May 30 update The Illinois Senate voted 56-1 this afternoon to approve Senate Bill 1872, a measure that would discontinue charging prostitution at the felony level. The measure now goes to Gov. Quinn for final approval. An initiative proposed by End Demand Illinois, legislators have said they were moved by the testimony of a Glenda … Continue reading Illinois Senate sends End Demand’s SB 1872 to the governor
A homeless woman solves a Sudoku puzzle in Chicago. Recent reports have indicated that youth homelessness is on the rise in Chicago, which also just elected to close dozens of public schools. (Photo/James Jordan via Flickr) By Trisha Marczak As Chicago plans to execute the largest school closure in the nation’s history, the city is … Continue reading MintPress News.com: Student homelessness rises as Chicago shutters its schools
I have just completed a report — available online at Issue Lab — on problem-solving treatment-based courts and diversion projects for individuals with prostitution offenses around the country. The work of the report began as I was spearheading efforts with Judge Paul Biebel, presiding judge of the Cook County Criminal Court, to begin the WINGS … Continue reading Report release: Treatment Courts and Court-Affiliated Diversion Projects for Prostitution in the U.S.
A new CCH leaders group run by prostitution survivors gathered for an evening vigil to celebrate their new lives – and to remember the women who were killed or lost to sex trafficking. “I spent 33 years of my life on the street,” said Leeanna Majors. “I’m a survivor with SAGE (Survivor Advocacy Group Empowered). … Continue reading SAGE survivors celebrate new lives, remember those who were lost
Earlier this year, Sylvia Naif helped CCH launch Survivor Advocacy Group Empowered — the SAGE group mobilizes women survivors of sex trafficking. Sylvia died in her sleep on July 23. One of her friends from SAGE wrote this piece remembering Sylvia.
By Jack Reese Associate Judge Rosemary Higgins on Monday discussed a Cook County court program that helps convicted prostitutes into treatment instead of sending them to jail. Higgins, 58, said WINGS (Women in Need of Gender Specific Services) court was looking for money from the county, state and federal governments to support the program. The … Continue reading Chicago Talks: Cook County Court and Judge Help Rehabilitate Prostitutes
Judge Paul Biebel and Judge Rosemary Grant Higgins, and the PART project at CCH, will be honored at a Jan. 19 reception for groundbreaking work to create Cook County’s WINGS Court, the first of its kind in the Midwest.
CCH’s Prostitution Alternatives Round Table (PART) held a film screening and panel presentation at St. Michael’s Missionary Baptist Church on Chicago’s West Side Thursday. Street-level prostitution is a big community concern in the 28th Ward/11th Police District, and our event was co-sponsored by the neighborhood’s alderman and state legislators. For the past six months, Senior … Continue reading 28th Ward learns about prostitution from survivors
Ending felony prostitution in Illinois: Women survivors in our Survivor Advocacy Group Empowered (SAGE) helped CCH secure legislative support for a 2013 law that ends felony-level charges for prostitution in Illinois. Legislators cited the pivotal testimony of SAGE leader Glenda Sykes in persuading them to switch their votes in support of the End Demand Illinois … Continue reading PART Victories
Selected 2019 Poems & Essays Written by residents of Breakthrough Urban Ministries, Grace House, and La Posada Me & My Baby By Margaret & Mariah Bingham I was sleeping on the bench in the park and Mariah in her stroller sleeping We became homeless ever since I lost my mom in the year 1991 I … Continue reading Reading Room
