The National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) is hosting s virtual presentation entitled Transforming Defender Research Through a Community-Based Approach on January 25, 2023 at 3:00 PM Eastern. This will be an interactive discussion on how quality public defense research should include the community-based perspective.

Public defenders are uniquely positioned to center the voice of directly impacted communities because they are trained in client-centered representation. Community-based research (CBR) is a collaboration and partnership approach that brings together community and academic expertise to explore and create opportunities for social action and social change.

Panelists will discuss how the traditional research approach has yet to center those directly impacted and will explore how the community-based research model can influence policy decisions and improve community practices and outcomes. The panel will include the following speakers:

Dr. Patricia Foxen, Director of Community Research, NLADA
Dr. Don Stemen, Professor, Loyola University Chicago
Dr. Sharon Jones-Eversley, Retired Professor, Towson University
April Frazier Camara, President and CEO, NLADA (moderator)