Every month, we give the Amicus Mundi Award to an outstanding lawyer in our community who exemplifies our shared values of service and dedication to building a more just and equitable society. This month, we’re honoring an attorney that has become a trusted part of the campaign to end the racist representation of Indigenous people in schools.
Join us in saying…
Congratulations, Melinda Lim!
An Activist at Heart: In 2022, Melinda Lim turned to We The Action (WTA) to reconnect with her passion for advocacy. Through Rise Justice Labs, Melinda connected with People Not Mascots, an organization looking for legal guidance to pass legislation retiring the use of Native mascots without specific tribal consent.
Since Melinda signed up, she has gone above and beyond by providing advice and guidance to the young advocates leading this movement.
"This project connected me to younger people that are real changemakers,” Melinda says. “When we grow and get into our own careers and challenges, we may get a little skeptical of change. Working with them, I’m so hopeful.”
Changing the Landscape: The activists behind People Not Mascots, Lily Joy Winder and Sofia Ongele, identified the profound and dangerous consequences of the way Indigenous people are portrayed in education and media. With 1 in 19 schools nationwide using Native mascots, these racist portrayals do not accurately represent the diversity and richness within Native cultures.
Melinda helped Lily and Sofia develop bill language that advanced significantly through the congressional process, but, in the end, did not secure passage.
"For more than a year, Melinda has been around to listen, to be there through all the highs and lows, to hype us up, cheer us on, and to be a friend,” Lily says. “When I feel like things are hopeless, Melinda is there.”
The Work Continues: The goal continues to be to create the safest possible environments for Native children. The original project lasted nine months, but Melinda has stayed deeply involved.
"Melinda is more than just a lawyer to People Not Mascots,” Lily says. “She is a consultant, a friend, a confidant. She is incredible.”
"We still talk every couple weeks,” Melinda says. “They’re doing work that’s trending at the state level, which will ideally be a domino effect that leads to federal change… plus, they’re like famous on TikTok.”
Pro Bono Search Engine: Melinda says that she sees WTA as her pro bono search engine, and it has allowed her to tap back into advocacy on a personal level.
"I have friends who would want to do pro bono but don’t know where to start. WTA takes care of that.”
She continues, “There is something really wonderful about walking into a space and people being grateful that you are a lawyer. If we all contributed the skills that we have as lawyers, the world would be a better place.”
Follow Melinda’s lead and volunteer today by checking out WTA’s active projects here.
And if you want to meet Melinda and other attorneys in the We The Action community,join us at the We The Action Summitin Washington, DC on October 25!