Name: Brandi Rossi
Age: 29
Family: Husband Dr. Vijay Konda, Shitzu/Poodle Bella, and St. Bernard Chevy (R.I.P.)
Pets: see above
Education: B.A. Sociology, University of Memphis, 2002; M.A. Sociology, University of Memphis, 2005; J.D. Florida Coastal School of Law 2008
Admitted to the Bar: January 2009
Employed by: Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc.
Field of practice: Prisoner Re-entry
Professional organizations: Florida Bar, Jacksonville Bar Association (Legal Committee Chair) Jacksonville Area Discharge Enhancement Consortium (JADE).
Community involvement: Before hired as a full-time permanent employee with JALA, I volunteered countless hours for six months developing and organizing JALA’s Prisoner Re-entry Program. Additionally, I have volunteered many-a-Saturday to HabiJax.
How did you get involved?
JALA: I was inspired by Mayor John Peyton’s Jacksonville Journey initiative, which has an innovative three-prong strategy for reducing recidivism rates in Jacksonville: enforcement, prevention and intervention. Our program contributes to this initiative by providing employment assistance, with an emphasis on removing legal barriers to obtaining/maintaining employment. With better access to gainful employment, ex-offenders are less likely to commit future offenses.
HabiJax: For my first year in law school I had to stay in Jacksonville for Christmas because I failed to book boarding space for my dog in time. HabiJax needed volunteers for a month-long event during the busy holiday season. I enjoyed the experience so much that I continued to volunteer well past that fateful Christmas.
How can someone else get involved?
JALA: Getting involved at Pro Bono JALA is very simple. Attorneys may e-mail or call Kathy Para, Esq., Pro Bono Development Coordinator, at [email protected] or 356-8371, ext. 363. Attorneys can specify the types of cases they are interested in representing, or if they’d rather be involved in a short-term project. The need has never been greater especially in the areas of family law, probate, and foreclosure defense. Any help an attorney can give is greatly appreciated!
HabiJax: Contact Stephanie Ransom, Volunteer Service Manager, at 208-6676, or visit the Web site, Habijax.org, click on volunteer, click on the calendar to see what dates are available, and sign up as an individual or group (law firm, e.g., hint hint).
What have you learned/achieved through the experience?
JALA: That we as a community must give people a second chance. We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to people being sucked into a vicious cycle of crime. Unless we as a community participate in the re-entry of ex-offenders into society, we as a community will continue to suffer the effects of having the highest violent crimes recidivism rate in the state of Florida.
HabiJax: Well, I have learned how to paint interior/exteriors of homes, perfected my caulking skills, and how to install siding. But the experience of literally working side by side with a future homeowner to build their home is extremely rewarding.
What was the last book you read or are reading?
Janet Evanovich’s “Finger Lickin Fifteen.” I have read the entire series, and cannot wait until the next installment!