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Topic: A Pre-Conference Discussion
Description: RED advocate Edward Palmer, Sr. and Retired Court Statewide Program Director Rachel Bingham session will provide an introductory discussion on the utilization of youth data related to racial and ethnic disparities. In addition, the content experts will share their professional experience in navigating system barriers in this space.
Bio’s: Pastor Edward L. Palmer Sr. is the visionary, senior pastor, and co-pastor with his wife Elizabeth (Angie) Palmer for The Sign of The Dove Church International located in Radcliff, Kentucky. He is a Certified Diversity Trainer and works to eliminate disproportionate minority contact within the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Pastor Palmer is also a Disabled U.S. Army Veteran. In 2017, Pastor Palmer was the recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award winner presented by Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin as well as the Courage for Kids Award present by Kentucky Youth Advocates. In May of 2019, he was awarded the Thurgood Marshall Social Justice Impact Award presented by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., and in May of 2025 he was presented with the Champion of Diversity in Justice Award presented by the Kentucky Justice Association. Pastor is Former Chair of the State Inner-Agency Council’s Diversity Standing Committee and past Chair of the National Coalition for Juvenile Justice (CJJ), and a member of The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. He is a certified Racial and Ethnic Disparities Capstone Project Fellow through the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform at Georgetown University, and a certified Maxwell Leadership coach, speaker, and trainer. In the Spring 2021 Juvenile Justice Update, Pastor Palmer co-authored the article “Don’t Hate the Player, Hate the Game: The Importance of Systemic Change to Address Racial and Ethnic Disparities.” Pastor has served the citizens of his city for five terms as a Radcliff City councilman and is currently serving as a Certified Police Chaplin. He has shared his passion for racial equality from Washington State to Washington D.C., to Princeton University, and many other locations across the nation. His implicit bias training was involved in a process of evaluation with John Hopkins University and proven to be effective. Pastor Palmer operates with undeniable vision and unyielding passion for the purposeful course on which God has set him, running his race with patience, diligence, vigilance, and effectiveness.
For over 28 years, Rachel Bingham has been powerful state and a national voice around child welfare, juvenile justice, and judicial system efforts to improve outcomes for children and families. Mrs. Bingham was directly involved with 2012 Task Force on the Unified Juvenile Code around SB 200 policy development and, in 2014, was responsible for the effective implementation of the statutory requirements impacting the Kentucky Court Designated Worker Program as well as the statewide judges, clerks, and partnering agencies. In August of 2024, Mrs. Bingham retired from the Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts as the director of the Office of Statewide Programs which includes Family and Juvenile Services, Pretrial Services, and Specialty Courts. Currently, Mrs. Bingham is a consultant with The National Center for State Courts as well as The Messenger, LLC (focusing on racial equity, policy review, and practice transformation). She works directly with state leaders and stakeholders to identify, develop, and/or implement effective child welfare, juvenile justice, and/or judicial initiatives.