Page 34 - Briefcase V35 Number 1

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

3 WARD – ENTREPRENEURS
RD
Marques Raven dreams of someday owning a commercial bakery. His
wife, Jenee’, envisions herself in a large studio leading yoga and self-help
classes. In the meantime, they operate their start-ups from their Third
Ward home — baking vegan cookies and cupcakes and teaching the way
to healthier lives — and look to a clinical program at the University of
Houston Law Center to help them reach their goals.
The school’s Entrepreneurship and Community Development Clinic
is working in conjunction with the SURE Program (Stimulating
Urban Renewal through Entrepreneurship) at the Bauer College of
Business. The joint effort is part of a major initiative announced in
October by UH President Renu Khator to help revitalize the Third
Ward neighborhood encircling the main campus. The ambitious
program, she said, is designed to support efforts in education, arts,
health and economic development with the purpose of empowering the
community to transform itself.
Under the direction of Visiting Assistant Professor Christopher Heard,
UH law students and supervising attorneys help budding entrepreneurs
with myriad legal matters involved in getting a business off the ground
or expanding an existing enterprise.
“I am very excited about our new partnership with Bauer’s SURE
Program,” Heard said. “It is a wonderful opportunity for clinic students and whether they could otherwise afford legal services,” said Heard, who
to gain hands-on experience representing entrepreneurs and small practiced law for 12 years, representing clients with the structuring,
businesses, while simultaneously contributing to the economic negotiation and documentation of a wide array of commercial lending
empowerment initiatives under way in the Third Ward. transactions. “We also look for projects that will give our student
“By providing needed legal representation and participating in the attorneys an enriching educational experience and have a positive
impact on our community.”
superb educational programs offered by SURE, our student attorneys
will support the entrepreneurs who are establishing and strengthening “The opportunity to work with clients like Jenee’ and Marques is exactly
businesses in our community.” what drew me to the clinic,” said Rebecca Sheinbaum, a second-year law
Each semester the Entrepreneurship and Community Development student who is representing the budding baker and lifestyle guru. “I was
looking for a way to hone my skills with real-world cases and to work
Clinic, formerly with real-world clients. The clinic enables me to use those skills to help
known as the local businesses and offers a truly exceptional hands-on experience.”
Transactional Clinic,
accepts as many as “I just think it is a blessing; being part of this one program can be part
11 students who of a whole movement,” Jenee’ Pierre Raven said recently as she sat in the
typically work with small, bright, newly constructed studio at the back of her house. “It also
three or four different helps the law students get experience and be a part of it all.”
clients. In addition Raven works full-time as a human resources administrator for a
to working with hospital in the Texas Medical Center. She holds a B.S. in psychology
the Ravens, current from Sam Houston State University, a master’s in public administration
clients include from Texas Southern University, and is a trained mediator. She has
tutoring services, operated her Woman’s Earth studio at various locations over the years,
general contractors, referring to it as “a spa and wellness center, a sacred and safe place for
a bridal boutique and self-love and healing.” She and a cadre of trained “partners” teach yoga,
several non-profit meditation, dance and other mental and physical exercises with a touch
organizations. of spirituality and offer free “Holi Mamma”workshops in pre- and
“Clients are chosen postnatal care and childbirth led by a “doula” from Texas Children’s
based on how well Hospital.
their legal needs Raven has long been active in the community, volunteering with Project
match up with the Row Houses, programs supporting single moms and other social
clinic’s capabilities activities where she can make a contribution.

32 Briefcase 2017