Ruddy (she/her/hers) is a recent graduate of Binghamton University, where she double majored in Political Science and Latin American/Caribbean Area Studies. During her time at Binghamton, Ruddy participated in a Latin-based sorority whose goals were to serve the community, spread knowledge about Latino culture and empower women from diverse backgrounds. Through Hermandad de Sigma Iota…
Bianca Granados (she/her/hers) received her J.D. from the City University of New York School of Law. During law school, Bianca served as Editor on the Management Board of CUNY Law Review and was a student attorney for the Immigrant & Non-Citizen Rights Clinic. Bianca served as Co-President of CUNY Law’s Latin American Students Association and…
Brittany McCoy (She, Her, Hers) is a graduate of Virginia State University and holds a B.A in Political Science with a minor in Pre-Law. Brittany’s passion for activism and politics was birthed in the 10th grade during the heights both of the movement to end unconstitutional Stop and Frisk tactics in New York City and…
Wendy (she/her/hers) graduated from the City University of New York School of Law, where she was a Graduate Fellow. While at CUNY, Wendy represented individuals charged with crimes in Queens County through the Defenders Clinic, assisted an incarcerated person in preparing for a parole hearing, and participated in CUNY’s CLEAR project. Wendy was also a senior…
Nora Christiani (She, Her, Hers) received her J.D. from New York University School of Law. While at NYU, Nora served as a student advocate for two years in the NYU Immigrant Rights Clinic. She was also the co-chair of the Immigrant Rights Project and a Human Rights Scholar with the Center for Human Rights and…
Paola (she/her/ella) graduated from Fordham University with a degree in English and French. Born and raised in the Bronx, she is invested in ensuring that the residents of the Bronx are receiving the representation they deserve. Prior to joining The Bronx Defenders, Paola worked at Make the Road New York where she provided clients with assistance on housing and public benefits.
Christine Rivera (she/her/hers) received her J.D. from Rutgers Law School (Newark) where she was a Kinoy-Stavis Fellow and an Eric R. Neisser Public Interest Fellow. Upon graduating, she received the J. Shelly Wright Prize for the greatest contribution to civil rights, civil liberties, and human affairs. During law school, Christine participated in the International Human…
Shannon (he/him/his) grew up in the South Bronx witnessing firsthand the ways that poverty can disrupt communities and families. These experiences fueled his passion for social justice and his desire to affect positive change through community organizing. Shannon has worked in community organizing for over 20 years, working on campaigns such as the Welfare Reform Campaign,…
Edward Soto (he/him/his), born and raised in the Bronx, received his J.D. cum laude from Brooklyn Law School. There, he was an Edward V. Sparer Public Interest Law Fellow and selected as a member of the inaugural class of Brooklyn Law School’s Criminal Defense & Advocacy Clinic, where he worked on a federal clemency petition, representing…
Julema LaForce (she/her/hers) received her J.D. from City University of New York School of Law. While in law school, she represented individuals with their parole hearings and appeals in the Criminal Defense Clinic. During her 1L summer, she interned with Lenox Hill Neighborhood House in their landlord and tenant division. In her 2L spring semester,…
Katherine (she/her/hers) received her J.D. from the City University of New York School of Law. While in law school, she participated in the Immigrant and Non-Citizens Rights Clinic representing clients in removal and immigration proceedings and in the International Refugee Assistance Program preparing SIV applications and conducting intakes. Katherine was also a student attorney at…
Gregg Butler (he/him/his) received his J.D. from the City University of New York School of Law where he was a Graduate Fellow. While in law school, Gregg represented individuals applying for parole through the Criminal Defense Clinic and advocated for individuals targeted by aggressive government counterterrorism practices through the CLEAR Project. Gregg interned at the…
Cassie (she/her/hers) received her J.D. from the City University of New York School of Law. At CUNY, Cassie participated in the Economic Justice Project, the Family Law Practice Clinic and CLEAR. She also co-led the Housing Rights Project, was an editor of the Public Interest Practitioners Section of the CUNY Law Review, and assisted a…
Nora (She, Her, Hers) received her J.D. from New York University School of Law, where she was a Root Tilden Kern scholar. During law school, Nora participated in the Immigrant Rights Clinic and Advanced Immigrant Rights Clinic, and received an Ann Petluck Poses Memorial Prize for clinical work. She spent her summers interning with the…
Will (he/him/his) received his J.D. at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law. After law school, he clerked for the Honorable Mark Nelson in the New Jersey Superior Court in Hudson County. Prior to joining the Bronx Defenders, Will worked as a Staff Attorney at the Tenant’s Rights Unit of the New York Legal Assistance Group,…
Wesley Caines is a graduate of Bard College and New York Theological Seminary. His life’s journey has enriched him with a perspective on the importance of human connection and community engagement, and he is a frequent speaker at colleges and universities as well as on panels and in conferences across the country on his exceptional…
Thanisha Pariage (she/her/hers) is the Recruiting and Hiring Director where she leads the Recruiting and Hiring team to support the growth of Bronx Defenders. She also manages various programs including the summer internship and spring break caravans. Thanisha graduated from New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service as a David Bohnett Fellow with a Master’s…
Yisraela Rodriguez (she/her/hers) graduated from CUNY School of Law. During law school, Yisraela was a Judicial Intern for the Honorable Leslie A. Stroth in Kings County Housing Court and Bronx County Criminal Court. She also interned at the New York State Attorney Generals Office Bureau of Consumer Frauds and Protection. As part of her Equality Justice…
Maria (she/her/hers) is a graduate of The City University of New York at Hunter College, where she earned a degree in Sociology. As a born and raised New Yorker and current Bronx resident passionate about social justice, she is excited to work with The Bronx Defenders and pursue a career committed to fighting for long-lasting change in…
Leighann Ramirez (She/Her/Ella) received her J.D. from the University at Buffalo School of Law and her M.S.W. from the University at Buffalo School of Social Work. During law school, she was the recipient of the Monique E. Edmin Award for her outstanding commitment to community service. She was also awarded the Martin A. Feinrider Award,…
Quiniva Smith (she, her, hers),received her J.D. from the City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law, where she represented clients petitioning the New York Office of the Governor for clemency. She also worked in the Family Defense Practice at Brooklyn Defenders Services for four years as a litigation assistant and paralegal. At BDS,…
Jeremiah Reeder (he, him, his) was born and raised in The Bronx. He graduated from Roosevelt High School and went on to attend Queens College. This is where he began studying to become a nurse. He has always had a nature in helping others, which has placed him on a promising journey and ultimately guided him…
Marlena Santos (she/her/hers) received her J.D. from New York University School of Law, where she was a Root-Tilden-Kern Public Interest Scholar. At NYU, Marlena participated in two year-long clinics: the Family Defense Clinic and the Juvenile Defender Clinic. In addition, she was a Casebook Research and Writing Editor with the NYU Moot Court Board. Marlena…
Allison Goodman (she/her/hers) received her J.D. from UC Berkeley School of Law, where she spent her second year at The East Bay Community Law Center’s Housing Clinic defending tenants against eviction actions. While in law school, Allie led and participated in the Community Restorative Justice Project, Law Students for Justice in Palestine and The National Lawyers…
Rebecca Suldan (she/her/hers) graduated cum laude from New York University School of Law. At NYU, Rebecca spent two years in the Immigrant Rights Clinic and represented clients in their removal proceedings. During her summers, she interned at BxD’s Family Defense Practice and the NYC Commission on Human Rights. Rebecca was a Colloquium Editor for the…