Please join us in one of four unique Supper Club discussions as a new component of this year's COD Conference. These events will bring together attendees from around the country for candid conversation around four important, and sometimes controversial, topics. Space is very limited for these small group discussions so we ask that you make your selections early.

Note that reservations are free, but each attendee will be responsible for the cost of their meal.

Supporting Advocates Working with Clients in Crisis at Tír na nÓg

Led by Caitlin Becker, the Bronx Defenders - As holistic defenders committed to serving the most vulnerable and disenfranchised populations, we have an obligation to provide training, development, and ongoing support to our staff as they navigate the complexities of representing clients in systems that impose trauma on our clients and their families. We also recognize the impact that working with clients in crisis can have on our advocates and our responsibility to address the challenges that come with the work we do to. The Bronx Defenders has partnered with Dr. Maya Prabhu, a forensic psychiatrist at Yale to develop a training curriculum, conduct a climate survey related to staff safety and wellness, and develop guidance for advocates as they serve clients in crisis and those experiencing symptoms of serious mental illness. This discussion will begin with an overview of the "safety and wellness" work we've done together. We will then facilitate a discussion about the opportunities and challenges that come up in interdisciplinary practice among attorneys, social workers, and other advocates working in systems marked by crisis and trauma such as ours.

Implicit Bias at Acadia Restaurant

Led by April Frazier Camara, NLADA - The group will discuss how public defender offices can address implicit bias in their offices. Specifically, we will highlight the approaches and initiatives taking place at Legal Aid Society and NLADA.

Indefinite Detention and Immigrants at The Black Sheet Pub & Restaurant

Led by Yung-Mi Lee, Brooklyn Defender Services - Over the last two decades, the U.S. federal government has engaged in mass immigration detention, which has created a human rights crisis. We will discuss the role public defenders, like Brooklyn Defender Services, is playing in addressing this issue.

The Black Lives Matter Movement: How It Has Shaped Our Advocacy in Court and Communities at Acadia Restaurant

Led by Femi Disu-Oakley, The Legal Aid Society - This interactive discussion brings together attorneys, community advocates, and activists to examine the systemic oppression and racial inequities that black communities face every day. These racial injustices highlight the necessity and importance of the Black Lives Matter Movement in the context of their work within The Legal Aid Society. This discussion will be led by staff members from the Criminal Defense Practice, Civil Practice, and Juvenile Rights Practice to provide a diverse insight on how racial injustices permeate every part of our legal system. These speakers will engage in an earnest dialogue about the history and impact of institutional and structural racism and how it affects black communities in every facet of their lives. Now more than ever, we are witnessing an intensifying effort to oppress and dehumanize communities of color and the Black Lives Matter Movement’s success is crucial in empowering the voices of those who are being oppressed. The speakers will examine the role that this Movement has had on the work they do within our organization as well as the personal impact it has had on them as members of the Black community.

Community Oriented Defender Network Supper Clubs