The RJ & DEIJ Corner: Meetups & Events Recaps (January to June 2025)
Written by Brittany Gail Thomas, Esq.
In this update, NAPD’s DEIJ Coordinator, Brittany Gail Thomas (BGT), Esq., recaps NAPD meetups and events related to racial justice and diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice for the first half of 2025.
January 2025
Racial Justice & DEIJ Meetup: 2025 Intentions
Meetup Speaker: BGT, Esq. (she/her/hers)
In step with the New Year and contemplating the political impact of the year to come, BGT led both the Racial Justice and DEIJ Meetups separately and brought their focus to setting intentions for 2025. Additionally, focus was place on introductions and getting to know each other as it is the community that would provide the support needed through these unprecedented times.
BGT reminded both meetups, “We know that we are preparing for a harder battle ahead but together we fight on.” She also shared two quotes as food for thought –
“What people still don’t understand is we’re going to need community, more and more, as this country fails us. That’s not people you keep around because they are pretty, have “good vibes,” can travel. I’m talking about mutual investment survival, wellness, care, accountability.” – Dana White
“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.” – Dr. Maya Angelou
With mutual understanding and collective determination, both the Racial Justice and DEIJ Meetups brought focus and intentionality into the atmosphere. They are prepared to do the work.
February 2025
Meetup Mashup: CONFRONTING RACE: ADVOCACY AND HEALING IN THE SHADOW OF SYSTEMIC BIAS ©.
Meetup Speaker: Lori James (she/her/hers), NAPD’s Executive Director
In honor of Black History Month (“BHM”), we hosted our first Meetup Mashup of 2025! Meetup Mashups are when the Racial Justice and DEIJ Meetups combine in their collective efforts to do the work. There was no better time to do it then when our Executive Director, Lori James, graces the meetup stage.
The meetups were in for a treat as Lori gave her highly anticipated presentation – CONFRONTING RACE: ADVOCACY AND HEALING IN THE SHADOW OF SYSTEMIC BIAS ©. Using BHM as the focal point, Lori focused the meetup on the importance of understanding trauma in the context of racial injustice. During this meetup members delved into the complexities of racial trauma, gauged our implicit biases, worked to better understand how systematic bias impacts our clients of color, and developed strategies that challenge systemic prejudices. Members also learned how to serve as powerful allies and defenders in the fight against racial injustice.
To start the meetup, Lori engaged the meetup by posing a poll question to meetup participants and continued to engaged them with the poll feature throughout. Lori delved into the headlines – attacks on DEI and the DEI trope against Black women like Kamala Harris and Joy Reid. She also educated the meetup on the history and importance of intersectionality. Providing examples in the work, Lori showed how understanding intersectionality helps us better advocate for our clients.
Lori challenged the meetup to stretch – stretch in the way we’re advocating, having conversations around racism and implicit bias, etc. She shared examples of when effective strategies were used to combat racism in the courtroom and when managing cases. Ultimately, she stressed that collective effort is the only way to combat racial trauma and shared how members could effectively be allies.
Thank you, Lori, for leading this impactful and engaging BHM meetup. Review the meetup video here.
March 2025
Racial Justice Meetup: ENSURING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO TREATMENT AND RECOVERY: THE ROLE OF PUBLIC DEFENDERS IN CONNECTING CLIENTS WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SERVICES.
Meetup Speaker: Tony White(he/him/his), Member of Black Faces Black Voices
Tony addressed the importance of equitable access to treatment and recovery services for clients with substance use disorders, particularly in the context of public defense, highlighting disparities faced by people of color. He emphasized the need for comprehensive treatment and called for public defenders to advocate for various programs and challenge racial disparities in sentencing. Tony further noted that by challenging racial disparities in sentencing, public defenders actively fight against the disproportionate incarceration of Black and brown people for drug-related offenses.
Tony’s thoughtful and reflective presentation provided helpful information and wisdom to help us advocate for our clients with substance use disorders and fight against racial injustice. Thank you, Tony!
Review the meetup recording to watch the March edition of the Racial Justice Meetup.
DEIJ Meetup: Cancelled (March 2025)
The DEIJ Meetup for March 2025 was cancelled due to a scheduling conflict.
April 2025
Racial Justice Meetup: INCOMING INEQUALITY AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE
Meetup Speaker: Corey Smith (he/him/his), Wellbeing Resource Coordinator
In April 2025, Corey Smith, NAPD’s new Wellness Resource Coordinator, showered the Racial Justice Meetup with a wealth of information during his presentation – Income Inequality and Access to Justice!
Corey discussed the historical context of income inequality in America, emphasizing that it was largely by design. He highlighted key laws and events, such as the Homestead Act of 1862, the Wagner Act of 1935, and the 2017 tax cuts. He also encouraged everyone to examine these laws and their effects, arguing that they have contributed to the current income inequality.
Corey conducted a quiz on the impact of the cash bail system and income inequality in the justice system. The meetup discussed how these issues disproportionately affect low-income individuals, leading to prolonged pre-trial detention, cycles of debt, and how this information is valuable for educating jurors who may not understand how poverty impacts defendants’ decisions.
Before the meetup’s end, Corey asked “In what ways do you see the systemic impacts in income inequality showing up in the cases you handle today — and how does that history shape the strategies you choose as a defender?” A great conversation was had by all.
Corey further challenged us, as public defenders, to incorporate discussions of income inequality and its impacts into our case strategies, as well as our written and courtroom advocacy. The meetup concluded with an overview of how public defenders are fighting for systemic change through bail reform and holistic representation.
We appreciate you, Corey, for challenging us to do more with our advocacy and showing us why it will always matter!
Watch the recording available on MyGideon.
DEIJ Meetup: Cancelled (March 2025)
The DEIJ Meetup for March 2025 was cancelled due to a scheduling conflict.
DEIJ Meetup: TOUGH CONVERSATIONS: WAYS TO LEAD OTHERS & ADVOCATE FOR YOU
Meetup Speaker: Joyce Akhahenda, Esq. (she/her/hers), Chief Deputy with the Colorado State Public Defender’s Office & Racial Justice+ Committee Member
The April edition of the DEIJ Meetup – Tough Conversations, led by Joyce Akhahenda, Esq., provided a thought-provoking and timely discussion on one of the hardest things we all have to do, no matter our title – manage tough conversations. But in true DEIJ fashion, Joyce ensured that participants not only address having rough conversations generally but also when it comes to a matter of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Using her PowerPoint and using relatable examples, Joyce guided the meetup through who we have tough conversations with and why it’s so hard to have conversations addressing race or other diverse topics. She also discussed how we choose to (or not choose to) handle these tough conversations. The meetup also focused on why we put off having tough conversations. Joyce addressed the common concerns about respect, communications, and mindset. Joyce also addressed other barriers such as the DEI hire stereotype and office culture.
Joyce also gave the meetup practical tips for managing these tough conversation. She further provided guidance on communicating across difference. Before the meetup concluded, Joyce asked meetup participants “What challenges have you faced in having “tough conversations,” and how did you overcome those challenge?”
After some discussion amongst meetup participants, Joyce challenged us to have the tough conversations for the betterment of ourselves, clients, and our offices. We appreciate you, Joyce, for making us better prepared to have the tough conversations!
Missed it? It’s definitely worth watching and/or listening to. Watch the recording on MyGideon.
May 2025
Meetup Mashup: AN EXPLORATION OF AANHPJ MONTH, DEI, & PUBLIC DEFENSE
Meetup Speaker: Arlene Anderson (she/her/hers), Trainer with the Office of the Public Defender in Maricopa County, AZ & Racial Justice+ Committee Member
At Meetup Mashups, the DEIJ and Racial Justice Meetups come together in their collective efforts to do the work. This month, we did it in honor of National Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month and through Arlene Anderson’s presentation – An Exploration of AANHPI Month, DEI, & Public Defense.
Through an exploration of history, Arlene walked meetup attendees through the history of racial discrimination faced by the AANHPI community. The meetup further explored the impactful contributions made by this community to the legal landscape and beyond. Arlene further educated us on the challenges that the AANHPI community faces and, using statistics, how they are all too often left out of the conversation when it comes to advocacy in the criminal legal system. Considered the “the “perpetual foreigner,” Arlene further highlighted barriers, like COVID-19 attacks and the model minority trope, that promotes stereotyping to the detriment of members of this community.
Tapping into vulnerability, Arlene also shared her personal story of her AANHPI lineage and its impact on herself and her family. She exemplified how this AANHPI heritage should be honored and valued as a part of the greater American story. She informed us on the importance of respecting and seeing members of this community as individuals outside of the typical stereotypes. This translates to supporting and properly advocating for our AANHPI clients.
This meetup surely raised our awareness, fostered cultural understanding, and explored ways to improve fairness in the public defense system for AANHPI groups. Well done, Arlene!
Watch the webinar video on MyGideon to learn more.
JUNE 2025
Racial Justice Meetup: ADVOCATING WHILE BLACK: THE EXPERIENCES AND PERSPECTIVES OF BLACK MEN IN PUBLIC DEFENSE©
Meetup Speaker: Guy Lang (he/him/his), Justice-Impacted Communities Coordinator & Racial Justice+ Committee Member
The Racial Justice Meetup connected in June 2025 as Guy Lang, our Justice-Impacted Communities Coordinator, led us in the Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month edition of the Advocating While Black: The Experiences and Perspectives of Black Men In Public Defense© presentation.
A remix of a session created by BGT and presented with a group of powerful Black male public defense advocates, Guy used this meetup to continue the conversation about the barriers and challenges that Black men face as individuals and members of the public defense community.
Tapping into his own experiences, Guy shed light on ways in which Black men manage and combat experiences that so often impact their mental health. Guy shared emotional wellness tools, discussed the importance of using mental health resources, and provided a book and media list for further review.
Using prompts, Guy challenged all of us to be reflective of who we are as individuals and public defense advocates. Guy spoke nothing but truth as he dicested the Impact of trauma that Black men and many others face not only on the job but in the world. He reminded us that we are not the trauma that we experience and we do not have to succom to it. Guy tapped into our spirits and moved our hearts.
In one of its most powerful moments, Guy led the meetup in these affirmations –
“I am not my trauma.
My rest is revolutionary.
I deserve healing, joy, and peace.
My presence is powerful.”
Guy closed the meetup by discussing his handout and encouraging the meetup to share the Building Support for System Impacted Public Defenders Survey with our system impacted public defense colleagues!
Thank you, Guy, for leading this thought-provoking presentation and inspiring us all!
DEIJ Meetup: WHEN SELF-CARE IS NOT ENOUGH? A DEI-FATIGUE DISCUSSION
Meetup Speaker: KC Quirk (she/her/they/them), Director of the Social Work Unit for the New Mexico Law Offices of the Public Defender & Racial Justice+ Committee Member
June 2025 closed out with what we all needed – a real conversation about DEI fatigue. At this meetup, KC Quirk fed our souls and reminded us of the importance of community care with their presentation – When Self-Care is Not Enough? A DEI-Fatigue Discussion.
Discussing self-care and community care, KC explored the intersection of these concepts with diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and drew insight from various sources and personal experiences. KC discussed the importance and significance of community care and self-care, particularly for activists. KC highlighted examples from historical figures like the Black Panther Party, Angela Davis and Erica Huggins. Through a video, KC showed Angela Davis speaking and her emphasis on prioritizing oneself to sustain effective work.
KC acknowledged and discussed the challenges faced by public defenders, including high case loads and systemic oppression. KC emphasized the importance of finding spaces to share their truth and creating a supportive environment for both current and future activists. Collectively, meetup participants shared strategies for maintaining well-being in demanding roles, highlighting the need for balance between individual and collective care practices to sustain effective work in challenging environments. Together, the meetup agreed on the value of self-care, community support, and maintaining focus on their goals despite systemic challenges.
This meetup was so valuable. Thanks for reminding us of the importance of community care, KC!
This is only the first half of 2025 and the DEIJ and Racial Justice Meetups are doing the work! See the meetup lineup to see what’s to come!
Interested in being on the Racial Justice and/or DEIJ listserv? Want to connect with us at the Racial Justice and/or DEIJ meetups? Email BGT at brittanygt@publicdefenders.us to sign-up and for more information.
Save the Date: NAPD’s Racial Justice Conference is in Montgomery, Alabama, on October 27 -30, 2025. Registration is open. REGISTER TODAY!