Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation

06/19/2026

Happy Juneteenth! It’s a joyous occasion to celebrate Black freedom and history, and to examine the progress we’ve made in the U.S., while striving for more.

It’s been over 160 years since the first . Our country continues to feel the effects of slavery’s legacy deeply. Black people, and Black survivors, deserve all-embracing freedom. Racial justice has always been intertwined with survivor justice. Today is an opportunity for us as a survivor-centered organization to recommit to our values of progress and equity. Together, we can reflect on and take action towards a world where racial justice is realized.

CAASE offices are closed today. We look forward to connecting with you next week!

06/18/2026

"Many students do not realize that they can, and should, have an attorney with them to guide them through this process. An attorney can attend meetings and interviews with the survivor, assist with drafting any written submissions, review evidence, and help determine what should be submitted, respond to the investigative report, prepare a survivor for the hearing, serve as the advisor at the hearing, and help with an appeal."

https://www.caase.org/title-ix-right-now/

06/17/2026

"Poverty and lack of job opportunities, housing insecurity, and discrimination based on gender, s*xuality, race, and immigration status fuel the s*x trade. Because our society continues to marginalize and target LGBTQ+ folks, they are disproportionately impacted by these issues."

To address the harms of the commercial s*x trade, we shoud follow the leadership of LGBTQ+ survivors who are speaking about its realities is key.

06/16/2026

This Thursday! Join us virtually at 3 pm!

Surviving the Mic: Virtually Together is an online gathering space for survivors of s*xual harm and those who support them.

06/16/2026

Looking forward to this conversation on the with our partners at Impactforequity and the Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice. Please register and join us on Tuesday, June 23, 12-1 pm!

https://ow.ly/vuSy50ZaCO5

Is “citation in lieu of arrest” being fully implemented in Chicago?

The 2021 Pretrial Fairness Act requires Illinois police officers to issue citations for certain low-level offenses rather than make custodial arrests. However, new research raises important questions about how consistently this reform is being applied.🚨

Join Impact for Equity and the Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice () for the webinar “When Reform Stalls: Insights on Arrest Diversion Implementation in Illinois”:
• Review key findings from the latest research
• Hear insights from expert panelists
• Examine the broader implications for Chicago and Illinois’ criminal legal system

📅 Tuesday, June 23
⏰ 12:00PM-1:00PM
🖥️ Zoom Webinar

📈 Register today to stay informed and engaged: https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/REPpGUdGmNfb7XW-oxd4Jg (Link in bio!)

06/15/2026

stories must be shared. Thank you to Ms. Magazine and Justine van der Leun for shining a light on those who have been failed by so many systems.

When I first began reporting on incarcerated women, I was fascinated by studies that showed that showed that upwards of 70 percent of women in jails and prisons were subjected to intimate partner violence before they were incarcerated. But as I covered more stories on the topic, I started to see tha...

06/15/2026

Had the best time at the Equality Illinois Pride Brunch last week! 🌈

Pictured here is Anika Sterling-Florez, CAASE's Community Engagement Director, with Equality Illinois CEO Shannyn Park, local LGBTQ+ activist Kim Hunt, and our community partners from Bally's Chicago. We love gathering with amazing local partners during Pride!

06/12/2026

Title IX updates have important implications for students considering reporting s*xual harm. In our new blog, CAASE’s Managing Attorney, Educational Advocacy, Christina Zuba, explains some things student survivors should know when considering participating in a school's disciplinary process.

https://www.caase.org/title-ix-right-now/administrations

06/11/2026

When survivors bravely seek help, they deserve resources and support, carefully and with urgency.

The Police Department’s victim services office has produced few documented results despite a surge in domestic violence cases. Survivors and advocates are furious the money wasn’t used on much-needed services.

06/11/2026

Thrilled to attend the World Without Exploitation Conference earlier this week in Washington, DC!

1. CAASE Executive Director Kaethe Morris Hoffer, Brenda Stewart, and Brenda Myers-Powell of

2. Kaethe and the CEO and Co-Founder of World Without Exploitation, Lauren Hersh.