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.

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).

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

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...

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

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).

Today!! Join us rain or shine at Daley Plaza at noon today for a rally to raise awareness of domestic violence. Help us show survivors they are not alone! #TogetherWeAscend

Read more about your rights when interacting with military troops or federal agents at aclu.org/deployment_kyr

Today is the start of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, so if you’re seeing this, please take a moment to tell someone else! Tell someone about Ascend Justice. Tell them about the 24/7 Domestic Violence Hotline (877.863.6338).

If you answered “Saturn,” you’re ready for Trivia Night! Join us as a team of 6, or sign up solo and get placed on a team—either way, come help us raise money for survivors on November 5! This event always sells out, so don’t wait! Register today: secure.qgiv.com/for/2025triv...

Mark your calendars and join Chicago’s anti-gender-based violence organizations for a Domestic Violence Awareness Month community outreach event! Join us Tuesday, October 7, at noon in Daley Plaza and show survivors You Are Not Alone! Sign up today: secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/...

Several Ascend Justice clients need emergency help with basic needs. This is a scary and confusing time for people who are or may appear to be from another country, regardless of their immigration status, and many clients are too afraid to leave their homes.

Today, Illinois celebrates the second anniversary of the successful implementation of the Pretrial Fairness Act and the end of money bond! Read our full statement here: endmoneybond.org/2025/09/18/c...

If you answered “Africa,” you’re ready for Trivia Night! Join us as a team of 6, or sign up solo and get placed on a team—either way, grab your thinking caps and help us raise money for survivors on November 5! This event always sells out, so don’t wait to register! secure.qgiv.com/for/2025triv...

Join Chicago’s anti-gender-based violence organizations for a joint Domestic Violence Awareness Month community outreach event! We will be speaking, handing out materials, raising awareness, and showing solidarity for the survivors in our community on October 7 from noon to 1pm at Daley Plaza.

Happy National Hispanic Heritage Month! We proudly celebrate our Hispanic and Latin American clients, staff, friends, family, and community.

Do you like trivia and want to help survivors of gender-based violence? Join us for Trivia Night on November 5! The Ascend Justice Young Professionals Board’s annual fundraiser is a great way to unwind while helping us fund high-quality legal and holistic support for survivors in our community.

“Historically, courthouses — and specifically family courthouses — were not prioritized for ICE presence. The reason it was a place that ICE would typically not go to…was you want people to be able to come to court without fear.” www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/04/i...

This morning, ICE agents in plain clothes detained a litigant at the Cook County Domestic Violence Courthouse. While they did not interact with our clinic or our clients, ICE presence creates an atmosphere of fear and confusion.

Ascend Justice remains committed to doing all we can to mitigate risk or harm to our clients and staff, and to upholding due process rights for all. www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...

Just a few days left to apply for our Young Professionals Board! Are you under 40 and seeking a new way to give back? Now is your chance to get on Board! We are accepting applications through the end of August: www.ascendjustice.org/young-profes... Submit your application today! #TogetherWeAscend

Join Ascend Justice attorneys and staff at the 2025 Chicago Start Anew Clinic on Friday, September 12! www.startanew.com/clinic/chica...

Last Friday, Governor JB Pritzker signed the FAIR Act into law! This historic legislation creates a Statewide Public Defender Office, marking the first major overhaul of the state’s trial-level public defense system since 1949. Learn more: endmoneybond.org/2025/08/16/g...

The Illinois Pretrial Fairness Act (PFA) makes Illinois safer and more fair by eliminating cash bail and requiring pre-trial release for most misdemeanors and non-violent felonies.

Are you under 40 and seeking a new way to give back? Now is your chance to join our Young Professionals Board! We are now accepting applications: www.ascendjustice.org/young-profes...

We are overwhelmed by your generosity! In a single day, we received our entire Amazon wish list! We are so excited for our clients' kids, who will be ready for the new school year because of you. Thank you thank you thank you to every single person who helped out!!

This past week, recent Ascend Justice fellow, Nia Crosley, received an award from the Decalogue Society. The Decalogue Society is the oldest Jewish bar association in the United States. Bob Glaves, the executive Director of the Chicago Bar Foundation, also received an award.

Some of our most vulnerable families need help getting school supplies this year. If you are in a position to help, please check out our Amazon wishlist to purchase items: www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/... All purchases go directly to families in need. #TogetherWeAscend

Are you an attorney who wants to help survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, trafficking, and/or stalking? Come work with us! We are looking for a staff attorney to join our Incarcerated Survivors Program. Apply today! www.illinoislegalaid.org/for-legal-pr...

Are you looking for meaningful, impactful work? We’re hiring an Intake Specialist for our Orders of Protection clinic! (Spanish bilingual required). www.illinoislegalaid.org/for-legal-pr...

Looking for a new way to support our community? Join our Sustainer Circle and help us help more people over the long haul. www.ascendjustice.org/sustainer-ci...

The Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline, run by our partner organization The Network, supports anyone affected by gender-based violence across Illinois. As outreach grows, services need funding to meet demand!

Check out this new report about survivors leading the way! The report, from Free From, one of our partner organizations that helped shape and pass the Illinois Crime Victims Compensation Act, details what survivors working in gender-based violence (GBV) organizations need to continue this work.

Last week, Incarcerated Survivors Program attorney, Mary Kate Winn, taught three information sessions about the Gender-Based Violence Resentencing Act at Logan Correctional Center.

This year, our Celebration of Courage honored four women whose work on behalf of survivors is truly inspiring. Learn more about theses amazing Champions of Justice in our 2025 Celebration of Courage video: youtu.be/uSJqhubwCQQ

Our longtime Board of Directors member, Paige Barr Tinkham, is terming off the Board at the end of the month. Paige served as Vice President of our Board from 2016 – 2018 and President from 2019 – 2021. She also received our Champion of Justice award for her advocacy on behalf of survivors in 2013.

We are so grateful for each and every one of you who came out to our Celebration of Courage last night! It was a wonderful, celebratory event uplifting the stories of four incredible people whose advocacy on behalf of survivors is truly inspiring.

Today’s the day! We are so excited to see you all this evening for our Celebration of Courage! PS - There’s still time to get a ticket and join us! secure.qgiv.com/for/2025cele...

We have VIP tickets to LOLLAPALOOZA!! Grab a friend, and get ready to hear the biggest names in music from the comfort of the VIP section! Our raffle package includes two 4-day VIP passes, plus two custom festival hats so you can see your faves in style.

Experience the beauty and tranquility of Saugatuck with a three-night stay in this stunning four-bedroom, three-bathroom retreat, perfect for up to 8 guests. (Must be used September 2025 – May 2026.)

Bring the excitement of a professionally run trivia night to your next event with a custom bar trivia game from Whaddayaknow? Free Bar Trivia! Whaddayaknow? handles all the details—from game content to hosting—so you can relax and enjoy the fun.

Calling all supporters! Sexual assault and domestic violence programs are in crisis. Federal funding that helps survivors access safety, healing, and support after violence is at risk of being slashed.

Explore the best of our beautiful city! You’ll get four General Admission passes to the iconic Field Museum, four tickets to a 90-minute Chicago Architecture Tour aboard Chicago’s First Lady, and four tickets for an exhilarating ride at Flyover at Navy Pier!

At Ascend Justice, we are proud to celebrate Pride Month! We are proud that our community of clients, supporters, staff, and colleagues includes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and gender nonconforming people.

Get ready for an unforgettable evening at Rate Field! You’ll score four premium Scout Seats—the best in the house—for the Chicago White Sox vs. Kansas City Royals game on Monday, August 25, 2025, at 6:40pm.

Picture yourself unwinding for seven serene nights—from October 26 to November 2—in a stunning 6-bedroom private oceanfront home in Duck, NC. Our annual raffle ends at 11:59 on June 12, and you don’t have to be present to play. Purchase your raffle tickets today! secure.qgiv.com/for/2025cele...

We are thrilled to announce that our Managing Director of Advocacy and Partnerships, Sara Block, was honored yesterday by Between Friends, receiving their Friend of the Year Award for her dedication to survivors and advocacy for justice!

CAASE is grateful to be working with criminalized survivors along with other agencies at the frontlines of this work, including @ascendjustice.org, The Women's Justice Institute, the Illinois Prison Project, & the Uptown People's Law Center.

As Chicago’s domestic violence crisis deepens, victims are suffering in silence. DeMarie’ Williams was just 19 when she was beaten to death. As essential services are threatened by funding cuts, advocates don’t know how they’ll save the next victim. blockclubchi.co/3SLhkJQ

One of the highlights of our Springfield trip earlier this month was meeting State Rep Theresa Mah (24th district)! We were delighted to see this photo of our staff with Rep. Mah in her recent newsletter, and we are even more delighted by her support of increasing Access to Justice funding!