As 2024 comes to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on some of the great work the DC Bar Foundation has accomplished with the help of the civil legal aid community, our grantee partners, and other key stakeholders in local government, social services, health care, and beyond.
Our goal remains clear and consistent: To transform the civil legal aid network, working closely with all stakeholders so District residents have a fair and equitable legal experience. This end-of-year wrap-up is fuel and motivation to continue our work in the new year.
I wanted to share a few highlights from our collective efforts over the last 12 months.
Network Growth and Relationship Building
The DC Social Justice Transformations Network is thriving. The DC Social Justice Transformations Network (DCSJTN) celebrated its third year. The beauty of the Network is that, since its founding, it has always welcomed individuals and organizations from various sectors (social services, health services, local government, academia, and many others), allowing members to make broader connections and build deeper relationships. One Network member said this about their experience: “This has been my greatest reward, as I feel excited when meeting new people outside my usual circles in legal and social services.” The Network’s name change earlier this year, which was previously DC Legal Aid Transformations Network, helps to reflect this inclusivity.
DC Social Justice Transformations Network is connecting us in unprecedented ways. This year, DCSJTN completed its third mapping survey since the Network inception, and the results were positive. For instance, one data point showed that the number of relationships that deepened because of the Network increased from 7% in 2022 to 38% in 2024. Members also say they have more clarity about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, with 57% indicating that the Network is either “very effective” or “effective” in creating a forum to explore the issues of anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion, compared to 34% in 2021. The Network continues to provide opportunities for members to connect, share, and build knowledge, which impacts how they serve clients.
Coordinated Intake and Referral, Evaluation, Community Engagement
We launched the Coordinated Intake and Referral pilot. Hosted by Neighborhood Legal Services Program (NLSP), the CIR pilot launched in July and continues to provide insight into changes that need to be made to protocols and technology before the full system launch next year. In my June 2024 CEO letter, I explained more about the CIR Pilot Evaluation by NPC Research. The evaluation results will be published early next year.
DC Residents Identified the new CIR Name. During a recent CIR Chat, we announced the system’s official name: DC Resource Bridge. The final name was chosen after extensive outreach with nearly 500 DC residents from our target demographics (i.e., individuals who live in specific wards, annual household income, age, and other criteria). Knowing that so many people never make it to a legal aid provider, we included people who both had and had not used legal aid. Outreach efforts began in November 2021 and concluded in September 2024, and they included focus groups, individual interviews, and an online survey.
Request for Proposals Released to Identify CIR Full Launch Host: With the CIR pilot nearing its completion and the official selection of its new name, "DC Resource Bridge," the Foundation has moved into the next critical phase: identifying a permanent host for the full CIR system. This fall, a Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued to organizations with the capacity to host and operate the system. The Foundation plans to announce the selected host organization in February.
Programs, Fundraising, and Internal Operations
FY25 funding will contribute to critical work in DC. The DCBF board recently approved $30.5 million in grants for 36 legal aid organizations. Thank you to the District Government for its commitment to the core principle of access to justice. And thank you to our IOLTA banks who offer higher interest rates on their IOLTA deposits. Specific grant awards will be announced in the coming weeks.
DCBF’s DC Walk for Justice 5K made a successful debut. The Foundation’s inaugural DC Walk for Justice 5K welcomed more than 300 people to Nationals Park and raised over $162,000. Through this event, we increased community awareness about civil legal aid and raised additional funds for our work. This event again proved that our partners and dedicated stakeholders are committed to an equitable justice system.
DCBF continued to prioritize anti-racism. This year, the Foundation sponsored and attended Leadership Greater Washington’s Anti-Racist Leadership Series. Our sponsorship was a commitment to upholding a part of our core values, which is to stand against anti-Black racism. The six-month training program provided an opportunity for nearly 100 individuals from different industries to learn more about race, conscious and unconscious biases, advocacy, allyship, and what it takes to be an anti-racist leader.
This was an exciting year with many highlights and significant milestones. We accomplished a lot together, and I look forward to what we will do in 2025.
With gratitude,
Kirra L. Jarratt
Chief Executive Officer