BE WELL
Help Yourself by Helping Others BY JUDGE KARIN CRUMP, 250TH TRAVIS COUNTY DISTRICT COURT
Judge Karin Crump, 250th Travis County District Court, is a former TYLA president and member of the State Bar Board of Directors. She is an AYLA Mentor Award recipient and co-founder of the Austin Bar/AYLA Leadership Academy.
W
e are in the midst of the most sad, stressful, and unsettling days of an entire generation. A staggering percentage of our community members are suffering from the financial fallout from COVID-19, some are experiencing physical illness related to the pandemic, while others are being crushed by the emotional trauma that has resulted from the senseless deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless other people of color. Our nation is in a crisis but we, as lawyers, are uniquely positioned to help our communities get through this turbulent time. And serving our community when the world seems completely upside down may actually be the best way for us to heal our own emotional pain. Although it is unlikely that you have been on a plane recently, you probably recall, from prior flights, the message that you must first adjust your own mask before helping others. Are you emotionally stable, sober, eating well, exercising, and getting enough rest and fresh air? Have you managed to ensure that your 10
own kids are safe and finding some semblance of an education despite school and camp closures? If your own mask is secure, it may be time to take a look outward and, in doing so, find personal satisfaction and unexpected physiological benefits of helping others. In fact, researchers at the Mayo Clinic have scientifically proven that volunteering lowers stress, decreases the risk of depression, and may help you live longer.1 You don’t wear scrubs and you are not likely to be hailed as a hero, but you have all the tools needed to make a significant difference in the lives of those around you. Your legal education empowers you to advocate for the oppressed. Your law license permits you to represent those who are trapped in abusive relationships or dangerous surroundings. Your networks open doors for the unemployed to find jobs. Your confident voice on the phone allows you to negotiate rental payment delays and the settlement of claims. Your writing skills persuade employers to pay earned wages. You have the ability, complete with license from the State of Texas, to lift others up and out of misery with the power of your signature. I challenge you to do exactly that. You may just find that helping others is the secret to helping yourself and enjoying the practice of law—even during these hard and stressful days.
20 WAYS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW 1. Take a pro bono case through Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas. vlsoct.org/volunteer 2. Serve as the voice for a child as a court appointed special advocate. casatravis.org/ volunteer
AUSTINLAWYER | JULY/AUGUST 2020
You have the ability, complete with license from the State of Texas, to lift others up and out of misery with the power of your signature. I challenge you to do exactly that. You may just find that helping others is the secret to helping yourself and enjoying the practice of law—even during these hard and stressful days. 3. Advocate for voting rights and criminal justice reform. txcivilrights.org/take-action/ pro-bono-network
7. Teach music to a child in foster care. kidsinanewgroove.org/ volunteer
4. Hand out food for Central Texans who are hungry. centraltexasfoodbank.org/ get-involved/volunteer
8. Teach English as a second language or financial stability to those in need. foundcom.org/get-involved/ volunteer
5. Serve lunch or prepare hygiene kits from home for people experiencing homelessness. caritasofaustin.org/ get-involved/volunteer 6. Deliver meals to our older neighbors as a regular or substitute driver. mealsonwheelscentraltexas. org/get-involved/ current-needs
9. Flex your muscles by volunteering in the Austin Diaper Bank warehouse. austindiapers.org/ volunteer.html 10. Be an advocate for literacy by sharing your opinions on literary content that inspires you without leaving the comfort of home. bookspring.org/volunteer
