Once in a generation…
In early August, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) approved of a $50 million increase in funding to organizations who are current IDHS grant funding recipients whose work focuses on gender-based violence.

Ascend Justice was one of those recipients.

Per IDHS, the funds allocated are to be used to support survivor needs […]

Dear Friends,

As Thanksgiving approaches, I’m thinking about family heroes: the people who keep our families strong.

Their methods are as diverse as families themselves — perhaps it’s baking, peacemaking, or storytelling – but however they go about it, family heroes work hard to keep their loved ones safe, healthy, and together.

While memories of my own family’s […]

Dear Friends,

Just as hearing is different from listening, knowing the facts isn’t quite the same as achieving awareness. I’ve learned this the hard way in the past few months as Ascend Justice has launched our Incarcerated Survivors Project. I “knew” lots of facts: 98% of people in women’s prisons report that they are survivors of […]

Dear Friends,

Domestic Violence Awareness Month begins on Friday. Over the years, we have approached domestic violence awareness – and action – in many different ways, but they were all rooted in the same premise: we are going to share our awareness, wisdom, and experience with you.

In the past several months, I’ve had the opportunity to […]