Sugar Law Welcomes New Executive Director!
The Sugar Law Center is honored to introduce Virginia Romano as our new Executive Director. Virginia was welcomed to the office over the past week. Her background includes over 25 years working with nonprofit organizations serving families and others in need. She has a strong background in development and nonprofit management. Virginia is “excited to be at the Sugar Law Center and I look forward to getting to know all the office’s great allies and supporters in Detroit throughout the country.” Please join us in welcoming Virginia to Sugar Law’s family and the larger community of folks working for economic and social justice for all!
Workers Justice = Wage Justice!
For over two decades, the Sugar Law Center has worked to ensure a fair and decent wage for all. Our efforts include community engagement, public education and a wide range of organizational support to worker coalitions and others engaged in fair wage campaigns. The Sugar Law Center also actively pursues litigation before federal and state courts and administrative agencies litigation to ensure paycheck, wage & hour, minimum wage, overtime, prevailing wage, and living wage rights for all workers.
Democracy Emergency = Restoring Local Elected Government!
The Sugar Law Center has been at the forefront of advocacy to repeal Michigan’s undemocratic emergency manager laws. Through litigation, public education and civic engagement, the Sugar Law Center supports grass roots coalitions that have united people across the state to oppose attacks on local democratic government and behind initiatives that seek to resolve municipal financial issues while preserving democracy for all.
Community Justice = Community Benefits!
Through our Stronger Michigan Communities Campaign, the Sugar Law Center provides legal, technical, and organizational support to grass roots community groups and standing coalitions to advocate for meaningful community benefits when developers propose large-scale economic development projects. Community benefits agreements have the potential to ensure access to employment, environmental safeguards, and improved quality of life, and other benefits to those most impacted by large-scale development.
Workers Justice = Closings, Layoff & Job Loss Protections!
Since our founding in 1991, the Sugar Law Center has been a leader in advocating for the rights of displaced workers. We maintain a national docket of worksite closing, mass layoff and other workers rights cases and represent workers in unemployment insurance cases throughout Michigan. Our office has testified before the U.S. Congress and acts as a standing resource for those seeking to reform federal and state worksite closing laws to provide greater protections to displaced workers.
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Sugar Law Belongs
The Sugar Law Center is proud to be affiliated with the National Lawyers Guild, and to conduct all its work under contract with UAW Local 2320.

Michigan attorneys, you can meet your State Bar pro bono commitment with a donation to the Sugar Law Center; download the printable Access to Justice form here, or simply designate "This gift is for Sugar Law Center Operations" on the form you received from the Bar. Thank you!
Upcoming Events
June 1, 2013: Sugar Law will be talking on Living Wage ordinance issues on a panel during the Detroit People's Platform conference at Marygrove College, 8425 W. McNichols in Detroit.. For conference registration, click here.
June 6, 2013 at 6:00 pm. Staff from the Sugar Law Center will be speaking on Emergency Manager developments at the People's Law School being held at Conner Creek Urgent Care, 4777 E. Outer Drive in Detroit.
June 9, 2013 at 9:00 pm: Sugar Law will be a guest on Night Shift with host Tony Trupiano on WDFN at 1130 AM on your radio dial.
June 14, 2013 at 6:00 pm. At their Spring Fling event, the New York City Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild is honoring Sugar Law Board Member Jeanne Mirer for her outstanding contributions to International Human Rights. The event will be held at the Angel Orensanz Foundation, 172 Norfolk Street in New York City. Tickets can be purchased here .
June 22, 2013 at 6:30 pm: The Sugar Law Center is co-sponsoring a Detroit Benefit Dinner for Save the Wild UP at the Cass Commons, 4605 Cass Avenue in Detroit. Tickets are $45 in advance. Order tickets by clicking here .
Fall 2013: ESSENTIAL ADVOCACY Fundraiser for the Sugar Law Center. Date and Location to be announced.
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