We are a small but mighty team, dedicated to transforming public defense with our collective support and while working within our capacity. Your collaboration means the world to us and we invite your ideas and participation.
Collaboration:
Many of our programs and resources started because someone reached out and expressed a need. We believe that collaboration is key to achieving meaningful change and we welcome and actively seek out partnerships with organizations and individuals that align with our mission and values. Do you feel the spark of an idea that you would like to develop with support and community? Send your ideas and propose a collaboration by emailing BeSustained@gmail.com.
We love collaborating and are seeking volunteers to inject energy, ideas and skills as a Communications Coordinator (manage weekly newsletter, social media, and build the library of free resources available to defenders), Development Director (identify and pursue grants and funding opportunities to support paying educators while providing free training to defenders), or Program Manager (support planning of weekly meet up and other training sessions). We invite you to share your time and ideas within your own capacity and the time you have available. Interested? Email BeSustained@gmail.com.
Board of Directors:
Board members provide governance, strategic leadership, and financial oversight to ensure the organization fulfills its mission effectively and sustainably. This is a 2 year volunteer position that requires active engagement and advocacy.
Key responsibilities include: Understand and uphold the organization’s mission, vision, and values; Provide guidance and oversight of policies, programs, and executive leadership; Serve as a collaborator with the community of public defenders and the people we serve; Bring ideas, engagement and participation to board meetings held six times per year.
Board Qualifications include: A passion for the organization’s mission and a commitment to act as a champion for the organization in the community. Interested people should email to BeSustained@gmail.com: a brief statement of interest that touches on how the organization’s mission resonates with you and what skills or ideas you would like to share as a board member.
Contribute to supporting public defenders and transforming public defense.
When we support public defenders and their organizations, then each person ensnared in the criminal legal system will have access to a defense team empowered to resist injustice.
Our mission is to support the well-being of public defenders by providing training, resources, and consultation without financial barriers. If you would like to donate to support this work, you can make a donation here. BeSustained is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit, ID 93-2945983.
Examples of your donations at work:
$25 covers the cost one month of hosting a weekly online meet up for defenders
$250 covers the annual cost of hosting our library of free resources
$1000 covers the average cost of sending a trainer/facilitator to offer an in-person workshop to a defender organization, often including needs assessment, preparation of a workshop tailored to organizational need, and organizational consultation.
BeSustained 