Access to justice remains a profound crisis in New York and across the U.S., where outcomes in the legal system too often hinge on income, race, and social status. Public defenders face overwhelming caseloads, and millions of low-income Americans lack access to civil legal support.
Justice Defenders, a UK organization working across Africa, offers a radically inclusive model that speaks directly to these inequities and has important lessons for us here in New York. In a system without public defenders—where nine out of ten prisoners never meet a lawyer—Justice Defenders provides accredited legal education to incarcerated people and prison officers, equipping them to become paralegals and lawyers defending the defenseless who help secure freedom for thousands every year. Following in Nelson Mandela’s footsteps, 67 graduates have earned law degrees from prison, and two are now Advocates of the High Court with lived experience of incarceration. Since its founding, Justice Defenders has served more than 150,000 people, with over 60,000 walking free.
Please join us for a special screening of CNN’s The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper, featuring Justice Defenders’ groundbreaking work, followed by a panel discussion with representatives from the Justice Defenders team and New York–based funders and nonprofit leaders. Together, we’ll explore how community-driven approaches can inspire new ways to strengthen access to justice here in New York—and how we can collectively mobilize toward that change.
What will you learn?
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Examine the systemic barriers that limit access to justice in New York and across the U.S., while building understanding of how communities across Africa are developing their own responses to similar challenges.
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Discover Justice Defenders’ approach to legal empowerment and celebrate the launch of their new three-year strategy, advancing a global movement of people with lived expertise transforming justice from within.
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Explore how community-driven and cross-border approaches can spark dialogue and inspire new ways to strengthen access to justice locally.
Speakers
- Speaker List in Formation.
Who should attend?
All interested funders, including funders in criminal legal reform, education, international work, and related roles. What to expect: screening, panel discussion followed by Q&A, and reception with light bites and drinks.
Registration
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM Check-in
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Program
Registration is required by December 1st.
Members: To register yourself and/or a colleague at your organization, please log in and click the “Register Now” link above. (No fee.)
Guests of Collaborators: Please email register@philanthropynewyork.org with your name, title, organizational affiliation, business mailing address, and phone number. Please indicate by which organizer you were invited. (No fee.)
Non-Member Funders: Please email register@philanthropynewyork.org. ($150 fee.)