Free legal advice in Hillcrest

California Western School of Law’s Access to Law (ALI) Initiative recently began holding monthly legal consultations in Hillcrest free of charge. ALI will also provide low-cost legal services to residents who lack the means to afford legal assistance. The office of Councilmember Todd Gloria will provide funding for the service.

“Legal advice is often considered too expensive and unattainable for many San Diegans,” Gloria stated in a press release. “I am proud to support California Western School of Law’s Access to Law Initiative to remove the barriers to trustworthy legal advice, and appreciate the LGBT Center’s willingness to host the monthly legal clinics.”

Volunteer lawyers will be available for 30-minute consultations to help locals evaluate their legal problems on the second Tuesday of each month. The next clinic will take place on March 10 from 9 – 11 a.m. at The San Diego LGBT Center, which is located at 3909 Centre St.

In addition to the free services it provides, ALI helps lawyers in small and nonprofit firms develop additional skills and professional training. To schedule an appointment, contact Joshua Bruser at 858-342-0551, or visit cwsl.edu/ali for more information.

Creative Catalyst Fund selects 2015 grant winners 

The San Diego Creative Catalyst Fund selected 10 local artists as recipients of its 2015 Individual Artist Fellowship Program, which is a 12-month $20,000 grant. The money is aimed to advance their careers while encouraging engagement in the community.

Winners in and around Uptown include Roberto Salas (Normal Heights), Matthew Hebert (Golden Hill), Mike Sears (North Park), Todd Blakesley (North Park), Yale Strom (Hillcrest) and Brian Goeltzenleuchter (Talmadge). The fund encourages artists from a variety of media to take on a project outside their comfort zone.

“San Diego is home to nearly 10,000 artists who represent a substantial and untapped workforce capable of contributing significant value to our communities,” Jill Hall, the chair of the Creative Catalyst Fund Fellowship, stated in a press release. “With each cohort of artists that receive the fellowship, we see multiple opportunities for leveraging their talent and creativity for the benefit of San Diego, our economy, and our culture.”

Among last year’s winners was Charles McPherson, a Talmadge resident, who composed and performed a jazz ballet, “Sweet Synergy Suite,” with the San Diego Ballet Company after receiving the grant.

For more information, visit sdfoundation.org. 

Local mall owner seeks scholarship applicants 

The Simon Youth Foundation (SYF) is looking for applicants for its Simon Youth Foundation Community Scholarship program, which awards college scholarships to at-risk high school students. Any student in the graduating class of 2015 who lives within 50 miles of Fashion Valley or Las Americas Premium Outlets in San Diego qualifies for the scholarship. The window of opportunity lasts until Feb. 25. The program will award a one-time scholarship of up to $1,500 for students who plan to enroll in an accredited college, university, vocational or technical school. Students are selected based on financial need, academic performance, leadership skills and participation in school and community activities. Those who are the first in their family to pursue a post-secondary education will also be given close consideration. Additionally, 10 designated Simon, Mills and Premium Outlets centers will grant a $2,500 Award of Excellence ­scholarship that is renewable for up to three years. To date, SYF has awarded more than $12 million in scholarships to more than 3,700 students in its 16 years of operation.