Temple University Beasley School of Law Presents:
The Intersection of Law & Public Policy:
2026 Update
Online Symposium
Friday, April 10, 2026
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Online
about the event
This online Symposium explores the intersection of law and public policy.
Grappling with some of the most pressing issues of the past year, the 2026 Temple Law & Public Policy Scholars will present on critical topics in democratic preservation, children and the law, behavioral health and the law, and protecting worker power. They will share their innovative proposals and visions for moving the law from what it currently is to what they argue it must become.
This entire event is online and can be joined from your preferred location. Up to four substantive CLE credits are available.
To learn more about this year’s Law & Public Policy Scholars, read their bios here.
register
Please join this The Intersection of Law & Public Policy: 2026 Update Online Symposium by registering below.
Temple Law students, faculty, staff – FREE
Temple Law alumni – $80
Non-Temple Law – $120
Schedule
Opening Remarks – 10:00am
Panel 1: Preserving Democracy for All – 10:15am
Moderator: Professor Noelia Rivera-Calderón, Practice Professor of Law and Director, Law & Public Policy Program at Temple University Beasley School of Law
Presenters:
Ethan Cheers, Enfranchising the Incarcerated
Hailey Collins, Our Third Reconstruction: Structural Racism & Our Precedent of Intent
Panel 2: Children and the Law – 11:00am
Moderator: Araesia King, Constitutional Law Research Fellow at the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law Constitutional Law Center
Presenters:
Sofia Carratala, Restoring Broken Promises: Proposed Reforms to Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
Caden Diffenderfer, Don’t Hide from the Numbers: Increasing Transparency and Equity at the Intersection of Economic Development and School Funding
Jennifer Levito, Ending the War on American Children by Enacting the Children’s Rights Act
Panel 3: Behavioral Health and the Law – 12:15pm
Moderator: Heather Swadley, Civil Rights & Health Legal Scholar, Research Consultant, and Developmental Editor
Presenters:
Brooke Hanraty, Reforming Civil Commitment Laws
Olivia Avery, Prioritizing Community: A Framework for Drug Decriminalization
Panel 4: Protecting Worker Power – 1:00pm
Moderator: Chanelle Jones, Antitrust Associate at Latham & Watkins
Presenters:
Annie Sholar, Dairy Cooperatives: One for All or All for One? Restoring Farmer Power in the Dairy Industry
Kelly Rose Gavenus, Foundation Repair: Policy Solutions to Address At-Will Employment’s Role in America’s Eviction Crisis
Moderators
Professor Noelia Rivera-Calderón
Practice Professor of Law and Director, Law & Public Policy Program at Temple University Beasley School of Law
Araesia King
Constitutional Law Research Fellow at the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law Constitutional Law Center
Heather Swadley
Civil Rights & Health Legal Scholar, Research Consultant, and Developmental Editor
Chanelle Jones
Antitrust Associate at Latham & Watkins
Presenters
Olivia Avery
Prioritizing Community: A Framework for Drug Decriminalization
Sofia Carratala
Restoring Broken Promises: Proposed Reforms to Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
Ethan Cheers
Enfranchising the Incarcerated
Hailey Collins
Our Third Reconstruction: Structural Racism & Our Precedent of Intent
Caden Diffenderfer
Don’t Hide from the Numbers: Increasing Transparency and Equity at the Intersection of Economic Development and School Funding
Kelly Rose Gavenus
Foundation Repair: Policy Solutions to Address At-Will Employment’s Role in America’s Eviction Crisis
Brooke Hanraty
Reforming Civil Commitment Laws
Jennifer Levito
Ending the War on American Children by Enacting the Children’s Rights Act
Annie Sholar
Dairy Cooperatives: One for All or All for One? Restoring Farmer Power in the Dairy Industry