Human Rights Advocacy Program

The Human Rights Advocacy Program (HRAP) empowers Brandeis law students to address key human rights challenges in Louisville and beyond. Through sustained community engagement, fellows work alongside nonprofits and agencies to improve access to health care, education, legal services, and language resources for immigrants, refugees, and other noncitizens.

Overview & Objectives

The Brandeis Human Rights Advocacy Program (HRAP) empowers students to engage with pressing human rights issues while building their capacity as advocates and community partners. Co-directed by Professors Enid Trucios-Haynes and Sam Marcosson, the program was founded with support from the Louisville Bar Foundation and the law school’s Samuel L. Greenebaum Public Service Program.

HRAP began by listening—building relationships with legal, medical, educational, and social service organizations to better understand the needs of Louisville’s immigrant, refugee, and noncitizen communities. Early findings revealed that legal challenges often overlap with barriers in health care, education, housing, and language access, underscoring the need for interdisciplinary collaboration.

Today, the program continues to build on that foundation, focusing on education, outreach, and legal advocacy that supports underserved communities and promotes equitable access to resources. Guided by student-led research and faculty mentorship, HRAP fosters public service, civic learning, and inclusive solutions that respond to the evolving needs of our community.

Program Origins

The Brandeis Human Rights Advocacy Program began as a fellowship funded by the Louisville Bar Foundation in partnership with the law school’s Greenebaum Public Service Program. Founded by Professors Enid Trucios-Haynes and Jamie Abrams, the program launched with a focus on community needs assessment, especially within immigrant and refugee populations. Based on that work, the program expanded its scope and was renamed to reflect its broader mission of sustained advocacy, outreach, and legal service.

Why Focus on Immigration?

The Brandeis Human Rights Advocacy Program initially centered its efforts on immigration because of strong student interest and the increasing significance of immigration policy in public discourse. Immigration law uniquely intersects with constitutional, criminal, and international law, offering students a rich area for legal study and advocacy.

Kentucky’s international population has grown steadily in recent decades, contributing to the state’s workforce, schools, and communities. Louisville in particular is home to a diverse range of languages, cultures, and lived experiences—yet many of these community members face barriers to accessing resources and legal protections.

The program responds to these needs by addressing the rights and realities of noncitizens and refugees, and by partnering with service providers to strengthen community support systems. While immigration remains a key area of focus, the program’s broader mission is to promote equity and justice across a range of human rights issues.

Human Rights Fellowship

The Brandeis Human Rights Fellowship is a three-year opportunity for incoming students who demonstrate a strong commitment to public interest and community advocacy. Fellows join a cohort of peers dedicated to advancing human rights through research, outreach, and service.

Selected students receive a $5,000 annual academic stipend and work closely with faculty and community partners to identify pressing human rights challenges and contribute to meaningful solutions. Fellows support ongoing projects within the Brandeis Human Rights Advocacy Program while developing practical skills and professional networks.

Ideal candidates bring strong communication and leadership skills, cultural awareness, and a deep interest in social justice. While prior experience in advocacy is not required, it is valued.

Fellowship applications are open to admitted students each year, with instructions provided by the Office of Admissions

Projects

The Brandeis Human Rights Advocacy Program began with an in-depth community needs assessment, led by student fellows and faculty, to better understand how the law school could support human rights efforts in the region. That foundational research—shared with service providers and community partners—continues to inform the program’s mission: identifying unmet needs and activating collaborative, real-world solutions.

Fellows contribute to meaningful, long-term projects that promote equity, dignity, and access to justice for noncitizen and refugee communities. These initiatives span education, research, and outreach, giving students the opportunity to engage with legal and non-legal issues while building skills in leadership, advocacy, and communication.

Signature projects have included:

• Strategy Roundtable on Immigrant and Refugee Needs
  A collaborative convening of legal, medical, educational, and community service leaders to identify gaps and opportunities for immigrant and refugee support in Louisville.
• Day of Dignity
  A community event offering free services and resources—such as health screenings, legal referrals, and information sessions—to immigrant and refugee families.
• Women and Children at the Border: The Humanitarian Crisis
  A public education campaign and panel event exploring the legal and human dimensions of migration and displacement.
• Media Rhetoric Project
  A research-based examination of how immigration is represented in media and its impact on public perception, policy, and community response.
• Summary of Findings & Final Report
  A publicly shared report summarizing early research and community feedback, designed to guide the program’s long-term direction.
• Educational Access Project
  Focused on barriers immigrant and refugee children may face in accessing public education and the resources available to support them.
• Language Access Project
  An initiative to improve access to interpreters and translated materials in healthcare, education, and legal settings.
• Know Your Rights: Boone County Jail Visits
  In collaboration with advocacy organizations, fellows visited a regional detention facility to distribute “Know Your Rights” materials and provide legal education.

Each of these projects reflects the program’s commitment to building long-term, trust-based relationships with community partners—and empowering law students to lead with purpose and compassion.

Contact

For more information or to get involved:

Professors Enid Trucios-Haynes (ethaynes@louisville.edu)
Sam Marcosson (smarcosson@louisville.edu)