Reimagine Justice. Together.

Since joining the Shriver Center, I have been amazed by the stories of the impact. If you didnt know already, I am the new Annual Giving Manager at The Shriver Center for Poverty Law. The Shriver Center works to bring about policy changes and system reform at the highest levels, while also providing assistance to those in need. I began working at the Shriver Center in September, and as part of my onboarding process, I had the opportunity to meet with the leaders of our advocacy teams to gain a better understanding of our work and how we approach it. These meetings reinforced two things for me: A) my decision to invest in an MPA in Nonprofit Management was a wise one, and B) I feel extremely privileged to be part of such an outstanding team.

The Shriver Center is responsible for quite a few firsts in our Nation. Because of the work of the Shriver Center IL was the first state to provide comprehensive healthcare for immigrants under the age of 19.

Because we believe that every child deserves to grow up healthy.

Just recently IL became the first state to abolish the cash bail system. The cash bail system disproportionately affected (and still does in other states) people of color and individuals with low income. Now in part, because of the Shriver Center, the cash bail system actually assesses risk, instead of unfairly penalizing someone because of their lack of income.

During my meeting with Erin Sirota, the Director of Housing Justice, he explained how the Shriver Center is able to make an impact through coalition building, public policy advocacy, and even advising at the federal level. By utilizing these methods, we were able to successfully amend the IL Human Rights Act to include source of income as a protected class. This means that veterans who use vouchers, disabled individuals who use social security, and single mothers who use child support to pay for housing cannot be discriminated against. Eric also mentioned that he assists individuals who are facing crisis situations in finding housing when called on.

Vanessa White, the Director of Community and Family Justice, explained that a black child stays in the child welfare system for an average of 50 months. Vanessa works with families, guiding them through the family court and the child welfare system. The Shriver Center co-chairs the Child Welfare Task Force, which evaluates the current policies and systems in place, and recommends alternatives and practices in order to reduce the time children spend in the system and to keep families together.

The Shriver Center is dedicated to supporting the whole of a person from housing, to healthcare, and to the justice system. While we have made significant strides, there are still challenges to overcome and more work to be done. During these onboarding meetings, I was inspired by the Shriver Center’s leaders, their individual altruism, and their desire to do more. Each of them has dreams of what we could accomplish with additional funding. Every day, I leave work feeling that I have truly made a difference for the betterment of the world.

You too can experience this feeling by donating to the Shriver Center today!