Pro Bono Students Canada Program Coordinators:
Melayna Williams
Melayna is currently in her final year at Osgoode. During her second year, she was vice-president of the Black Law Students’ Association (BLSA). In that capacity, she assisted with exciting events, including the Raising the Bar Gala. This year, Melayna is the current president of BLSA.
Prior to law school, Melayna attended York University and earned an honours degree in Anthropology and African Studies. Her passion for community work and advocacy began with her work at the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Support Line, where she was a volunteer, team leader and coordinator.
At York, she was also the president of Urban Legal Planners, a pre-law student group dedicated to providing resources and support to students of colour whose goal was to attend law school.
In her spare time, Melayna enjoys traveling, cuisine, fashion and hip hop music. She also enjoys inclusive, feminist and anti-racist literature. She has been playing the piano for over 20 years and worked as a piano instructor in secondary school.
Melayna currently has an interest in Immigration and Education Law, as well as various forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution. She wishes to pursue a career in social justice and is passionate about the work that she is able to facilitate as a coordinator at Pro Bono Students Canada.
Ye Xia
Ye is a second year student at Osgoode Hall law school. During her first year at Osgoode, Ye was a member of Just Law, a student organization dedicated to increasing awareness about social justice issues. As well, she was a student volunteer with Pro Bono Students Canada and had the amazing opportunity to work with under privileged women at YWCA Beatrice House. Ye enjoyed her experience so much that she decided to continue her involvement with Pro Bono and is very excited to be one of the coordinators for the 2010-2011 school year.
Prior to attending Osgoode, Ye obtained her Honours Bachelors of Arts with High Distinction in Economics and English from the University of Toronto. As a U of T student, Ye was the Vice President of LINCC (Learning to Integrate New Cultures, Canada), a student run tutoring organization aimed at helping newly arrived Afghan refugee high school students adapt to life in Canada. She was also a volunteer at Mt. Sinai Hospital and translated between English, French and Mandarin.
Ye is looking forward to meeting all the new PBSC volunteers and is dedicated to making sure everyone has the best experience possible!
Family Law Project Coordinator:
Aris Ablachim
Aris Ablachim was raised in Alberta, and completed her undergraduate studies in Political Science and International Relations at the University of Calgary in 2008. Shortly after graduating, Aris moved to Toronto to get a taste of the big city life, and has since made Toronto her new home. Aris is currently in her third year of law school at Osgoode Hall, and has found that volunteering for the Family Law Project during her second year was a particular highlight of her law school life thus far. This was not only because of the practical experience garnered in drafting actual court documents, but also the direct client interactionand role in increasing access to justice that the Family Law Project facilitates. Aris has always had a passion for public interest work, and has been involved with numerousorganizations and projects over the years such as the Salvation Army Children's Village, the Brenda Stafford Women's Centre, the Speech Assisted Reading And Writing (SARAW)program at Bow Valley College, and even Girl Guides of Canada. In her spare time, Aris lovestoread,travel,andtakescenicphotographs.
E-mail: FLP@osgoode.yorku.ca