Moran Center Blog

Nearly 25 years ago, during the appointment confirming my pregnancy, the astute midwife gently took my hand and said: Now you must start letting go. And so began my learning (and unlearning) the most powerful life lesson guiding both my parenting and restorative philosophy: Children and restorative practices have their own paths. For both, you …

Do you know your child’s education rights? Our Education Advocacy Program (EAP) attorneys are here with a few pointers for parents of diverse learners who are eager to help their children succeed. With the new school year in full swing, the Moran Center’s Education Advocacy Program (EAP) is available to help you and your student …

July 18, 2023 Today, Illinois became the first state to eliminate cash bail.  “The Illinois Supreme Court’s ruling today is a victory for all Illinois citizens and we support the Court’s decision,” Tom Verdun, Director of Legal Services at the James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy, said. “It means that most individuals and families …

A Restorative Start for this Director of Development & Communications By Rachel J. Solomon (she/her) I’m honored to introduce myself as the James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy’s new Director of Development & Communications! I’m an advocate, dog and cat lover, hip-hop head, and Rogers Park-transplant by way of Richmond, Virginia. My passion is …

Andy Froelich, Equal Justice Works Fellow at the James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy, will receive the prestigious $25,000 Kimball R. Anderson and Karen Gatsis Anderson Public Interest Law Fellowship from the Chicago Bar Association and Chicago Bar Foundation. Froelich and six other awardees will be publicly acknowledged at the CBA & CBF Pro …

 The Moran Center for Youth Advocacy, in partnership with the Evanston Public Library, AbbVie, and Kirkland & Ellis, will hold a walk-in legal clinic Thursday, June 30 to help people in Evanston and the surrounding areas with sealing evictions and advise on the criminal record relief process. Residents who wish to take advantage of the …

Safe spaces for our young people from the Evanston Collective A year ago, Evanston’s youth-serving organizations united in response to escalating youth violence in our community to launch the “My City, Your City, Our City” Safe Summer Initiative. We employed young people to select and approve the activities. We centered their voices. We paid them …

A reflection for Gun Violence Awareness Day Among the many fabled tribes of Africa, no tribe had more fearsome or mightier warriors than the Masai. The Masai warriors traditionally greeted each other by asking, “And how are the children?” Even warriors with no children of their own responded with, “All the children are well.” This …

SBCLC ERASE Clinics Open to the Evanston Public March 15 and 17  Evanston, Illinois–The Moran Center for Youth Advocacy, in partnership with the Evanston Library, will hold two walk-in legal clinics March 15 and 17 to help people in Evanston and the surrounding areas to take advantage of a new Illinois State law that allows …

MORAN CENTER RELEASES PANEL RECORDING ON RESTORATIVE JUSTICE Conversation with Restorative Judges Who Are Reshaping Justice Now Available for the Public  Evanston, Illinois–On November 22, the Moran Center for Youth Advocacy hosted a virtual panel featuring four Chicago-area judges who have presided over Restorative Justice Courts and/or widely promoted the practice: Judge Sophia H. Hall, …