STAFF
DC Social Justice Transformations Network
The DC Social Justice Transformations Network will host its next convening in person on
June 10, 2025
ABOUT THE DC SOCIAL JUSTICE TRANSFORMATIONS NETWORK
Why Are We Here?
It’s challenging to get legal help in the District of Columbia. Too many people in crisis need help, and we don’t make that easy for them. It is understood that wealth and power have the advantage in civil court. Therefore, in June 2021, the DC Bar Foundation brought together nearly 60 legal aid providers, funders, community activists, social services providers, government, technology, and other stakeholders to discuss how to reimagine a more equitable civil justice system in DC. The DC Legal Aid Transformations Network - now called the DC Social Justice Transformations Network (DC SJTN) - grew out of this convening.
DC Social Justice Transformations Network Public Data Dashboard
This Public Data Dashboard Portal will provide a bird’s eye view of the DC Social Justice Transformations Network and how we are connected. Over a two-year span, in June 2021 and Fall 2022 we conducted two network surveys to gain insight about how the network is doing, the progress we’ve made, and about the existing ecosystem of organizations and community stakeholders that currently support access to legal aid for District residents.
WHERE ARE WE NOW
On June 15, 2021, 57 legal aid providers, funders, community activists, social service providers, and other stakeholders met for the first time to build a network that would help to ensure that every DC resident has a fair and equitable experience with civil legal aid. It was facilitated by Kelly Bates and Curtis Ogden of the Interaction Institute for Social Change (IISC), which works to build collaborative capacity in individuals, organizations, and networks working for social justice and racial equity.
The goals of this first convening were to generate:
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Greater understanding of the value of network building for civil legal aid;
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A common analysis of the challenges and opportunities for civil legal aid;
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Movement toward a shared vision of what is possible as a network to address these challenges and harness opportunities; and
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Next steps, including actionable ways to collaborate moving forward.
We exceeded these goals, officially established the DC Legal Aid Transformations Network, and invited attendees to participate in the first network survey by Visible Network Labs. The purpose of the survey is to generate data on the connections and trust between participants and provide guidance on targeting network support moving forward.
You can learn more about the network by reading the following articles from DCBF's newsletter:
The second convening was held on September 14, 2021. With three months under our belt as the DC Legal Aid Transformations Network, attendees were eager to come together and regain traction from the June meeting. During this convening, Visible Network Labs conducted an in-depth presentation on “How You Can Use Network Science and Network Survey Results.” This presentation helped set up network members for success when reviewing their data from the network survey they completed in late June.
During this two-hour session, conveners deemed that having desired outcomes were needed and beneficial for each convening. Going forward, we will establish desired outcomes prior to each meeting to help us focus and hit our targets.
The desired outcomes for this convening were to have:
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A greater sense of connection, trust, and familiarity with one another and our work;
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A greater understanding of the value of network building for civil legal aid;
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A shared understanding of the results of the Visible Network Lab survey and its implications for this network;
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A list of the next steps and an evaluation of this meeting.
The last convening for 2021 was held on December 15. It was a full-day event for network members, who discussed various topics, including transforming systems from gatekeeping to gateways, learning to move beyond silos, and prioritizing listening to clients’ needs while generating a human-centered approach. The conversation also focused on the upstream dream of dismantling civil legal aid and self-reflecting on advancing racial equity in our organizations, including our leadership.
The desired outcomes for this convening were:
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Greater connectivity among network participants
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Alignment around the shared purpose of this network
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Alignment around some systemic intervention points for this network to organize around, looking through the lens of “justice determinants of wellbeing”
On our March 9, 2022 Quarterly Convening, 40 Network members built community, heard presentations from Network members, and deepened our understanding of how to transform legal services by focusing on "upstream" approaches and centering anti-racism, wellbeing and anti-poverty. Kirra Jarratt shared about the ongoing work of the Design Team, the Network Manager hiring process, and plans for client focus groups in April to improve the intake/referral process.
Members discussed the difference between "upstream" work, which identifies problems at their root cause, and "downstream" work, which addresses immediate needs that are the symptoms of those root causes, and people wrote down their expansive visions of upstream work, as well as the barriers to those visions becoming real.
We held our 1st Anniversary Convening for the DC Legal Aid Transformations Network. We welcomed several first-time conveners making this the largest convening to date. Then, Beth Mellen, Lori Leibowitz, Lauren Taylor, and Maya Brennan presented the Upstream Dream: Eviction Diversion or Building a Unicorn in 3 Acts. We had some thought-provoking small group breakout sessions that have now become subnetworks. If you missed the convening, here are the participant agenda and convening slides that will give you an idea of what we covered.
Lastly, we also launched a subnetwork for intake specialists; if you are interested in joining this community, email innovation@dcbarfoundation.org.
On September 14, 2022, the DC Legal Aid Transformations Network welcomed over 58 new conveners as we held our September Convening. It was a full afternoon! Our agenda included an in-depth update on the progress of the Coordinated Intake and Referral System; a celebration of milestones and accomplishments; and Amanda Beacon from
Visible Network Labs gave us a detailed overview of the upcoming network survey, which will produce our updated network map. Our breakout sessions allowed participants to build new connections or strengthen the ones they previously made, which will help further the work of the subnetworks.
An emerging subnetwork was introduced: Cross-Cutting/Cross-Issues work to help clients with multiple legal needs, and the expertise is at a different organization. If you missed this one, we sure hope you join us for the December Convening.
The final convening for 2022 was held on Wednesday, December 14. Ariel Levinson-Waldman, Founding President, and Director-Counsel at Tzedek DC and Co-Chair of the Consortium, shared on the Coordinated Intake and Referral System (CIR), and Joseph Schieffer, CEO of A2J Tech, provided an update on the technology infrastructure. The subnetworks worked diligently and began planning for 2023 while chipping away at tensions. For the first time, we shared some pre-convening reading material and a special video with information on the 2nd annual DC Legal Aid Transformations Network Survey by Amanda Beacom, Visible Network Labs.
Below are some milestones and accomplishments of the DC LATN and CIR in 2022:
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April
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Network Project Manager Hired
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Final focus group interviews with District residents and intake workers
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June
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Celebrated 1st Anniversary of DC LATN
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Subnetworks were established
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July
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Designing a Coordinated Intake and Referral (CIR) System for Civil Legal Aid in the District of Columbia: Client and Community Member Input Report Released
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Slack After Four Virtual Happy Hours
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September
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The 2nd Network Survey was conducted
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Coordinated Intake and Referral Database was Launched
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December
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Call to Action for User Testers (For DC Residents only. Please share with your clients)
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We kicked off 2023 with our first convening of the year on March 8. The DC Legal Transformations Network sought to bring together various stakeholders from various disciplines to reimagine a more equitable civil justice system in DC. Our network provides a platform to address challenges, exchange information and knowledge, and foster collaboration while building connections and finding common ground.
During this convening, several stakeholders came together on Zoom; here is a brief overview of what took place:
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Haley Bachinski, Senior Project Manager at Visible Network Labs, shared key insights from the Fall Network Mapping Survey, presented the two generated maps, and offered a preview of the new public portal.
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Karen Newton Cole, Executive Director of NLSP and Co-chair of the Consortium, shared important updates and milestones. Over the past 90 days, the CIR launched CIR Chats, met with Legal Services Corporation, and initiated network focus groups with the Landlord Tenant Legal Assistance Network, Family Law Assistance Network, and Victim Legal Network of DC.
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Sandy Ambrozy, a Fellow at Full Frame Initiative, provided a refresher on the Wellbeing principles and helped us refocus before we split into Subnetworks.
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Subnetworks collaboratively selected a priority focus area for 2023 and identified key deliverables.
The DC Legal Aid Transformations Network (DC LATN) hosted its first-ever in-person Convening on June 14, 2024, at The University of the District of Columbia. The event highlighted the power of meeting in person and united a diverse and engaged group of individuals, fostering authentic and vulnerable interactions.
The organizers kept the Convening simple, focusing on activities that allowed for relationship-building. Participants brainstormed ideas and goals for the network, which were captured in real time by graphic illustrator Mark Korsak. This helped illustrate the possibilities of what the DC LATN has the power to accomplish.
The group also explored challenges faced by the network using the fishbowl conversation method. This highlighted network members' shared reality and experiences as they discussed the network's constraints, tensions, opportunities, and polarities.
Overall, the Convening was a testament to the strength and potential of in-person collaboration. It allowed network members to connect and work towards their shared goals.
The September quarterly meeting was a success, with over 34 organizations, four independent advocates, and 15 new conveners in attendance. During the meeting, we asked: “What does this moment demand of us in the realms of legal aid, social services, and the District?” and explored what actions we should take in response.
The Interaction Institute of Social Change team did an excellent job leading the discussions and keeping the network engaged. From our conversations, we identified seven focus areas for future research and initiatives in addition to Coordinated Intake and Referral, including Building Relationships, Mapping Social Services Providers, Client-Centered Approaches, Pay Equity, Advocacy Entity Establishment, App Development, and Legal and Social Service Providers Bootcamp Training.
Initiators stepped forward to take the lead in researching these initiatives, which will help us move forward with more concrete plans for the future. Overall, the meeting helped to provide us with a clear direction for the next steps.
The DC Legal Aid Transformation Network convened on December 14 to discuss the network's priorities for 2024. The attendees discussed various initiatives, such as Building Relationships, Mapping Social Services Providers, Client-Centered Approaches, Pay Equity, Advocacy Entity Establishment, App Development, and Legal and Social Service Providers Bootcamp Training. They also discussed the Coordinated Intake and Referral (CIR) project, sharing that the Pilot will launch in late Spring 2024 and focus on Family Law. The newly hired CIR Project manager, Dina Cruz, was introduced to the network, and she shared more details about the Pilot Launch and what’s to be expected. The CIR technology architect, Joseph Schieffer, CEO of A2J Tech, also attended and presented on the provider directory, which will be a critical component of the CIR.
The network’s leadership officially transitioned from a Design Team to a Network Action to help lead and steward the network. New members of the Network Action Team were introduced, and Design Team members were thanked and honored for their service. Lastly, during this convening, the network voted to change the name to reflect the evolving values of the network. Introducing the DC Social Justice Transformations Network.
On March 13, 2024, the first quarterly convening of the DC Social Justice Transformations Network was held. The attendees were welcomed by Network Action Team Co-Leads, Sheilly Virella of Christian Legal Aid and Indira Henard of DC Rape Crisis Center.
The network structure, member roles, and terminology were explained during the convening to set the meeting level. Several "speed networking" rounds and project workgroup breakout sessions were held, where network members participated. The following project workgroups met: Relationship building, Orientation, Pay Equity research group, and Communications. While CIR was reported on, they didn't meet during the convening as they conduct a standing weekly meeting.
The convening attendees made new connections and deepened existing ones while better understanding the network's direction.
The DC Social Justice Transformations Network held a meeting on June 12, 2024. The meeting aimed to bring together various stakeholders to discuss and promote social justice in the District of Columbia.
Kirra Jarrett, CEO of the DC Bar Foundation, spoke about the evolution of their network and the widespread support from the Access to Justice Initiative to advocate for level-set funding, which the network and other organizations rallied together to achieve.
Michanda Myles, Network Project Manager, highlighted the Network's growth and the challenge of navigating change as it transitions into a more developmental phase after three years. Network Action Team Co-Leaders, Indira Henard, Executive Director of the DC Rape Crisis Center, and Sheily Virella, Pro Bono Manager at Christian Legal Aid, shared stories emphasizing the network's role in uniting diverse stakeholders for a common purpose and challenged attendees to reflect on their motivations.
Joseph Schieffer, CEO of A2J Tech, provided a technical demonstration of the new CIR system, which will launch in late June. Karen Newton-Cole, Executive Director, Neighborhood Legal Services Program, shared more about the upcoming Pilot Launch, including introducing the two new navigators to the Network.
The convening showcased the Network's commitment to fostering community, encouraging strategic collaborations, and creating a more just society through collective action and shared resource understanding.
The DC Social Justice Transformations Network (DCSJTN) held its convening on Thursday, November 7th. The convening brought together a diverse group of advocates, organizers, and service providers from various sectors dedicated to advancing justice and equity in the District.
This convening prioritized strengthening member connections and fostering a sense of community. Attendees enjoyed "Cultural Shares," where network attendees showcased their talent through artistic expression. Team-building activities throughout lunch further emphasized the importance of collaboration and mutual support to deepen relationships.
Insightful presentations on the Network's progress and future goals were also shared. Danielle Varda and Jenny Lawlor from Visible Network Labs presented on network mapping, illuminating the importance of member profiles and the 2024 network mapping survey. Kirra Jarrett, CEO of the DC Bar Foundation, provided updates on the Coordinated Intake and Referral (CIR) pilot system and announced the release of the RFP to host the full CIR.
The convening concluded with a renewed sense of purpose to support the Network as we enter 2025.
On March 12th, members of the DC Social Justice Transformations Network came together for the March convening, a day of reflection, connection, and collaboration. The event was facilitated by Curtis Odgen and Kelly Frances Bates from the International Institute for Social Change (IISC) and opened with words from Michanda Myles, Network Project Manager at DC Bar Foundation, Sheily Virella of Christian Legal Aid and Indira Henard of the DC Rape Crisis Center, setting the tone for an engaging and meaningful gathering.
The event began with a Wellbeing Exercise, where participants took a moment to reflect on their personal wellness and the challenges of social justice work. This set the stage for open and thoughtful discussion throughout the day. Farid Forozi, Director of Evaluation and Innovation, at the DC Bar Foundation, then shared updates on the DC Resource Bridge and the Provider Directory, which sparked conversations about how organizations can better support one another.
In breakout groups, attendees dove into discussions on strengthening relationships, supporting new leaders, and setting shared goals. These conversations drew on real experiences and advice, and generated concrete steps for further collaboration.
The convening wrapped up with knowledge-sharing sessions, where participants highlighted upcoming opportunities and resources. Attendees left feeling more deeply connected, inspired, and ready to take collective action.
DC SJTN: NETWORK MAPPING UPDATES
In 2021, the Foundation partnered with Visible Network Labs to create a map of DC's civil legal aid network. This mapping displays the existing relationships between organizations within the network and is being used to inform our understanding of how to improve our city's civil legal aid network so that it works for all residents.
Click the links below to read Visible Network Labs' full reports on the DC Social Justice Transformations Network and this network mapping exercise.
