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Attorney Ralph Delouis '06 honored for pro bono work in Haiti
After a massive earthquake hit Haiti, one of the world's poorest nations, Ralph Delouis '06 put his skills and expertise to work to help implement a long-term plan to stimulate the country's economy. One year later, Delouis is being honored for his efforts.
Delouis, an associate at McCarter & English law firm, has been named a recipient of the National Law Journal's 2010 Pro Bono Awards. Delouis and firm partner R. Andrew Richards are developing a microfinance initiative that will enable predominantly low-income Haitian farmers to obtain loans, with the goal of stimulating economic development in the earthquake-ravaged country.
Delouis, who received his J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law, where he was also the editor of the Rutgers Law Review, attributes much of his success to his Connecticut College education.
"My experience at Connecticut College was instrumental in shaping how I view and approach life," Delouis said. "With its emphasis on personal excellence, community service and global citizenship, Conn afforded me multifaceted skills that I put into practice every day. My pro bono work is a reflection of those values."
As a senior at Connecticut College, DeLouis was honored with a community service award from the Connecticut Department of Higher Education for his mentoring work in the New London schools. DeLouis and Robinson Rojas '06 were recognized for organizing and implementing the My Brother mentor program, which continues to be a popular campus program.
Delouis' work in Haiti will facilitate small loans to farmers in this country where there are few lending sources for the underprivileged. The loans are expected to help farmers increase their yield and transform their commodity crops - including mangos, coffee and cocoa - to higher value end products. The program will provide seed money to the working poor in Haiti and help them build and stabilize their farming and business ventures.
For Delouis, the mission is also a personal one. "As the son of Haitian immigrants who lost close relatives in the earthquake, it was very important for me to give back to a country and a people so close to my heart. We are confident that the project will have a long-term impact, especially given the growing emphasis on decentralization in Haiti," he said.
Delouis and Richards were recruited for the case by the International Senior Lawyers Project (ISLP), a New York-based group which provides pro bono assistance to governments and non-profit organizations in the developing world.
Delouis is a member of McCarter & English's Business & Financial Services Litigation Practice Group. His practice focuses on franchise, securities and complex commercial litigation. He has handled other pro bono cases involving issues of military, immigration, bankruptcy and constitutional law.
Delouis was also recognized by ISLP in October for the assistance he provided to public defenders in the Haitian provinces, which lacked access to such basic legal resources as their constitution and criminal codes.
Currently, Delouis is working with Lutheran Social Services of New York to help Haitian immigrants who arrived after the earthquake apply for deferred action status, which allows applicants to remain in the United States for a temporary authorized period of time.
Attorney Ralph Delouis '06 honored for pro bono work in Haiti
01/12/2011
Attorney Ralph Delouis '06
After a massive earthquake hit Haiti, one of the world's poorest nations, Ralph Delouis '06 put his skills and expertise to work to help implement a long-term plan to stimulate the country's economy. One year later, Delouis is being honored for his efforts.
Delouis, an associate at McCarter & English law firm, has been named a recipient of the National Law Journal's 2010 Pro Bono Awards. Delouis and firm partner R. Andrew Richards are developing a microfinance initiative that will enable predominantly low-income Haitian farmers to obtain loans, with the goal of stimulating economic development in the earthquake-ravaged country.
Delouis, who received his J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law, where he was also the editor of the Rutgers Law Review, attributes much of his success to his Connecticut College education.
"My experience at Connecticut College was instrumental in shaping how I view and approach life," Delouis said. "With its emphasis on personal excellence, community service and global citizenship, Conn afforded me multifaceted skills that I put into practice every day. My pro bono work is a reflection of those values."
As a senior at Connecticut College, DeLouis was honored with a community service award from the Connecticut Department of Higher Education for his mentoring work in the New London schools. DeLouis and Robinson Rojas '06 were recognized for organizing and implementing the My Brother mentor program, which continues to be a popular campus program.
Delouis' work in Haiti will facilitate small loans to farmers in this country where there are few lending sources for the underprivileged. The loans are expected to help farmers increase their yield and transform their commodity crops - including mangos, coffee and cocoa - to higher value end products. The program will provide seed money to the working poor in Haiti and help them build and stabilize their farming and business ventures.
For Delouis, the mission is also a personal one. "As the son of Haitian immigrants who lost close relatives in the earthquake, it was very important for me to give back to a country and a people so close to my heart. We are confident that the project will have a long-term impact, especially given the growing emphasis on decentralization in Haiti," he said.
Delouis and Richards were recruited for the case by the International Senior Lawyers Project (ISLP), a New York-based group which provides pro bono assistance to governments and non-profit organizations in the developing world.
Delouis is a member of McCarter & English's Business & Financial Services Litigation Practice Group. His practice focuses on franchise, securities and complex commercial litigation. He has handled other pro bono cases involving issues of military, immigration, bankruptcy and constitutional law.
Delouis was also recognized by ISLP in October for the assistance he provided to public defenders in the Haitian provinces, which lacked access to such basic legal resources as their constitution and criminal codes.
Currently, Delouis is working with Lutheran Social Services of New York to help Haitian immigrants who arrived after the earthquake apply for deferred action status, which allows applicants to remain in the United States for a temporary authorized period of time.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Amy Martin, 860-439-2526, a.martin@conncoll.edu or Deborah MacDonnell (860) 439-2504, dmacdonn@conncoll.edu
