It Takes A Community: Honoring Participatory Defense Pioneers

On Wednesday, Feb. 27, Chief Defender Keir Bradford-Grey, along with participatory defense founder and Stoneleigh Fellow Raj Jayadev, honored five individuals whose work has been integral to the successful launch of participatory defense in Philadelphia in 2018. Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr. was also recognized as a Community Justice Champion award for his ongoing support of the initiative.

In the year since the first of Philadelphia’s community participatory defense hubs opened in March 2018, community members supported dozens of cases, leading to better outcomes, stronger communities, and work toward a fundamentally fair and effective criminal justice system.

Congratulations to this year’s honorees:

Community Justice Champion
Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr.

Keir Bradford-Grey and Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr.

Participatory Defense Visionary
Dorothy Johnson-Speight
Mothers in Charge “Best Outcomes” Participatory Defense Hub

Dorothy Johnson-Speight

Participatory Defense Community Connector
Akeem Sims
Kingsessing Participatory Defense Hub

Participatory Defense First Responder
Kris Eden
South Philly Participatory Defense Hub

(not pictured)

Participatory Defense Superstar Volunteer
Angela Canales
Philadelphia Participatory Defense Network

Angela Canales

Participatory Defense Superstar Volunteer
Fran Gilmore
Philadelphia Participatory Defense Network

Fran Gilmore

Special thanks to the Philadelphia Ethical Society and the Stoneleigh Foundation for their generous support of this year’s event.

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