The James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy (Moran Center) champions justice and restores hope with an innovative lifeline of holistic, integrated legal, social work, and restorative services.
The Moran Center’s services are free to qualifying individuals to address the critical needs of youth and their families with access to community-based support.
“There should be a Moran Center in every state and city in the United States.”
– Rep. Maxine Waters
WHO WE ARE
We believe that all young people deserve justice in the courtroom, access to the classroom, and restoration in the community.
Our Mission
The James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy provides community-based legal, social work, and restorative services for youth and families.
Our approach is holistic, healing-centered, client-driven.
Our work advances the vision of a more just, racially equitable, and restorative society at the local, regional, and state level.
Our Vision
We envision that….
- Youth and families have bright futures – successful in school, jobs, and the community.
- Systemic barriers are dismantled locally, regionally, and statewide – adopting instead public policies that radically benefit and improve the lives of historically marginalized youth and families.
- Our community is just and racially equitable, employing restorative practices to resolve conflict.
Our Goal
Our goal is to provide Evanston youth and their families with the support to successfully emerge from a challenging legal situation, tools to make positive life choices, and the ability to thrive in the Evanston community.
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RECOGNITION
THE HONORABLE JAMES B. MORAN
Judge James B. Moran (1930 – 2009) touched the lives of so many community members as a committed public servant.
Following law school and military service, he clerked for Judge J. Edward Lumbard before joining the firm of Bell, Boyd & Lloyd as an attorney. He was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1965-1967 and also served as the 3rd Ward Alderman in Evanston in the 1970s.
In 1972, then-Alderman James B. Moran established a community defender office in Evanston to provide integrated social work services for young people. The Evanston Community Defender Office (ECDO) was incorporated in 1981 with now-Judge Moran serving as one of five founding board members. The ECDO was renamed in 2010 after Judge Moran’s passing in 2009.
In 1979, Judge Moran was appointed to the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois by President Carter, where he served as chief judge from 1990-1995. Judge Moran belonged to the Chicago Bar Association, the Chicago Council of Lawyers, the Seventh Circuit Bar Association, and The Lawyers Club of Chicago.
Judge Moran also served as director of both the Gateway Foundation and the Woodlawn Community Development Corporation. He will always be remembered for his passion for youth advocacy, and his incredible legal ability, patience and respect for others.
