{"id":11460,"date":"2023-10-19T14:31:46","date_gmt":"2023-10-19T20:31:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nmblc.org\/?p=11460"},"modified":"2024-01-22T10:24:25","modified_gmt":"2024-01-22T17:24:25","slug":"new-to-albuquerque-sonya-bellafant-new-mexico-legal-aid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmblc.org\/old-site\/new-to-albuquerque-sonya-bellafant-new-mexico-legal-aid\/","title":{"rendered":"New to Albuquerque: Sonya Bellafant, New Mexico Legal Aid"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This week on the blog, NMBLC features the latest in the “Newcomer Spotlight” series with Sonya Bellafant, New Mexico Legal Aid Executive Director. The profile \u201cA World of Difference\u201d first appeared in the October 2023 edition of NMBLC\u2019s monthly newspaper<\/a>, the UpLift Chronicles<\/a><\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more great articles about the people, places, and happenings of Albuquerque\u2019s Black communities, subscribe to the UpLift Chronicles<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following piece was written by Kristin Satterlee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A World of Difference<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sonya Bellafant, New Mexico Legal Aid Executive Director<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Coming to town this past spring, Sonya Bellafant is expanding people\u2019s access to justice using the strong voice she\u2019s won through experience and tenacity.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since arriving in April to take the Executive Director position at New Mexico Legal Aid (NMLA)<\/a>, Sonya Bellafant hasn\u2019t found much about the Land of Enchantment not <\/em>to like. \u201cExcept for the dust.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She loves the mountains, the peaceful drive home, the friendly people, the constant sunshine. \u201cIt\u2019s absolutely stunning,\u201d she says. And she is excited to do \u201cimpactful work\u201d at NMLA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The agency Bellafant previously worked for, 603 Legal Aid in Concord, NH, \u201c. . . didn\u2019t do a lot of casework and direct representation. For me, that was very difficult, because one of the reasons I became a legal aid attorney was that there are many people who aren\u2019t comfortable using their voice. When you can\u2019t exercise your voice, having someone to empower you, and to educate you, and to represent you, can make a world of difference.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sonya
Sonya Bellafant with her dogs. Photo courtesy of Sonya Bellafant.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

NMLA provides outreach, education, advice, and in some cases full legal representation for disenfranchised and low-income New Mexicans. Legal aid attorneys help people understand their rights and access justice in housing issues, benefits, domestic violence and family law, employment, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll of these things, unfortunately, I\u2019ve faced in personal and professional experience. In all candor, I incredibly value the position I\u2019m currently sitting in, because I can support the legal advocates and stand side by side with them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bellafant recalls the struggles of the family she grew up in, which started her down the road to legal aid work. \u201cThe thing I\u2019m most proud of is that I am the descendant of a woman who did not graduate high school, got married as a teenager, and had three children by the time she was 21.\u201d Legal aid attorneys helped Bellafant\u2019s family achieve a more stable economic status. Her mother got a divorce, an order of protection, and a GED\u2014and graduated college while Bellafant was in high school. \u201cEvery day, I go to work hoping that we are having the same impact on everyone that we serve.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bellafant became an attorney, she says, \u201cBecause I needed one.\u201d When she learned that the legal field was looking for more women, \u201cI thought, well, I can do this.\u201d Painfully shy, Bellafant discovered that she loved litigation. When her partner in moot court won Best Advocate despite Bellafant doing the bulk of the preparation, she remembers thinking she would \u201cnever again allow shyness to prevent me from speaking up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now she uses the voice she won to help others. \u201cRepresenting people who came from the same economic status I was born into was one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bellafant\u2019s agency, NMLA, is accessible online and through community outreach. \u201cWe have a host of teleclinics, in-person clinics, and an incredible team that gets out regularly to meet with the community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe amount of need in New Mexico by far exceeds the available resources. Probably the biggest struggle for a legal aid attorney is we cannot help everyone who reaches out to us. But we do an incredible job at assisting as many people as we can.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resources and Press<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

NMLA<\/strong>: https:\/\/newmexicolegalaid.org\/<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NMLA application for legal assistance<\/strong>: https:\/\/nmlaoi.legalserver.org\/modules\/matter\/extern_intake.php?pid=129&h=daa817&<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Statewide legal teleclinic<\/strong>: https:\/\/nmblc.org\/events\/statewide-legal-teleclinic\/<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NMLA Renters\u2019 Guide<\/strong>: https:\/\/www.lawhelpnewmexico.org\/legal-topics\/237\/legal-issues\/1016<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introducing Executive Director Sonya Bellafant – NMLA article<\/strong>: https:\/\/newmexicolegalaid.org\/uncategorized\/a-passionate-advocate-for-justice-takes-the-helm-at-new-mexico-legal-aid\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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