We lead the fight for economic and racial justice by litigating, shaping policy, and training and connecting people in the advocacy community.
We don’t just fight for communities affected by poverty—we work alongside them, advocating for solutions that are informed by their lived experiences.
We convene and connect advocates, community leaders, and activists across the country so they can share ideas, resources, and get the tools they need.
We build the capacity and skills of equal justice lawyers and activists to champion economic and racial justice in their fields.
From litigating and shaping policies in Illinois to training and convening multi-state networks of public interest attorneys, we work with and for the communities we serve to make equal justice and economic opportunity a reality.
The federal budget reconciliation bill passed in the House today and is on its way to be signed by the president. It’s the worst attack on our nation’s social safety net since “welfare reform,” the sweeping budget cuts and eligibility restrictions enacted in 1996.
Illinois’ 2026 budget was a crucial test of the state’s willingness to fight the ongoing federal attacks on our social safety net and the basic rights of our residents. Unfortunately, lawmakers failed to deliver a bill to protect Illinois from potentially devasting cuts to Medicaid and other essential programs that support low-income families.
For people returning home after incarceration, safe and stable housing isn’t just a basic need, it’s the foundation for rebuilding everything: work, family, community, and dignity. But in Illinois, housing remains one of the steepest and most unforgiving hurdles to reentry, and far too many face it alone.
If you’re a lawyer, paralegal, or a policy maker, there are many ways you can participate and contribute to our work.
With your help, we can build a better, more compassionate world. Join us.
67 East Madison Street, Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60603
phone: 312.263.3830
