September 2026

Coast to Coast Legal Aid Attends BCWLA Installation Gala

Pictured from left to right: Elgin Cintron (Asst. Dir. of Development & Communications, CCLA); Laura Arruda, Esq., (Attorney, Family Law, CCLA); Xan Taylor, Esq. (Attorney, Family Law, CCLA); Lisa Goldberg, Esq. (Exec. Dir, CCLA); Christina 'Cassie' Kuzmich, Esq.(President, BCWLA); Katianna Mazard, Esq. (Dir. of Operations & Mgmt, CCLA).

Dear Friends,

At Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida, September calls our attention to two important priorities: Disaster Preparedness Month and Healthy Aging Month. Both remind us that caring for our community means preparing for challenges today while protecting the safety, dignity, and independence of our neighbors for years to come.

Disasters, including hurricanes, floods, and other emergencies — can have a profound impact on low-income families, older adults, and survivors of violence. Being prepared means more than having supplies on hand. It means knowing your rights and having access to legal resources related to housing, benefits, consumer protection, and financial security. CCLA is here to stand beside our clients before, during, and after a disaster.

September also gives us an opportunity to celebrate Healthy Aging Month. Through our Senior Law Unit, Mobile Justice Squad, and community partnerships, we work every day to protect older adults and promote their ability to live safely and independently.

And as we look ahead this month, I'd like to personally invite judges, attorneys, and law students to join us for our second annual Candid Conversations: Empowerment, Leadership, and the Future of Women in the Law forum. This year's CLE program promises to be another engaging and inspiring discussion with distinguished leaders from our legal community. I hope you'll register below and be part of the conversation.

Thank you for standing with us and for being part of this important work.

With Gratitude,

Back by Popular Demand:
Candid Conversations!

Expand your professional network, gain valuable perspectives from some of South Florida's most accomplished legal leaders, and earn CLE credits in the process.

Space is limited. Register now at www.tinyurl.com/CandidConvos2.


This year's Candid Conversations is endorsed by:

September is Healthy Aging Month

Healthy Aging Month is a reminder that aging well means maintaining physical health and having a safe, stable place to call home. Housing stability provides the foundation for independence, security, and peace of mind, while housing instability can put older adults at risk of displacement, financial hardship, and declining well-being. Protecting seniors’ housing is an essential part of helping them age safely, securely, and with dignity.

CCLA’s Senior Law Unit works to keep older adults safely and securely housed by protecting their rights and providing legal advocacy when they face eviction, foreclosure, fraud, or other threats to their homes.

Meet Our Client: Ms. Jeanette

Ms. Jeanette has called her apartment home for more than twenty-five years. As she dealt with serious health issues, remaining in her home and the community she had known for decades became even more important. But over time, problems in the apartment began piling up. Her refrigerator was broken, the air vents were not working properly, there were cracks in the floor, and the carpeting had become badly worn and dirty. For more than 6 months, Ms. Jeanette repeatedly asked her landlord to make the needed repairs, but her requests went unanswered.



As the conditions got worse, Ms. Jeannette was left trying to manage her health while living in an apartment that was becoming increasingly difficult and unsafe to live in.

CCLA In The Community

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

CCLA At Affordable Housing Roundtable

Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida participated in an affordable housing roundtable with Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Emanuel Cleaver.


The conversation provided an opportunity to share the work CCLA does every day in our community, particularly our efforts to keep low-income seniors safely housed, while also hearing ideas and solutions for expanding access to safe, affordable housing.


CCLA remains committed to keeping seniors in their homes and supporting their ability to age in place with dignity. We value being part of these important conversations and working alongside leaders and community partners to advance meaningful solutions to the affordable housing crisis.

CCLA & Broward County Property Appraiser Address Deed Fraud

Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida met with Broward County Property Appraiser (BCPA) Marty Kiar and the BCPA’s Crimes Against Property Team to address the growing threat of deed fraud targeting seniors across Broward County.

CCLA shared the trends we are seeing in our legal work, the civil remedies available to protect homeowners, and opportunities for our teams to collaborate on early intervention and prevention.

Protecting a home means protecting more than property—it means protecting the security, stability, and future of the people who live there. CCLA is committed to strengthening partnerships that prevent deed fraud, safeguard senior homeowners, and keep vulnerable residents in their homes.

We look forward to building this partnership and turning this conversation and building stronger systems to protect Broward’s senior homeowners.

CCLA at Responding to Human Trafficking in Broward County

CCLA's Human Trafficking Legal Program participated in an informative training seminar, “Responding to Human Trafficking in Broward County.” Rebecca Bender and Jane Anderson of AEquitas shared their expertise and provided valuable insight into identifying and responding to human trafficking. The training brought together prosecutors and professionals from the Broward County State Attorneys Office, Human Trafficking Unit, Sexual Battery Unit, Victim Advocate Unit, and Youth Justice Unit, as well as representatives from local law enforcement.

Ready to Respond: Strengthening Disaster Legal Response

CCLA attorneys and our Pro Bono Manager presented "Ready to Respond: How Attorneys Can Help Communities Recover After Disaster", equipping private practitioners with practical tools to prepare their firms, protect clients and critical records, and respond to the legal needs that emerge after disaster strikes.

The CLE highlighted the legal issues most often faced by disaster survivors—including housing, insurance, consumer protection, and public benefits—and called on attorneys to put their skills to work through pro bono service.

In partnership with Florida Legal Services and the Broward County Bar Association, CCLA helped bring this critical training to attorneys statewide, strengthening Florida’s legal community and building a network prepared to respond when disaster hits.

LEGAL LEARNING WITH CCLA

Legal Learning reflects Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida's commitment to empowering the community through education. This ongoing series brings together legal professionals and community partners to provide timely, practical information on issues that affect the daily lives of the individuals and families we serve. By increasing knowledge and awareness, these conversations equip viewers with the tools they need to protect their rights, access resources, and make informed decisions.

• Legal Learning - learn some basics about a legal topic in less than one hour.
• Fridays With Friends - CCLA introduces viewers to other organizations and services available as resources in our community.
• Legal Clinic - offers a more in depth look at a legal issue.

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.

CCLA Services