Welcome to my 6th annual Birthday Fundraiser! Before I dive into my update for the year, I just want to say thank you so much to everyone who has given to my past fundraisers - your generosity has been part of everything we have accomplished. Given the increased economic strain that we are all feeling, I have set a more modest goal for this year's fundraiser - with the knowledge that we can always keep going once we reach it, of course!

Updates from the past year

Midway through my 8th year at the Workers Center for Racial Justice, our team is working harder than ever to continue advancing just and equitable policies in the states where we work (Illinois and Wisconsin), while also joining the fight against the harmful policies that our federal government has unleashed on our communities in the past year.

With a group of volunteer WCRJ members, last fall I helped to launch Representation in Action, a new monthly series of peer-taught teach-ins* designed to help our membership better understand the political moment we are living in. Since October, we have presented well-attended programs on Project 2025, HR 1 (the Big ~~Beautiful~~ Brutal Bill), current threats to voting rights; and immigration and interracial solidarity-building. These programs are open to everyone - please register to receive info on upcoming teach-ins!

We also celebrated major accomplishments this year, most notably the passage of the Clean Slate Act, which will ensure that all formerly incarcerated Illinoisans who are eligible have access to records relief (sealing and expungement). Previously, only those with sufficient wealth and resources were able complete the costly and cumbersome process. Automatic records relief will improve access to housing, jobs, education, professional licensing, and much more for over 1 million people, contributing to better community economic stability and lower rates of recidivism.

This report goes into more detail about other accomplishments from 2025 - if you have donated to my previous fundraisers, you too have played an important role in these victories!

Support my 42nd birthday fundraiser to benefit Workers Center for Racial Justice

Amid growing hostility in the US, WCRJ is fighting harder than ever for a more inclusive society and democracy.

Team Members