Ascend Justice

a salmon-colored background with the words "Join Us Thursday, June 11, VIP Reception 5-6pm, Main Event 6-9pm, Chicago Athletic Association, White City Ballroom, 12 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603" with the Celebration of Courage lotus logo at the bottom

You're invited to our Celebration of Courage! In just a few short months, we will gather with our clients, volunteers, staff, and supporters to celebrate all the work we've done together. Get your early bird tickets today! secure.qgiv.com/for/2026cele...

an office background in aqua with a white circle overlayed in the center that says "We're hiring!" and an Ascend Justice logo in the bottom right corner

Are you a senior attorney looking for meaningful work in a supportive environment, where you get to help people every day? Join our immigration team! www.illinoislegalaid.org/for-legal-pr...

a purple background with a hand drawn image of a black woman (portrait credit: Monica Trinidad) with the words "Support Survivors" and "Drop the charges for Golden!" plus hand drawn supporters in the bottom left corner. The rest of the poster reads: ALL OUT FOR KESHIA bit.ly/FreeKeshia What: Court Support When: Tuesday, March 3, 9:30am Where: 2650 S. California Ave, Courtroom 500 bit.ly/CourtroomSolidarity MomsUnitedChicago@gmail.com

We stand with Keshia Golden. #FreeKeshia

Read more about Keshia Golden and how we criminalize survivors' acts of self defense: chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/0...

Listen to WBEZ about the case: open.spotify.com/episode/7bvE...

Free Keshia Golden, charged with murder for the outcome of an act of self-defense. bit.ly/FreeKeshia

Keshia Golden is a Chicago mother who would not be alive and raising her young child today had she not acted in defense of herself and her pregnancy. Charging her with murder suggests that she did not have the right to self-defense. bit.ly/FreeKeshia

a mother and son in the background with the words "Celebrating Black History today and every day" and the Ascend Justice logo in the bottom right corner

Ascend Justice is proud to celebrate Black History Month and reaffirm our commitment to racial equity and equal protection under the law.

#BlackHistoryMonth
#TogetherWeAscend

red background with a picture of a bullhorn and the words "We believe in the rule of law and an independent legal profession." with the Ascend Justice logo in the bottom right corner

Ascend Justice has signed on to Keep Our Republic's Principles for the Independence of the Legal Profession. We firmly believe that the rule of law and the independence of the legal system are key pillars of American democracy. If you are a lawyer, join us: keepourrepublic.org/.../initiat....

advertisement for a book discussion that shows the cover of the book and reads: "A Discussion with Author Rhacel S. Parrenas: The Trafficker Next Door: Human Trafficking and Forced Labor in Chicago Thursday, January 29 at 6pm Harold Washington Library Center, 7th Floor 400 S. State St. Join us for a discussion and expert panel on human trafficking that highlights the prevalence of forced labor in our community. Books available for the first 25 attendees!" (the ad includes the mayor's logo on top and the logos for several other Chicago and Cook County agencies along the bottom)

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. If you want to learn more about forced labor in our community, check out this free event at the Harold Washington Library next Thursday!

an aqua background with the words "The Ascend Justice Young Professionals Board invites you to our annual Friendraiser. Learn more and register:" with a QR code below and the Ascend Justice logo in the bottom right corner

If you're under 40 and searching for an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in Chicago, please join us for free appetizers and a drink, and learn more about joining our Young Professionals Board on Thursday, February 5, 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Hubbard Inn. RSVP: secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/...

By the end of the training, volunteers will be prepared to help draft affidavits and petitions and either share those with the client to proceed pro se or commit to represent the client through the resentencing.

CLE credit is available. Lunch will be provided.

Attendees will first receive a background on the criminalization of survivors and an overview of the gender-based violence resentencing law that is being used to reduce sentences in cases where domestic violence and other forms of gender-based violence played a role in their conviction.

an aqua-colored office background with the words "Learning opportunity!" in a white circle in the center and the Ascend Justice logo in the bottom right corner

On Wednesday, January 28, from 11:30am to 1:30pm, Ascend Justice will host an in-person training at Skadden (320 S Canal St., Chicago) on second chance advocacy for incarcerated survivors of gender-based violence.

Register by 5:00pm on Monday, January 26: www.illinoislegalaid.org/for-legal-pr...

an aqua background with several examples of Ascend Justice t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, phone cases, and mugs, along with the words "We have merch! Support us with your style."

Want an easy way to support Ascend Justice and help spread awareness about our work? Check out our merch store: www.teepublic.com/user/ascend-... A portion of every purchase helps support our holistic legal services, and we promise you'll look awesome in our gear!

#TogetherWeAscend

an aqua background with the words "The Ascend Justice Young Professionals Board invites you to our annual Friendraiser. Learn more and register:" with a QR code below and the Ascend Justice logo in the bottom right corner

Want to learn more about Ascend Justice and how to get involved? Want to meet cool people over free appetizers and a drink? Join us Thursday, February 5, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Hubbard Inn for our annual Friendraiser! RSVP today: secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/...

#TogetherWeAscend

Annual Appeal - Ascend Justice 2025 Annual Appeal Donate Now Navigating the legal system can be difficult under the best of circumstances, but for people recovering from […]

Thank you for helping the more than 2,250 other people we were able to serve over the past year.

If you haven't yet had a chance to donate, now is the time! A generous donor will match each dollar, up to $5,000, from now until December 31! Donate today: www.ascendjustice.org/annual-appeal/

Thank you for helping survivors like Adeya, who fled horrible gender-based violence in her home country and spent seven long years in immigration limbo in the US before Ascend Justice immigration attorneys were able to secure green cards for her and her husband.

a woman holding and kissing her young son in a field - he is holding balloons in Ascend Justice colors (salmon, gold, and aqua) - the Ascend Justice logo and the words "Together, we ascend." are overlayed

We want to sincerely thank everyone who has donated to our 2025 Annual Appeal! Thank you for being part of our community.

Annual Appeal - Ascend Justice 2025 Annual Appeal Donate Now Navigating the legal system can be difficult under the best of circumstances, but for people recovering from […]

As our clients face more barriers than ever before, we are asking our community to dig deep this year to help us help more people: www.ascendjustice.org/annual-appeal/.

#AnnualAppeal2025
#TogetherWeAscend

But we believe that everyone deserves access to justice, and we work hard to make this belief a reality. Help us continue to provide high-quality, holistic legal services for people experiencing abuse or the child welfare system.

a woman holding and kissing her small son in a field with trees in the background - the boy is holding balloons in Ascend Justice colors (salmon, gold, and aqua) - and the Ascend Justice logo and the words "Together, we ascend." overlayed across the sky

For many people trying to leave abusive situations, navigating the legal system can be overwhelming. It's challenging for anyone, but the barriers are even greater for the majority of our clients who face the compounding traumas of abuse and poverty.

The momentum is on our side - please help us get over the finish line! Call your Alderperson and tell them to vote to keep Chicago's domestic violence services fully funded! Find your Alderperson: www.chicago.gov/city/en/dept...

#TogetherWeAscend

a law office background (a small gavel and Justitia figure on a table in the foreground with a bookshelf behind), a white circle overlay in the center says "Take action!" and an Ascend Justice logo is in the bottom right corner

Your incredible advocacy is having an impact! Mayor Johnson plans to file an amendment to the proposed Chicago budget this week that will keep domestic violence services funding intact (instead of the 43% cut in the initial proposal).

a navy blue background with the words "Data Report 2024," along with the Domestic Violence Co-Location Program logo at the bottom

Ascend Justice is proud to be part of the Domestic Violence Co-Location Program (DVCLP). Last year, the DVCLP helped 1,393 individuals, 872 of whom were children. Read more about our work over the past year in our hot-off-the-presses report: www.ascendjustice.org/wp-content/u...

#TogetherWeAscend

Letters: Federal government’s ‘crime-fighting’ strategy is making Chicago domestic violence survivors less safe Like an abusive partner, the federal government is isolating domestic violence survivors by making help-seeking scarier and riskier.

Federal strong-arm tactics create an atmosphere of fear that further isolates survivors from the support services they need to leave abuse. Read more in our Letter to the Editor: www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/19/l...

Because enforcement and compliance with this order is uncertain, we urge people accessing courthouses and surrounding areas in Cook County to still engage in their assessment of the the risks they face.

While the values of fairness and the rule of law are under threat, this order affirms our collective commitment to principles that are at the foundation of our justice system.

As Chief Judge Evans says in the order, “The fair administration of justice requires that courts remain open and accessible…to ensure individuals can fulfill legal duties without risking further legal jeopardy.”

Chief Judge Evans issued the order yesterday after a show of solidarity from a diverse group of stakeholders, including Ascend Justice and many of our partners in domestic violence and legal aid spaces, who all agree that people need to be able to come to court without fear.

Order barring arrests at Cook County courts takes effect Wednesday A new order from Cook County's top judge takes effect Wednesday.

A new order banning civil arrests in Cook County courts goes into effect today. abc7chicago.com/post/ice-chi...

We had some incredible speakers, including the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Mariyana Spyropoulos, and the support of more than 20 anti-gender-based violence organizations! We're still thinking about Nikki Patin's powerful closing poem. What an amazing day.

#DVAM
#TogetherWeAscend

a purple background with the words "You Are Not Alone" and a picture of a speaker on stage and a large crowd holding signs in Daley Plaza, Chicago, and the Ascend Justice logo in the lower right corner

We are so proud to have been part of yesterday's You Are Not Alone event! The rain spared us, and we stood together and raised our voices for survivors (and hopefully some awareness for Domestic Violence Awareness Month).