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ATJ board emphasizes compensating lived‑experience participants and expands community outreach ahead of 2025 conference
Summary
ATJ members praised compensating community members for lived‑experience participation, described recruitment efforts to increase geographic and disability representation, and previewed the Sept. 18–19, 2025 conference in Yakima.
Speakers at the ATJ annual meeting highlighted efforts to recruit people with lived experience, to compensate their participation, and to make board work more accessible to non‑attorney community members.
Vanna Singh, who identified herself as from Southeast Asian communities and raised barriers her community faces, said compensation for community participants "shows that you guys value my presence, my time, and that my story is valid." The ATJ board responded that compensating lived‑experience participants is now part of outreach practice and that members will mentor and train community participants to reduce the intimidation of board and committee service.
Mercedes, reporting on recruitment, said the board reviewed 15 applications, interviewed eight candidates, and is still recruiting to ensure representation from the eastern part of the state. She said the board seeks viewpoint and geographic diversity and explained that a short extension of one seat will allow continuity while continuing recruitment.
Board members also described a recent outreach trip to Port Angeles where they encountered small legal providers at capacity, language‑access needs, and opportunities to strengthen collaboration with tribes and local advocates. The board said it will compensate local providers when meeting with them to recognize their time and operating constraints.
Why it matters: Incorporating paid lived‑experience input aims to make planning and policy more grounded in community needs and to improve the state plan and conference programming. The board encouraged community involvement in the Sept. 18–19, 2025 ATJ conference in Yakima and said details and outreach will follow.
The meeting closed with justices thanking the ATJ members for their service and support.
