Join us for a court watch training facilitated by Chicago Votes followed by a discussion led by PNAP about how these skills can be applied to court support and community defense for people who are actively navigating the legal system. Food provided and masks required.

The Court Watching program at Chicago Votes invites community members to step into the courtroom and help make the legal system more transparent and just. In partnership with the Illinois Alliance for Reentry & Justice, the initiative places trained volunteers inside the criminal courts of Cook County Criminal Court to observe how judges, prosecutors, and other parties conduct proceedings, and to document patterns of bias, misconduct, and unequal outcomes.

Agenda:

6:00 - 6:30: Eating + arrival

6:30 - 7:30: Court Watch Training

7:30 - 8:00: Q+A and Discussion

Training Facilitators:

Camille Williams is the Program Director and IDEA Lead at Chicago Votes, a role she transitioned into officially in fall 2022 after having first joined the organization during the 2016 Spring Primaries Project. Born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, Camille brings deep passion and lived experience to her work in expanding civic access across the city. In her current leadership position, she oversees key programming including managing fellowships, building out voter outreach, and spearheading inclusion efforts within the organization. Outside of her responsibilities at Chicago Votes, Camille is simultaneously pursuing medical studies at Rush University, driven by a commitment to women’s health and service to her community. Her dual dedication—to empowering young Chicagoans politically and advancing health equity—reflects a rare and vibrant bridge between civic engagement and community wellness.

Dionne Bankston, known as Ms. Extraordinaire, is an ILARJ Court Watching Associate whose life-shaped by her incredible single mom and wonderfully chaotic family- is a vibrant mix of hustle, humor, and heart. She's on a mission to turn bold ideas into meaningful ventures, bringing light, love, and laughter to every space she enters while proving that extraordinary beginnings make extraordinary stories.

Court Watch Training

Join PNAP and Chicago Votes to learn about court watching in Cook County and how it can be utilized to enhance court support initiatives.