The Bronx Defenders – an innovative, progressive, holistic indigent defense office in the South Bronx – seeks a passionate communications professional with a commitment to public defense to fill a position as a Communications Fellow for Family Defense for a two year term. 

Founded in 1997, The Bronx Defenders is a public defender nonprofit that has developed a nationally recognized model of representation called holistic defense, which provides people with teams of lawyers, social workers, and advocates to defend them zealously in court as well as to address the underlying drivers and enmeshed penalties of legal system involvement. 

Since opening our doors, we have grown into an organization of more than 400 staff members defending nearly 20,000 New Yorkers each year in criminal, family, civil, and immigration proceedings who face incarceration, family separation, eviction, and deportation, among other devastating consequences. 

Today we are reimagining the role of public defense even further, using community organizing and engagement, legislative advocacy, and impact litigation to partner with the communities we represent to bring about long-lasting systemic change. We also share our model and lessons learned with current and future public defenders from one end of the country to the next on how to move to a holistic model of representation. 

Strategic Communications 

Our Strategic Communications Team plays a key role in realizing the mission and vision of The Bronx Defenders by working closely with the organization’s practices and initiatives to transform mainstream narratives about the people and communities we represent. In so doing, we seek to change not only the course of individual cases, but support efforts to reform and undo systemic drivers of legal system involvement. 

Family Defense 

The Family Defense Practice at The Bronx Defenders is comprised of attorneys, social workers, and parent advocates who provide legal defense and support to keep Bronx families together and interrupt generational cycles of family court involvement. For 20 years, the Practice has not only defended thousands of families against unwarranted surveillance, separation, and termination of parental rights, but has leveraged its expertise and proximity to the family policing system to radically transform the government’s role in families’ lives. 

The Strategic Communications team seeks a Communications Fellow to more directly support and guide the Family Defense Practice as they continue to elevate the stories of the people they represent, push for policy reforms, and work in coalition with others to transform misinformed narratives and the public’s understanding of how the family policing system actually works and the people it ensnares. 

Reporting to the Managing Director of Communications, the Communications Fellow for Family Defense will work closely with the Family Defense Practice to ensure unified and consistent messaging; develop and execute effective public advocacy strategies; and help the practice achieve narrative change and communications goals. 

Narrative Strategy 

• Help the Family Defense Practice develop and execute narrative strategies to shift public perceptions of the people it represents and the legal systems in which it operates 

• Identify opportunities to uplift community members’ narratives, through short- term public media campaigns, coalition campaigns, and creative content creation 

• Manage the Family Defense Practice’s narrative strategy to ensure that it aligns with the narrative goals, mission, and work of The Bronx Defenders 

Content Creation 

• Partner with the Family Defense Practice to design and develop creative content including, but not limited to print materials (e.g. talking points, flyers, palm cards), infographics, videos, and social media toolkits and graphics with the goal of increasing the visibility and impact of the Family Defense Practice’s work 

• Provide strategic communications guidance and support to the Family Defense Practice during events and trainings hosted by the team and coalition partners 

• Support the Communications Team’s overall content creation needs  

• Ensure that all creative content aligns with the narrative goals, mission, and work of The Bronx Defenders 

Media Relations 

• Help write and edit press advisories, press releases, editorials, email blasts, and pitches to journalists, publications and media outlets 

• Monitor and evaluate performance of social media posts, emails, and media placements related to Family Defense Practice goals and priorities 

• Support the Communications Team in responding to press inquiries and conducting press outreach for the Family Defense Practice 

Collaboration 

• Collaborate with policy directors, lawyers, advocates, social workers, and subject matter experts within the Family Defense Practice 

• Attend coalition meetings, working in collaboration with the communications teams at partner organizations to develop aligned media narratives and strategies 

Communications Management 

• Support management of the Communication Team’s editorial calendar and manage tasks and strategies in relevant project management and database tools 

• Support the Family Defense Practice in maintaining necessary social media accounts, websites, and other digital or print collateral  

• Monitor and evaluate performance of social media posts, emails, and media placements 

To be eligible, candidates must have: 

• Minimum of two years of work experience in advocacy, community engagement, or journalism 

Candidates should also demonstrate: 

• Commitment to challenging systemic injustice and carceral systems through press and media advocacy 

• Commitment to amplifying the voices of marginalized communities in a way that is culturally conscious, respects their autonomy and consent, and captures their experiences authentically 

• Ability to effectively and respectfully communicate, collaborate and connect with people with various backgrounds, identities, and experiences 

• Ability to work well independently as well as collaboratively with lawyers and non-lawyers 

• Strong writing and editing skills 

• Effective communication and active listening skills 

• Track record of using social media for advocacy, engagement, and educational purposes 

• Ability to multitask, maintain priorities, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment 

• Meticulous attention to detail 

• Ability to receive constructive feedback, demonstrate introspection, and shift behavior accordingly 

• Ability to exercise excellent judgment, discretion, and confidentiality with sensitive legal matters 

• Commitment to raising one’s cultural consciousness and challenging oppressive practices on an interpersonal and institutional level  

Preferred but not required: 

• Experience working in a public defense environment or advocacy spaces for reproductive justice and other related issues areas 

• Experience with design and editing tools including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Premiere 

• Experience with Sprout Social, Meltwater, MailChimp and other media communications management tools and platforms 

• Spanish language skills 

This is a fellowship position with a commitment to fund the role until the end of 2026.While we are optimistic that we may receive funding to extend this position past that date, we cannot guarantee that and are therefore listing this as a two year fellowship position with the possibility of extension. 

This is a hybrid position that will require in-person work, travel, and contact with staff and community members. 

Salary is commensurate with experience. For candidates with 2-5 years of directly relevant experience, the salary range for this position would be approximately $62,343 - $67,749. Full-time employees are also eligible for a comprehensive benefits package including but not limited to medical, dental and vision coverage; 403(b) plan with employer contribution; and a generous vacation, sick leave, and parental leave policy. More specific information about salary and benefits will be provided if an offer is extended. 

Approximately 70% of The Bronx Defenders' staff, including attorneys and non- attorneys, are represented by UAW Local 2325 - Association of Legal Aid Attorneys (AFL- CIO). This position is within the bargaining unit. 

This position is salaried and non-exempt. By law, nonexempt employees are compensated hourly based on their annual rate and therefore are entitled to over-time. 

To apply, please click APPLY TO THIS JOB ONLINE and upload your resume and a cover letter in one document. If you would prefer to send in a video or audio statement in lieu of a cover letter, you may upload your resume as a document and separately upload a video or audio statement instead of a cover letter. Your cover letter or video/audio statement should share why you want to do this work at our office, some key lived and/or professional experiences that have prepared you for this position, and any additional information you would like us to consider. Your cover letter may be up to one page if written or up to 3 minutes if an audio/video statement. This information allows us to understand your distinct perspective, experience and potential beyond the work history summarized on your resume. If selected for the position, your resume will be used to determine your salary based on the number of years of directly relevant professional experience listed on your resume; we therefore encourage you to make sure this is up to date. Please note that applications without a written cover letter or audio/video statement will not be considered. 

Applications will be accepted through April 17, 2025. Please contact the Recruiting & Hiring Team via email at hiring@bronxdefenders.org with any specific questions regarding the position.  

The Bronx Defenders is an equal opportunity employer and is cultivating an anti-oppressive workplace that embraces staff with a diversity of backgrounds, identities and experiences. We acknowledge the ways in which systemic oppression and injustice can undermine access to professional opportunities and are committed to conducting hiring and promotion processes that are equitable and accessible to those commonly excluded from the workforce. We do not discriminate against and in fact specifically encourage applicants from marginalized communities to apply, including those who identify as Black, Indigenous, people of color, queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, disabled, neurodivergent and those directly impacted by criminal, civil, family and immigration legal systems. We value lived as well as professional experience and particularly welcome applications from the Bronx community that we work with.