This summer, we've been working with Walls Turned Sideways and fiber artist Stevie Emrich to create a quilt, a collective community portrait honoring our loved ones inside. We're so grateful to everyone who has joined us so far to make amazing fabric squares for their loved ones. Soon, these squares will be assembled into a quilt to hang in community spaces as a reminder of the people we're fighting for. Join us for one more quilting session this week on Wednesday, August 6 from 4-7 p.m. What to bring: Bring any pictures or objects you’d like to add to your square. We’ll provide the fabric, paints, etc. We have a basic copier if you have materials you’d like to copy. We’ll also have a teaching artist working with us to help you make your idea into a beautiful piece! Where: Walls Turned Sideways - 2717 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60612 There is free street parking, along with a parking lot at Washtenaw and Madison. The parking lot sign says “Acorn Granite”. Parking is free there. (fb)

When Restore Justice was founded 10 years ago, we didn’t have any staff. We didn’t have an office. But we had a mission, and a commitment to the children serving extreme sentences in Illinois. At the time, I was running CRIIC (Communities & Relatives of Illinois’ Incarcerated Children) as a volunteer. We were family members and loved ones who refused to give up on our children who had been sentenced to die in prison. I was a mom fighting for my son Eric, who was sentenced to life without parole when he was only 15. We were scrappy, and we were persistent. We spent hours in the car, driving all across Illinois to sit down with legislators in their district offices. We took trips to Springfield, sharing our stories and becoming experts at navigating the Capitol. Our hard work has been paying off: in 2015, we made gun enhancements discretionary for children under the age of 18. In 2019, we passed the Youthful Parole Law, which created the first new parole opportunities in Illinois since 1978. Among other victories, we protected in-person visits and expanded visiting rights. And in 2023, we abolished juvenile life without parole sentences in Illinois. It was a moment we had dreamed about and worked toward for years. The voices of family members, loved ones, and returning citizens were essential to these victories. In the early days, no one was coming home. Little by little, that changed, as Supreme Court decisions transformed what was possible. We stood with families through resentencings, and we celebrated when people walked out of prison and into the arms of the loved ones who never stopped fighting for them. Now, we are helping those same people become leaders at the heart of this work. Today, Restore Justice is stronger than ever, still rooted in the same belief we started with: that people are more than their worst mistake. That’s why I hope you’ll join us on October 17 for Stories of Transformation. Our annual luncheon celebrates the powerful stories of people who were given extreme sentences when they were young and who are now home and making positive contributions to our community. This year, we will also celebrate the transformation of Restore Justice over our first ten years and recommit to the work still ahead of us. With gratitude and determination, Julie Anderson Outreach Director Get your tickets for Stories of Transformation or donate to support our work: bit.ly/RJ10Years (fb)