Kansas Holistic Defenders

05/12/2026

Join KHD this Friday, May 15th, for an evening of insightful conversation at the Cider Gallery. We are honored to host author and public defense thought leader Emily Galvin-Almanza for a deep dive into the data behind justice reform.
We’ll be discussing how strategic investments in community services can promote public safety more effectively than a reliance on mass incarceration.

When: Friday, May 15 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Where: Cider Gallery
RSVP: This event is free and open to the public. Secure your spot at KHD.link/mercy

04/20/2026

Bad news and good news.

The bad news is Emily had to cancel her trip to Kansas, due to COVID exposure in her family. The good news is that she’s agreed to come to Kansas just for this event on May 15, same time, same place!

04/03/2026

Join KHD for a discussion with author and public defense thought leader Emily Galvin Almanza about what data and experience tell us about the ways that investments in services can promote public safety better than reliance on mass incarceration. The discussion is open to all - RSVP at KHD.link/mercy

03/26/2026

"I find it hard to tell someone that represents themselves how they could defend themselves against an attorney on the other side — where I can often get the case dismissed before even going to court."
— Heddy Pierce-Armstrong, KHD

Yesterday, Douglas County commissioners voted to give tenants a fighting chance. The new Tenant Eviction Defense pilot program will connect renters facing eviction with legal representation — and KHD is proud to be part of it.

None of this happens without the tireless advocacy of Lawrence Tenants and everyone who showed up, spoke out, and kept pushing. This is what community organizing looks like.

Following months of tense discourse about tenant right to counsel, Douglas County commissioners on Wednesday voted 3-2 for a pilot program that will grant some tenants facing eviction access to legal representation.

09/04/2025

09/04/2025

https://lawrencekstimes.com/2025/09/03/advocates-push-tenant-right-counsel/

People with housing advocacy organizations urged the Douglas County Commission to schedule a vote and adopt tenant right to counsel next month.

07/22/2025

"We deserve public debate before we’re pulled into a nationwide experiment in pre-crime technology. And we deserve better than a surveillance rollout that hides behind the language of community safety," Kincaid Dennett writes in this column.
https://lawrenceks.news/4f0yNYZ

07/05/2025

Our community needs a social worker now more than ever—to tackle the root causes of people entering the legal system.

Show your support for adding this role to KHD at the county budget meeting.

📅 10 AM • Tuesday, July 8
📍 Douglas County Courthouse

06/30/2025

We are excited to share a major win for Kansas tenants! In a recent case, Kansas Court of Appeals affirmed that tenants CANNOT waive their rights to safe housing.

What now? Know your rights. Speak up. And if you need someone in your corner, find defenders who fight like KHD.

06/06/2025

**Español abajo**
🚨BREAKING NEWS FROM OUR LEAVENWORTH CAMPAIGN🚨

This June 4th , at the first State Court hearing of the case Leavenworth City vs. CoreCivc, Judge John J. Bryant, ruled in favor of the City and declared that CoreCivic needs a Special Use Permit in Order to Operate legally and comply with Leavenworth City Code, and stated that CoreCivic lost its grandfathered Special Use Permit when the City notified them back in March of this year.

THIS IS A WIN FOR OUR ACTIVATED COLLECTIVE POWER. Thank you to everyone who continues to be part of this fight. For the love of our community, we are not going down without a fight.

The campaign is not over, sign our petition and keep an eye out for action opportunities, link on bio too:
https://bit.ly/NOICE

**Español**
🚨NOTICIAS DE ÚLTIMA HORA DE NUESTRA CAMPAÑA EN LEAVENWORTH🚨

El 4 de junio, en la primera audiencia en la corte Estatal del caso Leavenworth City vs. CoreCivc, el juez John J. Bryant falló a favor de la ciudad y declaró que CoreCivic necesita un Permiso de Uso Especial para operar legalmente y cumplir con el Código de la Ciudad de Leavenworth, y afirmó que CoreCivic perdió su Permiso Especial de Uso por herencia cuando la ciudad se los notifico en marzo de este año.

ESTA ES UNA VICTORIA PARA NUESTRO PODER COLECTIVO ACTIVADO. Gracias a todos los que siguen participando en esta lucha. Por amor a nuestra comunidad, no nos rendiremos sin luchar.

La campaña no ha terminado, firma nuestra petición y estate atento a las oportunidades de acción. Enlace en la biografía:
https://bit.ly/NOICE