Volunteer Spotlight: Hallie Mitnick

What is your professional role in the community?

I am a Staff Attorney at Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York where I provide direct legal services to individuals incarcerated in New York State prisons to address prison conditions such as: solitary confinement, violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, inadequate medical care, first amendment violations, and access to mental health care.

What is your volunteer position at the agency?

Member of the Board of Directors

How long have you volunteered at the Advocacy Center?

Since June 2021

How have you been able to support individuals and our broader community in your role?

As a board member who serves on the Policy and Finance Committee, I have helped to ensure that the Advocacy Center is able to continue to provide services to its clients.  I am also excited to be helping with Kids Are Our Business this year and hopeful that my efforts will contribute to it being a successful fundraiser.

What would you like survivors in our community to know about our agency?

The Advocacy Center is here for you–to help you survive and thrive.

What is the most rewarding part of working at the Advocacy Center?

I love knowing that my small role helps ensure that the essential services the Advocacy Center provides will continue.

Five for Fun!

If you could have any superpower, which would you choose?

I would like to be able to snap my fingers and make people’s pain go away.

If you could meet five people, living or dead, who would you want to meet?

Mariame Kaba (she came to Ithaca in 2018, but I missed her!), Cori Bush, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Fannie Lou Hamer, Stacey Abrams

If you could be a character from a book or movie, who would you be?

I love the book Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino–it’s a series of nonfiction essays, so I guess I’m saying I want to be friends with Jia Tolentino.  I should have listed her in the previous question, but there are too many people I want to meet!

What would you name your autobiography?

I’m not that creative, so probably The Memoirs of Hallie Mitnick.  Suggestions welcome!

Your COVID-19 Motto or personal mantra?

Mariame Kaba has this quote that I love, “Hope is a discipline.”  It’s never been truer than now when the world seems to be constantly falling apart.  I just love that idea to keep me grounded.