Lyslynn Lacoste serves as the Office’s Chief of Staff, which includes creating and administering an inclusive workplace culture and environment, leading the implementation of the Office’s racial equity and strategic plans across all units, and engaging the community in the Public Defender’s transformative justice initiatives. She is a first-generation American, whose family is originally from Haiti. For 25 years, she has diligently served youth through engaging in leadership development, mentoring and advocating for juvenile justice reform. Born and raised in Boston, Lyslynn began her career in youth development while working closely with local Boston community centers through Boston Centers for Youth and Families and Boys and Girls Clubs, After witnessing too many Black and brown young people enter the revolving door of the juvenile justice system, she ventured into Suffolk University Law School to focus on juvenile justice reform and prevention. There, Lyslynn honed her skills through meaningful internships at Suffolk University’s Juvenile Justice Clinic and New York’s Legal Aid Society Criminal Defense Practice and Juvenile Rights Practice, eventually gaining her attorney license in New York. As the Executive Director of SF Public Defender Office’s BMAGIC program for over 10 years serving the disproportionately system-impacted community of Bayview Hunters Point. Lyslynn brings her experience supporting a collaborative network of more than 75 community-based organizations, schools, faith-based organizations, and city departments. Additionally, she brings her experience developing and implementing initiatives and programs that advance the education, health, and economic mobility for disadvantaged children, youth and their families.
Under her leadership, BMAGIC has been recognized by various community awards including Community Boards Leadership Peacemaker Award and cultivated over $1.5 million worth of funding and resources to the Bayview community. Lyslynn was nominated in 2012 & 2018 by the late Public Defender Jeff Adachi for the City’s Public Managerial Excellence Award, and developed and implemented 3 research and strategic reports (i.e., BMAGIC’s Landscape Analysis 2013, 2017, 2021). Lyslynn holds a B.A. from Boston University, a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School, and certification in Nonprofit Leadership and Strategic Management from San Francisco State University.