Black Defender Leadership Summit

Black Defender Leadership Summit 2025

Building a Legacy: Paving the Way for the Next Generation of Black Defender Voices

March 6-7, 2025
Brooklyn Law School

Program Description

Join BPDA on March 6-7, 2025 at Brooklyn Law School for the second annual Black Defender Leadership Summit. This Summit underscores BPDA’s commitment to nurturing and empowering Black defenders from across the nation – both aspiring and experienced leaders in their offices and communities. By supporting and empowering talented Defenders, the Summit aims to secure a legacy that will inspire and uplift generations to come.

Our highly curated and interactive programming is designed to provide valuable career development guidance and will also offer an encouraging space where attendees can forge meaningful connections with other Black Defenders. During the Summit, you’ll hear from presenters deeply committed to public defense and highly regarded leaders in academia, trial advocacy, community lawyering, and organizing.

Join us as we continue to nurture this powerful network of support and collaboration across our offices. We can’t wait to see you there!

Early Registration (Now through Feb. 9)

CAP Members: $600 

Non-CAP Members: $750  

Regular Registration (Feb. 10- Feb. 24)

CAP Members: $700 

Non-CAP Members: $850  

Please click here to determine if your office is a member of our Collective Access Program (CAP).

*Note: The schedule is subject to change.

DAY ONE – March 6, 2025 (9:00 am – 5:30 pm)

9:00 – 9:55 Registration and Breakfast

9:55 – 10:05 Welcome

10:05 – 10:25 Keynote

10:25 – 12:00 Session 1

12:00 – 12:10 Break

12:10 – 1:15 Session 2

1:15 – 2:15 Lunch

2:15 – 2:25 Motivational

2:25 – 4:00 Session 3

4:00 – 4:10 Break

4:10 – 5:15 Session 4

5:15 – 5:30 Reflections/Closing Remarks

DAY TWO – March 7, 2025 (9:00 am – 12:30 pm)

9:00 – 9:30 Check-in and Breakfast 

9:30 – 9:45 Opening

9:45 – 10:45 Session 5

10:45 – 10:55 Break

10:55 – 12:00 Session 6

12:00 – 12:30 Reflections/Closing Remarks

*Note: Additional sessions will be added.

Courageous Conversations: Exploring Shame and Building Resilience Lori James-Townes

In this powerful and transformative session, inspired by the New York Times Bestseller by Tarana Burke and Dr. Brené Brown, participants will dive into the intricate dynamics of vulnerability and shame resilience. With insights drawn from Black writers, organizers, artists, academics, and cultural figures, this session will guide public defenders in understanding how shame manifests in their professional and personal lives, and the ways it impacts their well-being and advocacy.

Through guided discussions and reflective exercises, participants will:

  • Explore the role of shame in their work and its connection to burnout, empathy fatigue, and personal struggles.
  • Learn actionable strategies for fostering vulnerability as a pathway to deeper connections with clients, colleagues, and themselves.
  • Discover tools to move toward healing and cultivating resilience, enabling them to show up authentically in their roles.

This session aims to equip public defenders with the courage to confront shame, embrace their humanity, and build the emotional resilience necessary to thrive in the demanding world of public defense.

Cultural Humility and Culturally Responsive Leadership | Byron Conway

This session will delve into the differences between cultural competency and cultural humility. The conversation will be centered around why leaders should be striving for cultural humility and not solely cultural competence. Topics to be explored include what culturally responsive leadership looks like and why leaders have to be courageous enough (when warranted) to be co-conspirators rather than just allies to their staffs.

That Dreaded Conversation and Feeling Good About It! | La Mer Kyle-Griffiths

In this session, participants will learn how to prepare themselves for various types of challenging conversations. They will also learn how to handle some typical resistance and how to take care of themselves in the process. This will be an interactive session with time for questions and some practice.

Professional and Personal Growth in a Politically Challenging Climate | Stan Hickman

Navigating a turbulent political landscape, including the impending changes and/or elimination of DEI initiatives in organizations around the country, can leave you feeling drained and uncertain. This session will equip you with practical strategies to help you continue to thrive personally and professionally, even in the face of these challenges. We’ll also explore the power of collective action as we build coalitions and work toward positive change within our offices and our communities. 

 

Hampton Inn Brooklyn 

125 Flatbush Ave Extension, Brooklyn, New York, 11201, USA

Questions? Contact BPDA Director of Membership Engagement Shaquita Chapman at membership@blackdefender.org