Joining in Justice Reform in Illinois by Participating in Upcoming Events of Organizations Supporting Justice Reform Efforts

Please consider participating in the upcoming events in Chicago, discussed below, to promote the cause of justice reform in Illinois, and please take a look at the new resources on justice reform and on improving the lives of returning citizens that you can find linked at various section of the website including Books, Reports and Articles, Getting Involved, Organizations to Support and Follow, and Advocacy in Illinois.

Advocacy

Illinois General Assembly. The spring session of the Illinois General Assembly is well underway, requiring advocacy with legislators on justice reform legislation.  Watch for short notice requests for filing witness slips as proponents of proposed bills prior to the consideration those bills by committees of the legislature, in order to get them to the floor of the House and the Senate for consideration.

Chicago City Council. Thanks to everyone in Chicago who contacted members of the Chicago City Council in January in the successful effort to get the Council to reaffirm its decision in its December meeting to override the decision of an arbitrator that police officers can escape accountability for serious misconduct by removing disciplinary proceedings to secret arbitration, which has a history of exonerating police officers that CPD has charged with serious offenses.  Subject to further judicial appeals, this action has helped to preservice police accountability in Chicago.

Grants for Individuals and Organizations Working to End Mass Incarceration

Envisioning Justice Grants of the Illinois Humanities Council – See details and deadlines for application at:

Individuals: https://ilhumanities.org/grants/envisioning-justice-grants-individuals
Organizations: https://ilhumanities.org/grants/envisioning-justice-grants-organizations

Upcoming In-Person Events

• Re-Acclimation Fair for Returning Citizens, hosted by Restore Justice, 11:30 to 1:30 on Saturday March 26 at 306 West Erie Street, 6^th floor.
  To learn more and register contact NaJei Webster at [email protected].
• John Howard Association Spring Event: Communication and Connection in Prisons: Improving Systems and Relationships, featuring Marcus Bullock, 5:30 to 7:30 on Wednesday April 3, at Mayer Brown LLP, 71 South Wacker Drive
  Purchase tickets (or buy a ticket for a system impacted person at:  https://www.thejha.org/events/bullock
• Maximizing the Moment – What Are the Next Steps for Reentry, hosted by the Illinois Justice Project, 9:00 to 3:30 on Monday April 8 at the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank, 230 South LaSalle Street, a convening of experts and advocates, including people who are formerly incarcerated, on how to build a stronger reentry system in Illinois. 
  Learn more and register without charge via Eventbrite;
• Annual Gala: Changing Rules, Changing Lives of the Shriver Center for Poverty Law, starting at6:00 on Thursday April 11 at the Bridgeport Art Center at 1200 West 35^th Street (festive cocktail  attire) RSVP by Friday, March 29 at povertylaw.org/gala-2024
• Storycatchers Annual Spring Luncheon and Benefit: Creating Pathways and Nourishing Potential, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm on Sunday April 14 at Loft Lucia, 7 North Carpenter Street
  Learn more and purchase tickets at 
  https://www.storycatcherstheatre.org/event/creating-pathways-2024-benefit/
• Transforming Rights Justice Through Faith, the inaugural summit of The Love, Human Rights, and Restorative/Transformative Justice Initiative, 9:00 to 3:00 pm on Saturday April 20 contact Michelle Day at [email protected] or 312.852.8520 for details or to volunteer

Upcoming Online Program

• 1:00 PM on Tuesday April 2 – Monthly meeting of the Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments https://endpermanentpunishments.org/   
  (first Tuesday of every month at 1:00 pm
  Click here for the Zoom link for the monthly meeting