Gisselle (she/her/hers) is a graduate of NYU where she received her bachelor’s degree in psychology. Prior to joining the Bronx Defender’s, Gisselle worked as an Office Assistant at the NYU Silver School of Social Work. As a Bronx native, Gisselle understands the struggles and hardships the Bronx community faces. Her goal is to work within…
Isabelle Valenzuela (she/her/hers) graduated from The School of Visual Arts with a Bachelor’s degree in Filmmaking. She is always eager to combat societal injustices, whether it be with her art, or by passionately working as an Investigator at The Bronx Defenders.
Jules (they/she) is a Communications Associate at The Bronx Defenders, where she works to support the families, individuals, and communities of the Bronx. Before joining BxD, Jules completed a cycle as the Multimedia Producer for the Whitmer for Governor Campaign. They graduated Summa Cum Laude from The University of Michigan, receiving recognition as an Angell…
Carolyn Strudwick (she/her/hers) is a social worker with over 27 years of experience working with homeless and at-risk youth. Her area of specialty is working with youth who have suffered traumatic experiences stemming from societal violence and victimization. She approaches the work within a social justice harm reduction framework utilizing a trauma informed and anti-oppression…
Juliet (she/her/hers) is committed to human rights, public service, and reproductive justice. She has worked for New York based institutions like Planned Parenthood Federation of America, The Center for Reproductive Rights, National Network for Safe Communities, Parole Preparation Project, and the City Commission on Human Rights. She is a proud member of the Family Defense…
Stone MacBeth (he/him/his) received his J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School. While at Colorado Law, Stone was a student attorney in the Criminal and Immigration Defense Clinic, worked as a team leader with the Korey Wise Innocence Project, competed in multiple national mock trial competitions, and was inducted into the National Order of…
Contact: media@bronxdefenders.org The Bronx, NY – The Bronx Defenders issued the following statement following a media availability yesterday where Mayor Adams announced a new 60-day shelter limit for migrant families and children: “The Mayor’s new shelter limit is cruel and inhumane. Not only will this new limit force the most vulnerable families and children in…
New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Children & Families The Child Welfare System and the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse or Maltreatment in New York State September 27, 2023 Joint Written Testimony of The Bronx Defenders, Brooklyn Defender Services, Center for Family Representation, and the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem Read the testimony here
Agreement resolves first-of-its-kind lawsuit to enforce New York’s cannabis legalization law, which ACS violated when it separated Ms. Rivers from her newborn baby Contact: Michael Paul Jackson, The Bronx Defenders, mjackson@bronxdefenders.org Issara Baumann, Arnold & Porter, issara.baumann@arnoldporter.com The Bronx, NY – Today, The Bronx Defenders and Arnold & Porter announced a resolution with New…
The Bronx Leadership and Organizing Center (BLOC) was launched in 2022 as a coalition to develop new solutions to sustainably lift families out of poverty and to promote dynamic leaders who will aim to change the national conversation around social and economic mobility.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (New York, NY) – New York County Defender Services, The Bronx Defenders, Brooklyn Defender Services, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, and Queens Defenders issued the following joint statement regarding the ongoing humanitarian crisis on Rikers Island and the urgent need to close Rikers once and for all: “For years, we’ve watched New York…
New York City Council Committees on Immigration and General Welfare Improving the living conditions for asylum seekers staying in the DHS shelter system, HERRCs, and Respite Centers June 21, 2023 Written Testimony of The Bronx Defenders By Rosa Cohen-Cruz, Director of Immigration Policy & Miriam Mack, Director of Family Defense Policy for The Bronx Defenders Read the…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Anthony Chiarito, media@bronxdefenders.org (The Bronx, NY) – Today, Justine Olderman announced she will step down as Executive Director of The Bronx Defenders after six years at the organization’s helm, and after 23 years serving in various roles at the 25-year-old organization, from criminal defense attorney to Managing Director of the Criminal Defense Practice, and from Managing Director of the Organization to…
Every day, The Bronx Defenders zealously defends people in court and fights to keep families together. But we know that it is just as important to serve the community out of the courtroom, as well. 10 years ago, BxD began The Client Emergency Fund, a program which provides immediate and impactful direct assistance to individuals…
Voting has started for The People’s Money, NYC’s first-ever citywide participatory budgeting (PB) process! The Bronx Defenders’ Community Engagement team, alongside our partners The BLOC, Mott Haven Reformed Church, DreamYard, FEC Mott Haven Melrose, Highbridge Advisory Council, Urban Dove Charter School, is taking to the streets in support of The People’s Money. The Bronx Defenders…
Contact: Anthony Chiarito, The Bronx Defenders, achiarito@bronxdefenders.org The Bronx Defenders and State Elected Officials Rallied in Albany to Fight for Transformative Change in the Bronx and Beyond The Bronx Defenders host their 4th Annual Community Day of Action in Albany Advocates called for the passage of Clean Slate, Treatment Not Jail, New York For All, and Family Miranda Rights, among many more New York, NY – On Wednesday, May 17th, The Bronx Defenders…
Contacts: Michael Paul Jackson, The Bronx Defenders, mjackson@bronxdefenders.org Issara Baumann, Arnold & Porter, issara.baumann@arnoldporter.com Lawsuits seek to force ACS to finally answer for decades of systemic racism Includes first of its kind lawsuit to enforce MRTA after ACS separated a Black family over lawful cannabis use The Bronx, NY – Today, The Bronx Defenders and Arnold &…
(New York, NY) – In response to Mayor Adams’ remarks this week, The Bronx Defenders, The Legal Aid Society, Brooklyn Defender Services, New York County Defender Services, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, and Queens Defenders issued the following statement: “Mayor Adams used the language of compassion and care this week to reassert an anti-Black, anti-poor,…
Contact: Anthony Chiarito, The Bronx Defenders, (AChiarito@bronxdefenders.org) (NEW YORK, NY) – The Bronx Defenders, Brooklyn Defender Services, The Legal Aid Society, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, New York County Defender Services, and Queens Defenders issued the following joint statement in response to a new report released by the New York City Department of Investigation on…
(NEW YORK, NY) – The Legal Aid Society, Brooklyn Defender Services, The Bronx Defenders, New York County Defender Services, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, and Queens Defenders issued the following joint statement on New York’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget: “Governor Hochul and the Legislature’s decision to yet again rollback New York’s bail laws, eliminating the…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Anthony Chiarito, The Bronx Defenders, achiarito@bronxdefenders.org New York, NY – Following last night’s announcement by the Governor on a “conceptual agreement” on the State budget that includes changes to the bail laws, The Bronx Defenders issued the following statement: “Governor Hochul’s efforts to strip the ‘least restrictive means’ language from New…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Anthony Chiarito, achiarito@bronxdefenders.org New York, NY – As State lawmakers return to Albany and Governor Hochul attempts to rollback bail and discovery reform yet again through the State budget process, The Bronx Defenders issued the following statement: “The Governor’s attempt to rollback bail and discovery reform is deeply disturbing and should be called…
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Anthony Chiarito, achiarito@bronxdefenders.org New York, NY – The Bronx Defenders issued the following statement following reports that Governor Hochul and New York City’s District Attorneys are proposing changes to the discovery reform law passed in 2019: “Not satisfied with trying to roll back bail reform to make it easier to jail more…
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Anthony Chiarito, achiarito@bronxdefenders.org New York, NY – After watching the New York State budget deadline come and go, The Bronx Defenders issued the following statement: “Once again, the budget is late because our Governor is insisting on changes to our bail law that would lead to thousands of New Yorkers being jailed…
