Weronika Bzura (she/her/hers) is Staff Attorney with The Bronx Defenders Criminal Defense Practice. She received her BA in Political Science and Sociology minor from SUNY Albany and her JD from New York Law School. During law school, Weronika focused on public interest law and graduated with a distinguished award for civil rights and social justice….
Lisa (she/her/hers) received her law degree from Suffolk University Law School in Boston. During her time at Suffolk, Lisa was the Editor-in-Chief of the Suffolk Transnational Law Review. During her third year of law school, she was a student attorney for the Committee for Public Counsel Services in Boston where she represented indigent clients from…
Samantha Espada (she/her) earned her J.D. from Indiana University Maurer School of Law with a certificate in the rule of law and constitutional design. There, she was recognized by Indiana University with the Terry and Judy Albright Pro Bono and Public Interest Award and the John T. Edwards Fellowship for her public service, exemplary character,…
Teddy Brodsky (he/him/his) graduated from Columbia University with a B.A. in Political Science-Statistics. Originally from New York, Teddy explored his passion for public defense in college through work at the Center for Appellate Litigation, the Louisiana Capital Assistance Center, the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, and at Columbia University’s Center for Justice….
Eliza McCurdy (she/her) graduated from NYU Wagner with a Masters in Public Administration and specialization in advocacy and political action. She started her career in criminal legal reform interning with JustLeadershipUSA in 2016 on the #CLOSERikers campaign, after which she interned with The Sentencing Project in Washington, D.C. Pre-pandemic, Eliza worked on Rikers Island for…
Dinah (she/her/ella) is an activist for drug users. For over 20 years, she has been advocating for vulnerable womxn, specifically Black, Brown and Indigenous people in a variety of contexts from substance use to child regulation. Dinah has appeared on hundreds of panels nationwide to discuss harm reduction strategies highlighting the unique challenges facing parents…
Kiara Santiago (she/her/hers) is a Bronx resident that is passionate about advocating for the community and its residents. She has assisted survivors of domestic violence with trauma informed care, career and educational development, and resource attainment. She recognizes the systemic barriers that perpetuate a cycle of poverty and immobility, and seeks to continue advocating for…
Sara Boutoille (she/her/hers) is a Bronx resident and committed to serving her community. Sara has an extensive professional legal background, working as a paralegal for over 10 years prior to working at BxD. She spends her free time advocating in the community.
Christopher Garcia (he/him/his) is a skilled IT professional with a passion for technology and innovation. He has completed the Npower Tech Fundamentals program, gaining valuable knowledge and expertise in the field. Along with his technical abilities, Christopher is also a talented chess player who has competed at a master level across the United States. With…
Omayra Colon (she/her/hers) is a Bronx resident. She has worked for non-profits for over 16 years and has over 20 years of administrative experience working in a variety of jobs that have allowed her to help people of all ages. Whether working with young children or older adults, Omayra’s commitment to making a positive difference in…
Aurora Maoz (she/her/hers) graduated magna cum laude and Order of the Coif from the University of Michigan Law School, where she was a student attorney in the Michigan Innocence Clinic, a member of the editorial board of the Michigan Law Review, and a recipient of the Freeman Scholarship for demonstrated true excellence in criminal law…
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.
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…
