foundations to receive charitable donations; manage philanthropic assets; provide donors with programming, advising and educational opportunities; and make grants through a variety of diverse platforms, including donor advised funds. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><figure id=\"attachment_1031\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1031\" style=\"width: 214px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1031 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1270\/2022\/03\/Pooja-Headshot-2022-Angled-214x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"214\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1270\/2022\/03\/Pooja-Headshot-2022-Angled-214x300.jpg 214w, https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1270\/2022\/03\/Pooja-Headshot-2022-Angled-731x1024.jpg 731w, https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1270\/2022\/03\/Pooja-Headshot-2022-Angled-700x980.jpg 700w, https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1270\/2022\/03\/Pooja-Headshot-2022-Angled.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 214px) 100vw, 214px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1031\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pooja Amin<\/figcaption><\/figure><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Foundation has distributed over $2 billion in grants at the direction of its donors since its inception in 1995. In addition to grantmaking, the Foundation provides leadership in addressing vital community needs, such as critical disaster relief and recovery efforts, among others.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Amin has always found a way to dedicate her time to aid those in need. Prior to joining Greater Houston Community Foundation, Amin not only served as associate general counsel of litigation at CenterPoint Energy, she also spearheaded the company\u2019s <\/span>pro bono <span data-contrast=\"auto\">program \u2013 in collaboration with the <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Juvenile and Children&#8217;s Advocacy Project of Texas, and Houston Volunteer Lawyers<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> \u2014 to help seal felony and misdemeanor records of juvenile offenders.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cHaving their records sealed means these individuals can secure public housing, they can enlist in the military, get a job, or go to college. The opportunities are endless once they have their juvenile record sealed \u2014which should have been done earlier on, when they were younger,\u201d she says. \u201cOften, these young individuals either weren&#8217;t aware of the sealing opportunity, or someone just missed a step. We wanted to make sure a mistake made when they were younger doesn\u2019t haunt them for the rest of their lives.\u201d <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Before she left the company, Amin also chaired CenterPoint Energy\u2019s Diversity, Equity &amp; Inclusion Council. \u201cMy passion to help others didn&#8217;t just happen overnight. I&#8217;ve been trying to raise awareness about diversity, equity and inclusion throughout my life,\u201d she says. While in law school, Amin served as president of the International Law Society and editor of the international law journal, as well as helped organize the school\u2019s Africa Symposium, which celebrated the diversity of students from the continent and created a forum to discuss critical issues related to health, human rights and commerce.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cI&#8217;ve been very fortunate to find ways to make an impact, and my new role as the general counsel at Greater Houston Community Foundation marks another evolution of all these passions and interests,\u201d Amin says. She always keeps her favorite quote in mind from the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as her motto: \u201cFight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As she sets out to fulfill her role on the law school alumni board, Amin will continue to pursue those passions, while also looking to bolster the career readiness of up-and-coming lawyers.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cI want to make sure we are doing everything we can to put these new law graduates in the best possible position to advance their careers,\u201d she says. \u201cI\u2019m excited to serve on the board\u2019s career-development committee because I believe it\u2019s important that students, before they graduate, have access to the professional tools they need to land a job.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-48ce663 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"48ce663\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9781937\" data-id=\"9781937\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-21702df elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"21702df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f30d6c8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f30d6c8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<p><em><strong>Adam Stone<\/strong> is a writer based in Annapolis.<br \/><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b83ae6d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b83ae6d\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-680d4e4\" data-id=\"680d4e4\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f7ab340 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f7ab340\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4>SHARE THIS STORY WITH YOUR NETWORK:<\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9836e29 elementor-share-buttons--view-icon-text elementor-share-buttons--skin-gradient elementor-share-buttons--shape-square elementor-grid-0 elementor-share-buttons--color-official elementor-widget elementor-widget-share-buttons\" data-id=\"9836e29\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"share-buttons.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fab fa-facebook\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"elementor-screen-only\">Share on facebook<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFacebook\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_twitter\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fab fa-twitter\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"elementor-screen-only\">Share on twitter<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTwitter\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_linkedin\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fab fa-linkedin\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"elementor-screen-only\">Share on linkedin<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLinkedIn\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_email\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fas fa-envelope\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"elementor-screen-only\">Share on email<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn__text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEmail\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Adam Stone For Pooja Shivangi Amin, J.D. \u201907, joining the UB Law Alumni Association board means that even though she lives some 1,400 miles way \u2014 in Houston, Tex. \u2014 she can still give back to the institution that gave her a strong start in her legal career.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m not the only alumna who [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1244,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,16],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1030"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1244"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1030"}],"version-history":[{"count":47,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1030\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1980,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1030\/revisions\/1980"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1030"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1030"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1030"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}