ZUMBATHON for Immigrant Rights

From Cecily Clements:

Dear friends and family,
 
I write to personally invite you to the ZUMBATHON® FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS being held on June 4, 2011 at 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Women’s Building in San Francisco (3453 18th Street, San Francisco, CA: www.womensbuilding.org).  This event is being sponsored by my law firm (the Law Office of Cecily E. Clements (http://www.cclementslaw.com) and ZFlow Fitness, the company started by my best friend and paralegal, Stefanie Canahui, who is a certified Zumba® instructor.  (For more information about her classes, visit her website at http://www.zflowfitness.com).  The Zumbathon® will be a 90 minute Zumba® party (If you are wondering, what is zumba?  Learn about it here: http://www.zumba.com) that will benefit the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (http://www.ilrc.org).  For a little background on what this event means to me, please read below. 
 
Two years ago, Stef and I took a huge leap of faith.  We were working together at a well-known immigration law firm in downtown San Francisco and, although we were making a decent living and gaining valuable experience, neither of us were truly happy.  We worked ridiculous hours, never exercised, ate like crap, and were generally miserable.  Something had to change for both of us.  Not knowing what the future had in store, we both decided to quit our jobs and make that change a reality. 
 
Without any real plan, we started our new lives.  Stef went to school and pursued a new form of exercise that she had recently started to love – Zumba® – and I concentrated on my other full-time job, being a mom.  Soon enough, however, I missed practicing immigration law and decided that I wanted to work in the field again.  I began doing contract work for my mentor from law school and eventually, through the support of other practitioners in San Francisco, I started my own immigration law practice in June of 2009. 
 
A few months later, Stef told me that she was required to do an internship for school and asked if she could do it at my law firm.  Of course I said yes!  She started working for me and (to my immense benefit) has continued to do so to this day.  Around the same time, Stef became a certified Zumba® instructor; Zumba® was becoming a huge part of her life.  A true inspiration to all, Stef has revolutionized her life through Zumba® –  she has lost 70 pounds and has dramatically improved her health, both physically and psychologically.  Zumba® is by far the most fun I have ever had exercising (besides soccer of course) and I quickly became addicted as well.  So addicted that I also became a certified Zumba® instructor in October of last year! 
 
Now, I am proud to say that Stef and I are both healthier and happier than we have ever been.  The choices we made were difficult, but worth it.  The best part is that through all of these changes, we were able to continue pursuing our passion – immigration law.  As an immigration attorney and paralegal we have been able to help some very deserving people.  Here are the stories of just a few of our clients whose cases we have won over the past two years.  (Their identities are hidden to protect their privacy):
 
*A Honduran mother of three who was subject to extreme domestic violence including being kidnapped, repeatedly raped, physically beaten and psychologically tortured.  When her abuser finally tried to kill her and the Honduran police refused to protect her, she was forced to leave her children behind and flee the country.  Suffering from severe Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, she lived in a constant state of anxiety and fear and was unable to come forward and tell her story for a period of four  years.  Finally, when her abuser attempted to kidnap her daughter in Honduras, she found the courage to apply for asylum.  We won her case last week.  She will now be able to bring her three children legally to the United States and later will be eligible to apply for lawful permanent residency in the US.*
 
*A young Guatemalan man who came to this country at age fifteen due to persecution of his family based on their indigenous identity.  His brother and father were severely beaten, another brother was killed, and another brother was brutally stabbed four times (and fortunately survived).  He did not come forward initially because he came to this country so young, but was forced to confront his situation when he was picked up in an early morning ICE Raid on his home.  We won his case in December, 2010 and he will be eligible to apply for lawful permanent residency later this year.*
 
*A young American mother of a four-year-old whose Mexican husband was forced to return to Mexico in order to obtain his residency.  When his application was initially denied, she came to us, desperate for help.  She had to move out of her apartment because she could not afford it on her own.  Her son was suffering from psychological issues due to the separation from his father and she was struggling to support herself through school while being a single mother.  Her situation became so serious that during our representation of her she attempted suicide.  Fortunately, she survived her suicide attempt and her husband’s case was granted last summer.  They are now reunited as a family and the husband will be eligible to become a US Citizen in two years.*
 
These are just some of the stories of the individuals that Stef and I have had the privilege to help.  Stef and I love the work that we do and we hope to do it for many years to come.  I can honestly say, however, that I would not be in the position to help these people were it not for the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (“ILRC”).  I rely on the ILRC’s publications and technical resource program every single day in my practice and owe a lot of my success to their constant dedication to helping legal advocates of immigrants.  
 
That is why Stef and I decided to combine our two passions – Immigration Law and Zumba® – to create the ZUMBATHON® FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS: a 90 minute Zumba® class with the BEST instructors in the Bay Area where all proceeds go to benefit the Immigrant Legal Resource Center.  As mentioned above, the Zumbathon® will be held June 4, 2011 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Women’s Building in San Francisco, CA. 
 
Please come out and join us to support the ILRC.  Although the individuals mentioned above have won their cases, there are countless more out there who need similar support.  If you have never tried Zumba before – this is the perfect opportunity to try it!!  The music is contagious and the routines are easy to follow.  It is going to be 90 minutes of energetic fun to raise money for a very worthwhile organization.  Hope to see you there! 

For information on how to register for the event, please email Stef at zumbastef@gmail.com.  Can’t wait to dance with you all!!

PS.  A lot of people on this email do not live in the Bay Area and I know will likely not be able to make it to the event – but please pass the word on to anyone you know who does live in the area!  And if you are down for a road trip, we’d love to see you!! 😀

Cecily E. Clements, Esq.

Law Office of Cecily E. Clements
180 Montgomery Street, Suite 1250
San Francisco, CA 94104
t: 415.989.9020
f: 415.989.9021
cecily@cclementslaw.com
www.cclementslaw.com

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