MBM Launches Mandell-Boisclair Social Justice Summer Camp at RWU Law
Twenty middle-school students from across Rhode Island spent a week this summer immersed in hands-on lessons about courts, civil liberties, and social-justice advocacy during the inaugural Mandell-Boisclair Social Justice Camp at Roger Williams University School of Law. Designed for sixth- through ninth-graders, the free program introduced campers to the legal profession through debates, courthouse tours, and roundtable discussions with judges and public officials.
The camp was conceived and fully sponsored by trial attorneys Mark Mandell and Yvette Boisclair of Mandell, Boisclair & Mandell. Their support covered tuition, materials, and meals, ensuring cost was not a barrier to participation. Curriculum for the camp was developed by Professor of Law Nicole Dyszlewski, Assistant Dean of Academic Innovation and Teaching at RWU, and Monica Teixeira de Sousa, RWU Professor of Law, in collaboration with Mandell, Boisclair & Mandell.
Throughout the week, students observed real arraignments, toured the Rhode Island State House, and refined their public-speaking skills in a moderated debate judged by Providence Mayor Brett Smiley and WPRI-12 investigative reporter Tim White. Guest speakers included U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island Supreme Court Justice Erin Lynch Prata, and MBM attorney Zachary Mandell, who led a session on environmental justice.
Professor Dyszlewski previously assisted in designing Race and the Foundations of American Law at RWU, a course intended to attract more people of color to the legal profession. According to Dyszkewski, part of the goal of the Social Justice Summer Camp is to “talk about social justice issues and race,” while encouraging a more diverse population to take an interest in legally advocating for social justice issues. Mandell agrees and sees the camp as an opportunity to empower children to pursue careers they may not have otherwise considered.
“Our goal in helping create and in sponsoring the Mandell-Boisclair Social Justice Summer Camp is to foster equal opportunity for all people,” said Mark Mandell. “We believe it is vitally important to have diversity in the practice of law, including judges, lawyers, and professors of law.”
MBM looks forward to partnering with RWU Law again next summer and invites interested families and community organizations to watch for 2025 application details. You can indicate your interest in the program by filling out this form.
About Roger Williams University School of Law
Roger Williams University School of Law in Providence is the only ABA-approved law school in Rhode Island. Its mission of producing “Changemakers” aligns with the Mandell-Boisclair Social Justice Camp’s focus on civic engagement and equity in the legal profession. Learn more at https://law.rwu.edu.
