For Immediate Release
York, Pa. – Barley Snyder is pleased to announce attorney Katelyn E. Rohrbaugh has joined the board of directors for the The Advantage Program of York. The youth mentorship program provides educational tools and guidance for middle and high school male students to lead successful and fulfilling lives. The Advantage Program was spearheaded by founder, Tavon Parker, who has dedicated his life to helping youth change the narrative in York County after receiving two nonviolent convictions six years ago.
Rohrbaugh previously met Tavon Parker through Leadership York, a nonprofit organization that aims to train and support residents to serve in leadership roles throughout the county. Parker invited Rohrbaugh to join the Advantage Program’s board in June 2022 after discussing her interest in psychology, the criminal justice system and re-entry,
“When I first met Katelyn through Leadership York, I felt like she would be a great asset to the team. She’s very focused about making a change especially surrounding the judicial system,” said Parker. “The quality I love and appreciate about anyone is consistency. Every time there is something she can be a part of, she’s always there and we can count on her. The fact that she volunteers when she could, it’s amazing. It’s a testament to the selflessness that she exemplifies.”
The nonprofit allows mentors to meet with mentees every Saturday for a two-hour period to teach life skills including financial literacy, entrepreneurship, civic engagement and business principles in addition to other events.
“We meet on Saturdays with the young men and do different activities with them, like attending a Ravens football game or buying new suits for networking,” said Rohrbaugh. “We stay in contact with their schools and parents to ensure they are keeping their grades up and behavior straight. It is very rewarding to watch these young men mature and grow into future professionals.”
In October, Rohrbaugh crossed paths again with Parker when she participated in a legal clinic with The Pardon Project of York County through the York County Bar Association to help certain individuals with criminal convictions apply for pardons and expungements. She was paired with Parker as a “Pardon Fellow” where he learned about his eligibility to request a pardon.
“I co-oepd with the Board of Pardons during my 3L year of law school. When I heard about the expungement clinics in York, I was excited to jump in and help,” said Rohrbaugh. “I think providing an individual with an opportunity to remove barriers for future life goals is important to building a more productive community. We had more than thirty individuals show up to the clinic looking for either an expungement, pardon or record seal. I believe if I have specialized knowledge that can help someone, I should be using it to give back.”
Rohrbaugh is an attorney in Barley Snyder’s Litigation and Real Estate practice groups. She graduated from Leadership York in May 2022. The West York native is very active in her community, currently serving on the board of TrueNorth Wellness Services and previously volunteering with the Homeless Advocacy Project and Pennsylvania Innocence Project.
About Barley Snyder
Barley Snyder is a law firm based in Pennsylvania with more than 120 attorneys practicing from offices located in Lancaster, York, Reading, Harrisburg, Malvern, Hanover, Gettysburg, Wyomissing and Schuylkill Haven, Pa., and Hunt Valley and Columbia, Md. The firm serves businesses, individuals and organizations in all major areas of civil law including: business, employment, immigration, employee benefits, finance & creditors’ rights, intellectual property, litigation, estate planning and administration, real estate, tax, construction, environment and energy, health care, education, municipal authority, hospitality, senior living, cybersecurity and food and agribusiness. www.barley.com | @BarleySnyder
