Community Engagement Fellowship (CEF) Mini-Series: Meet Your Host Sites

Join us for a one-day virtual series introducing the 2026 Community Engagement Fellowship (CEF), hosted by the Black Public Defender Association (BPDA). This event is designed to help prospective fellows understand the goals of the program, learn about the application process, and hear directly from public defenders, past fellows, and host sites.

Part 1: Community-Centered Advocacy in Public Defense
In this session, you’ll hear directly from passionate public defenders about what community-centered advocacy looks like in practice. Learn about the values that guide their work, how they build trust with communities, and what led them to the field of public defense.

Panelists: Amari Harris

Part 2: Fellowship Reflections from Past Fellows
This session features alumni of the Community Engagement Fellowship reflecting on their experiences in the program. You’ll hear about working on the ground with public defender offices, lessons learned, and how they built meaningful relationships with impacted communities.

Panelists: Azariah Crosby, Psalm Lawrence, Sylvia Nganaa

Part 3: Meet Your Host Sites
This final session introduces the confirmed host sites for the 2026 Fellowship. Each site will share a brief overview of their work and how fellows will support their community-based efforts. You’ll get a chance to ask questions, hear about local initiatives, and begin thinking about your ideal placement.

Panelists: Shari Stein from the Brooklyn Defender Services, Jermel Thomas from Contra Costa Public Defenders, Leah Winsberg from the Cuyahoga County Office of the Public Defender, Guy Lang from the Defender Association of Philadelphia