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Alumni Pay it Forward: LegallyBlack IP

In January 2020, Kiara Ortiz ‘20 and Valérie Cambronne ‘20 started an organization called LegallyBlack. LegallyBlack’s mission is to create a more informed public by empowering and educating minority communities of color on the value of intellectual property protection.

By Ìý|Ìý

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From left: Kiara Ortiz ’20, Valérie Cambronne ’20

As aÌýÌýalumna, Kiara Ortiz ‘20, emphasizes how her experience in clinic inspired her to become an IP attorney and develop her organization. Ortiz states, “When Valérie and I graduated from WCL, we knew we wanted to figure out a way to use our degrees and passion for Intellectual Property law to empower creative artists, entrepreneurs, and inventors in minority communities. As aÌý2019-2020Ìýstudent attorney in the IP Clinic, I experienced first-hand the value that intellectual property protection can bring to creative artists,Ìýentrepreneurs, and inventors, and through LegallyBlack, we hope to bridge the gap between intellectual property resources and minority communities of color.â€

Since its founding, two additional IP Clinic students have since followed Ortiz and Cambronne into leadership positions in LegallyBlack: Raina Barbee ’21 (Associate Director) and Lashana Calloway ’22 (Community Outreach Coordinator).ÌýÌýin January 2022. You can also follow them onÌýÌý(@legallyblackip) to see the amazing work they’ve already done with middle school students in Miami, Florida.

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Originally posted on Learn more about the Glushko-Samuelson Intellectual Property Law Clinic