Page 18 - BusinessWest September 30, 2024

in 1968. Funded with a grant from the Ford Foundation and contributions from major Boston law firms, it became the first of eight independent affiliates of the national Lawyers’ Committee. The only Lawyers’ Committee in the country affiliated with a major bar asso- ciation, it rebranded as Lawyers for Civil Rights in 2018.
But before that, BizGrow developed from a recognition that social justice also means economic opportunity, and LCR had a role to play there as well.
“After many years, we wanted to connect fighting for justice with eco- nomic justice and wealth creation for disadvantaged communities,” Freeman explained. “Lawyers for Civil Rights
“Free legal support and business net- working are crucial tools to help close the opportunity gap and fuel the small businesses that are the engines of our Commonwealth.”
reach out.
“The attorneys I’ve connected with
through LCR and BizGrow have been invaluable to solving key issues for my small business,” she noted. “I am so excited that this amazing resource is coming to Springfield.”
Hot Oven is just one of roughly 1,600 different businesses Lawyers for Civil Rights has worked with in 2024 alone through workshops, free legal clinics, and its Boston conference, Freeman told BusinessWest.
And many one-on-one connections made at the conference between entre- preneurs and attorneys will be forged before the event itself, to ensure that each volunteer lawyer has the back- ground needed to help a particular business owner.
“We match businesses with the right attorneys in the area; we talk ahead of time to make sure the questions are clear and they’re able to make most of the meeting with the attorney during the conference,” she explained. “Then, if they need long-term legal represen- tation, we can make a match for free legal support. Any questions that don’t get answered within a 30-minute ses- sion during the conference, we can fol- low up with support.”
Support for the Journey
Of course, BizGrow’s presence in Springfield will extend well beyond one conference.
“We are reaching out to small- business owners to make sure they’re getting the wraparound supports that businesses need. So we offer work- shops and legal clinics, too,” Freeman said. “But the reason for the in-person conference is we want to not only bring resources on the ground in Springfield, but also provide a networking oppor- tunity for small businesses. That’s why we partnered with the library.
“Fifteen different small-business resource partners will be there. So entrepreneurs can come to the event and get the support they need and make connections with many of those business resources in the region,”
she added. “We’re looking to support Western Mass. businesses in a way we haven’t before.”
The partnership with Lawyers for Civil Rights promises to be “a fantastic opportunity for Springfield’s small- business community,” said Elizabeth McKinstry, programming and training librarian for the 167-year-old Spring- field City Library.
“We are thrilled to host the Biz- Grow Conference and bring such vital resources to our local entrepreneurs,” she added. “For many small-business owners, access to legal advice and busi- ness networks can be a game changer. We are hopeful this event will have a lasting impact on the growth of small businesses in our community.”
To register for the BizGrow Confer- ence Springfield, visit bit.ly/bizgrow- springfield2024. BW
PRIYA LANE
and BizGrow partner with law firms that provide pro bono opportunities to support small businesses. Businesses, in turn, get a free legal network to sup- port them.”
Sheila Coon, owner of Hot Oven Cookies, which has locations in Sprng- field and Chicopee, speaks well of her experiences working with lawyers through LCR, and says others should
18 SEPTEMBER 30, 2024
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