Daria Elise Zawadzki, J.D., L.M.S.W.

EXPERIENCE

2008

Hope for Vision
New York, NY
Chairwoman of Hope for Vision's "New York Community of Hope"
Hope for Vision is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that raises awareness and funding to cure blinding diseases.

2007-2008

Jewish Guild for the Blind
New York, NY
Support Group Facilitator
Conduct a weekly therapeutic, teleconference support group for parents with children who have retinitis pigmentosa, a retinal degenerative disease.

2002-2004

Partnership With Children
New York, NY
School Counselor/Social Worker
Counseler at PS3, an elementary school with 800 students pre-K to 6th.
Conducted weekly individual and group counseling sessions.
Developed innovative full classroom curriculum to meet emotional needs of students.
Provided support to parents through workshops and home visits.
Lauched newspaper group, written and produced by students.
Co-founded peer mediation group.

2001

Children's Disability & Special Education Law Clinic
New York, NY
Law Intern
Advocated for and counseled children with disabilities to obtain SSI and/or special education.
Met with parents and school personnel to determine best interests of child.

2000

Advocates for Children
New York, NY
Law Intern
Researched issues and drafted legal memoranda pertaining to education, disability, foster care law.
Participated in an intern-run hotline for students and families facing summer school/suspension.

1999

Lawyers for Children
New York, NY
Law Intern
Researched issues and drafted legal memoranda pertaining to foster care, abuse/neglect, termination of parental rights, custody/visitation. Conducted client interviews.
Assessed clients' homes through home visits, assisted in trial preparation and family court proceedings.

1997

Phipps Housing Services: Echo Apartments
New York, NY
Social Work Intern
Prepared intake assessments and engaged in clinical work with low-income senior citizens.
Initiated program teaching English to Hispanic residents.
Organized Immigration Forum to assist tenants applying for citizenship. Helped tenants obtain SSI and food stamps.

1994

Good Morning America (ABC-TV)
New York, NY
Research Assistant
Researched story ideas.
Assembled research packets.
Attended daily production meetings.

EDUCATION

1998 - 2001

Forham University School of Law
New York, NY
J.D., May 2001.
Passed New York Bar exam July 2001, inducted to New York Bar.
Stein Scholar in Public Interest Law and Ethics.
Amsterdam Housing Children's Law Project.

1997-1998

Columbia University School of Social Work
New York, NY
M.S in Social Work; C.S.W.

1992-1996

Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
B.A. in Psychology, cum laude.
The Harvard Crimson: Editor and investigative journalist.

SKILLS & INTERESTS

Fluent in Spanish; Trained in classical and jazz piano; Community service (Inner City Outreach, Best Buddies Program, Massachusetts Hospital School Program)