THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BAR FOUNDATION

DC RESOURCE BRIDGE:IN 2020, THE DC BAR FOUNDATION (DCBF) LAUNCHED AN EFFORT TO MAKE GRANT INVESTMENTS MORE EFFECTIVE AND ENSURE THE DELIVERY OF CIVIL LEGAL AID IS BOTH ACCESSIBLE AND RESPONSIVE TO CLIENT NEEDS BY ESTABLISHING A USER-CENTERED COORDINATED INTAKE AND REFERRAL SYSTEM. THIS EFFORT IS CALLED THE DC RESOURCE BRIDGE (DCRB). CREATED THROUGH EXTENSIVE COLLABORATION AMONG THE FOUNDATION, THE LEGAL AID COMMUNITY, DC RESIDENTS, AND OTHER KEY STAKEHOLDERS, DCRB IS DESIGNED TO STREAMLINE AND COORDINATE ACCESS TO CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE AMONG MORE THAN 50 PROVIDERS OF FREE OR LOW-COST LEGAL SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BY CREATING A SINGLE POINT OF ENTRY INTO THE CIVIL LEGAL AID SYSTEM FOR RESIDENTS, EITHER THROUGH A DEDICATED TELEPHONE LINE OR A SIMPLE ONLINE FORM. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES TRAUMA-INFORMED INTAKE SERVICES, FACILITATES EQUTABLE AND EFFICIENT CASE REFERRALS, REDUCES BARRIERS FOR RESIDENTS SEEKING LEGAL HELP, AND EMPOWERS VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO NAVIGATE THE COMPLEX LEGAL AID SYSTEM MORE EFFECTIVELY.DC SOCIAL JUSTICE TRANSFORMATION:THE DC SOCIAL JUSTICE TRANSFORMATIONS NETWORK (DCSJTN), FOUNDED IN 2020 BY THE DC BAR FOUNDATION, BRINGS TOGETHER LEGAL AID PROVIDERS, SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO BUILD A MORE COORDINATED, EQUITABLE, AND USER-CENTERED SYSTEM OF SUPPORT FOR DC RESIDENTS. ITS PURPOSE IS TO FOSTER COLLABORATION, SHARE RESOURCES, AND ADDRESS SYSTEMIC BARRIERS TO SOCIAL JUSTICE THROUGH COLLECTIVE ACTION. THE NETWORK HOLDS ITS CONVENINGS THREE TIMES A YEAR, BRINGING TOGETHER DIVERSE SECTORS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO STRENGTHEN CONNECTIONS, ALIGN EFFORTS, AND IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS.