Clorox Continues Commitment to Social Justice Through New Fellowships

Clorox has reaffirmed its dedication to advancing social justice through its longstanding partnership with Equal Justice Works (EJW). Over the past decade, Clorox has supported EJW's mission to promote a lifelong commitment to public service within the legal community by funding 12 fellowships through The Clorox Company Foundation. This collaboration has enabled recent law school graduates to make significant impacts in their communities while offering Clorox employees the opportunity to engage with the fellows' important work. Additionally, participation on EJW's board of counselors has provided further avenues for contribution and support.

Building on the accomplishments of past fellows who have addressed issues such as housing, environmental justice, employment, and mental health access, Clorox is now supporting two new fellows from EJW's 2024 class. Jocelyn Gomez, co-sponsored with law firm Morgan Lewis & Bockius, will serve as a fellow at the Immigration Institute of the Bay Area. Sam Lawrence, co-sponsored with law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, will be a fellow at The Just Sentencing Project at Duke Law's Wilson Center.

Beginning in September, these fellows will be on the front lines of the fight for equal rights under the law in Bay Area and Durham communities. Jocelyn Gomez, a recent graduate of the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, will focus on advocating for immigrant survivors of human trafficking in Northern California's Bay Area. Her work will involve direct legal representation, community outreach, and coalition building to empower survivors.

Sam Lawrence, a recent graduate of Duke University School of Law, will represent children incarcerated in North Carolina's juvenile prisons. He will create holistic re-entry plans and advocate for their timely release.

The motivations behind their work highlight their deep personal connections to the causes they are championing. Jocelyn, as the daughter of immigrant farmworkers, is dedicated to combating the exploitation and abuse faced by immigrant populations. She hopes that this fellowship will enable survivors to pursue justice and support without the fear of wrongful deportation or detention by immigration officials.

Jocelyn Gomez shared, “Working with the Immigration Institute of the Bay Area opened my eyes to the impact an accessible pathway to citizenship can make in the lives of immigrant survivors. I hope to support survivors in regaining their autonomy and seeking justice.”

Before attending law school, Sam worked at a holistic youth defenders office in New Orleans and as a therapist in North Carolina. His experiences with court-involved children and their families, as well as the lawyers and social workers advocating on their behalf, inspired him to become an advocate for incarcerated children.

Sam Lawrence remarked, “As an educator, youth advocate and licensed clinical social worker, I have had the honor of getting to know hundreds of children who were court-involved. Their resilience, creativity, kindness and complexity inspire me to be a lifelong advocate for children.”

Clorox eagerly anticipates the achievements of Jocelyn and Sam over the next year. The company takes pride in the crucial work of its fellows, both past and present, and the positive changes effected in communities through the enduring partnership with EJW.