NAPD 2025 Racial Equity Advancement and Leadership (REAL) Scholarship

The National Association for Public Defense (NAPD) is proud to offer a limited number of Racial Equity, Advancement & Leadership (R.E.A.L.) Scholarships. REAL Scholarships support member attendance at the 2025 Racial Justice Conference in Montgomery, Alabama. This initiative underscores NAPD’s deep commitment to advancing racial equity and leading initiatives in the fight for justice. It also reflects our dedication to ensuring that public defense professionals from under-resourced and underserved communities have equitable access to transformative, high-impact training opportunities.

These scholarships are made possible through the generous financial support provided by Dr. Laura K. Shawver and Tracy M. Macuga, whose contributions significantly enhance our ability to provide equitable training and educational experiences for public defense professionals.

Scholarship Deadline: July 15th, 2025

Each scholarship will cover (if needed):

• Full or partial conference registration
• A stipend toward transportation, and
• Lodging for conference days

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be a current NAPD member
• Must work in a public defense office
• Must demonstrate a commitment to advancing racial equity and client-centered advocacy
• Must demonstrate insufficient office or institutional training funds
• Only one applicant per office may receive a scholarship

Priority Consideration Will Be Given To:

• Members from offices with no or limited training budgets
• Members working in underserved regions (e.g., Southern, Midwestern, and Rural areas)
• First-time attendees of the Racial Justice Conference
• Members who hold roles (e.g., social workers, investigators, professional staff, core staff) that are traditionally underrepresented at national training events.

 Application Components:

1. Statement of Interest (500 words max):

Applicants must describe their commitment to racial justice, how attending the conference will impact their work, and how they plan to share what they learn with their office or broader public defense community.

2. Supervisor Acknowledgement Statement:

A brief letter with supervisor contact information that includes a brief confirmation that the applicant has discussed this opportunity with their supervisor, they will be approved to attend, and that there is insufficient office funding available for attendance, travel, and/or lodging. The supervisor must confirm that they will support the sharing of resources and knowledge gained by the scholarship recipient.

How To Apply

Please complete the application and submit the required documentation here.