March 2026

Coast to Coast Legal Aid Executive Director, Lisa G. Goldberg, Receives Project Director of the Year Award from

Area Agency on Aging Broward County



Dear Friends,

March marks National Credit Education and Awareness Month, highlighting the critical connection between financial security and independence—especially for seniors. Through our Senior Citizen Law Project, we educate and protect older adults by providing legal assistance, so their finances remain secure.

March is also a time to honor the resilience, leadership, and lasting contributions of women who have shaped our communities and our nation. During Women’s History Month, we recognize trailblazers such as Kathleen C. Wright, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Ivy Cromartie Stranahan, Betty Mae Tiger Jumper, and Barbara Lagoa—leaders whose courage and determination expanded opportunity and advanced justice for generations to come.

At Coast to Coast Legal Aid, we are proud to carry that legacy forward as a women-led law firm dedicated to equal justice. Every day, we work to protect the rights, safety, and stability of individuals and families across our community, ensuring access to justice is not determined by income or circumstance.

As we reflect on these observances, we reaffirm our commitment to justice, advocacy, and education. Thank you for standing with us as we continue building a more just and equitable community for all.

With gratitude,

MARCH IS

NATIONAL CREDIT EDUCATION AND AWARENESS MONTH

National Credit Education and Awareness Month highlights the importance of financial literacy, consumer protection, and proactive safeguards that help individuals make informed decisions about credit and debt. Fraudsters often prey on older adults through deceptive phone calls, online schemes, and misleading contracts that threaten hard-earned savings and long-term stability. Recognizing predatory lending practices, understanding credit reports, and knowing where to seek help are critical tools in preventing financial harm.

At Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida (CCLA), we protect seniors faced with debt through education, advocacy, and direct legal assistance. Through advocacy such as defense of garnishment, consumer debt collection, and identity theft we strengthen the consumer rights of older adults. By promoting awareness, expanding outreach, and providing trusted legal guidance, CCLA helps individuals understand their rights and access the support they need before crises escalate. Through education, advocacy, and community partnerships, CCLA preserves dignity, safeguards independence, and works to build safer, more resilient communities where all people have a fair opportunity to thrive.

CCLA's Legal Learning:

Garnishments & Debt Collection

Meet Our Client: Jonathan

Jonathan is a senior and honorably discharged veteran who lives in federally subsidized housing. Like many tenants, he set up automatic rent payments for the convenience and security of knowing his rent would always be paid on time. Unfortunately, the property management company, a large corporate entity, repeatedly charged him the wrong rent amounts.

These errors caused overdraft fees and triggered wrongful non-payment notices, placing Jonathan at risk of eviction. That eviction would not only cost him his home but could also jeopardize his Section 8 housing voucher, a critical resource for this Gulf War veteran. Despite months of effort, including intervention by other community agencies, the property management company failed to properly investigate or resolve the issue...

Investing In The Next Generation of Public Interest Attorneys

CCLA at NSU Law School Public Interest Day

CCLA at St. Thomas University School of Law Career Fair

Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida was proud to engage with future public interest attorneys at Public Interest Law Day at Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard Broad College of Law, as well as the Career Fairs at FIU College of Law and St. Thomas University School of Law. We shared insight into CCLA’s mission and pathways in public interest practice. Our team participated in speed mentoring exercises, mock interviews, and other public interest programming to support and guide law students pursuing service-driven careers.



Law school internships are critical to shaping the next generation of advocates. At CCLA, students gain hands-on experience assisting survivors of domestic violence, seniors facing housing instability, and families navigating complex legal systems—all under the mentorship of experienced attorneys. By investing in law student interns today, CCLA is strengthening the future of access to justice in our community.

CCLA at NSU Law's Public Interest Fair

CCLA at FIU Law School's Public Interest Fair

CCLA In The Community

This past month, Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida (CCLA) remained deeply engaged through events, presentations, and partnerships that further our mission of access to justice and support for vulnerable populations.

CCLA Human Trafficking Victims' Attorney presented at the 2026 Global Ties Training alongside Judge Stacy Ross, ASA Lennox, court staff, and community partners. International delegates visited the United States to learn about efforts to combat human trafficking. This collaborative exchange focused on trauma-informed services, legal advocacy, and cross-sector strategies that support survivors and promote accountability.

CCLA at A Celebration of Black Judges at NSU Law with Florida Bar President Rosalyn Sia Baker-Barnes and NSU Law Professor Jane Cross

CCLA at a Celebration of Black Judges at NSU Law with Judge Judge Jackie Powell

CCLA attorneys attended Black History Month' A Celebration of Black Judges at Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard Broad College of Law, recognizing the judges and magistrates of the 17th Judicial Circuit. The event highlighted the vital role these judicial leaders play in shaping our legal system and strengthening our community.

CCLA at the Homeless Community Symposium

Multi-Agency Homeless Taskforce Presentation

At the Homeless Community Symposium, CCLA shared information about our services. We engaged directly with community members and met with Broward County Commissioners Nan Rich and Lamar Fisher to discuss strengthening resources and support for unhoused individuals.



CCLA delivered a service presentation at the Broward Multi-Agency Homeless Taskforce meeting, emphasizing our role as a trusted referral partner for law enforcement working with individuals experiencing homelessness. We underscored the legal representation and community-based support that equips officers with practical pathways to connect vulnerable residents to critical services, stabilizing lives, and opening doors to lasting solutions.

CCLA attended the Broward Victims’ Rights Annual Meeting at partner organization, Tomorrow’s Rainbow, a nonprofit organization that provides no-cost mental health support to children, teens, and families navigating grief, loss, and trauma. Through a unique model that incorporates horses and other animals into therapy

CCLA’s Human Trafficking Attorney was a panel expert for the Advanced Human Trafficking Investigations Training Class at the Nancy J. Cotterman Center. The panel provided guidance on legal strategies, survivor-centered approaches, and collaborative methods to support victims while holding traffickers accountable

CCLA presented to the Broward State Attorney Victim Advocate interns, highlighting our coordinated approach to supporting survivors of crime through legal representation, resource navigation and collaboration with advocates for victims of crime.

CCLA provided an overview of our services to the City of Sunrise Social Services Advisory Board

CCLA Wearing Orange for February's Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

The investiture of the newest addition to the family law bench, The Honorable Pascale Achille, took place in the Ceremonial Courtroom filled a courtroom with friends, family, and colleagues, including CCLA. We welcome Judge Achille as she begins her service to Broward County families.

To close out Black History Month, CCLA participated in a tribute celebrating the life and legacy of Raleigh Rawls, one of South Florida’s most influential Black legal pioneers. The event, hosted by the T.J. Reddick Bar Association, reflected on Rawls’ decades of service and lasting impact. His son, Rodney Rawls shared memories of the remarkable legacy his father built.

Committed to staying informed and engaged in conversations that impact the communities we serve, our team attended Tower Forum's Bridging the Benefits Cliffs: Rethinking Public Benefits and Economic Mobility panel. Thank you to Kathleen Cannon, United Way Broward, and Cindy Arenberg Seltzer, Children's Services Council of Broward County, and moderator Bob Swindell for leading an insightful conversation about supporting Broward's working families and how public benefits systems can better support long-term economic mobility.

Trial skills = sharpened! The 2026 Trial Lawyer Symposium hosted by the Broward County Bar Association Trial Lawyers Section brought together Broward’s most experienced trial attorneys. They offered their wisdom, and practical strategies CCLA will bring directly into the courtroom to better advocate for the people we serve. It was a meaningful day of learning, collaboration, and skill development, to ensure our community, especially vulnerable residents, has strong, effective advocacy.

CCLA presented at the Broward County Elderly and Veterans Services Caregiver Support Group, where our Mobile Justice Squad (MJS) provided an overview of MJS and Senior Law Unit services. The presentation focused on how our programs support caregivers, seniors, and veterans through legal assistance, education, and community resources.

CCLA staff are experts in their field and recognize the importance of being on the cutting edge of issues that impact our clients and community.

As an integral part of this community, we look forward to engaging with all community members and providers throughout the year. If you would like CCLA to attend an event, conduct an outreach, or you have a topic you'd like us to address in an episode of Legal Learning on CCLA's Facebook page and YouTube channel, please contact us at: CCLAInfo@cclasfl.org.

Check out our Community Outreach page.

MARCH IS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

During Women’s History Month, we honor the women whose leadership and courage shaped the character and conscience of our community. Trailblazers like -

• Betty Mae Tiger Jumper, the first female chair of the Seminole Tribe of Florida and a champion of cultural preservation and self-determination

• Kathleen C. Wright, a lifelong educator who expanded educational opportunity in Broward County

• Ivy Cromartie Stranahan, whose civic leadership helped shape Fort Lauderdale and Broward County’s early development

• Marjory Stoneman Douglas, whose advocacy protected the Everglades and defined environmental stewardship across our region

• Judge Barbara Lagoa is the first Hispanic woman and first Cuban-American woman to sit on the Florida Supreme Court.

Each woman strengthened the fabric of our region. Their commitment to equity, education, environmental protection, and community progress reflects the same values that guide CCLA’s work today. In their spirit, CCLA continues to advance access to justice, protect vulnerable neighbors, and build a stronger, more resilient community for all.

*Images above from State Archives of Florida, Fort Lauderdale Magazine, Broward County Supervisor of Elections' Facebook, Osceola County Historical Society, Wikipedia, Florida Supreme Court

CCLA is honored to be a

Finalist for Outstanding Nonprofit Organization of the Year

CCLA Services