Thank you to everyone who joined us and donated toward our 2023 Celebrating Allies fundraiser on October 12th. You can read about the incredible evening here.

Join us at the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation’s 2023 annual fundraiser as we bring together our supporters, advocates, allies, and survivors to celebrate the work of ending sexual harm and uplift those who are making a difference. This year, we will honor author, activist, and cultural critic Mikki Kendall for her inspiring writing which brilliantly exposes how, in her words, “Feminism in the hood is for everyone, because everyone needs it.”

Thursday, October 12, 2023

5:30 – 8:30pm CDT

Skadden Arps 155 N. Wacker Drive, 28th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606

Drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

Tickets

Ticket sales ended at 2pm on October 12, 2023. You can still donate to support survivors and CAASE’s work to end sexual harm.

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Honorees and Speakers

Mikki Kendall – Visionary Award Honoree

Author, Activist, and Cultural Critic

Mikki Kendall is a writer, diversity consultant, and occasional feminist; she has appeared on the BBC, NPR, The Daily Show, PBS, Good Morning America, MSNBC, Al Jazeera, WBEZ, and Showtime, and discusses race, feminism, police violence, tech, and pop culture at institutions and universities across the country. The Chicagoan’s 2020 New York Times-bestselling book HOOD FEMINISM was justly recognized for its poignant critique of racism within the feminist movement. It received the Chicago Review of Books Award and was named a best book of the year by BBC, Bustle, and TIME. Mikki is also the author of AMAZONS, ABOLITIONISTS, AND ACTIVISTS, a graphic novel illustrated by A. D’Amico. Her essays can be found at TIME, the New York Times, The Guardian, the Washington Post, Essence, Vogue, The Boston Globe, NBC, and a host of other sites. Her writing reflects CAASE’s strategic goals of increasing accountability to those who are most marginalized and impacted by sexual harm, strengthening intersectional equity, and ending racism within and beyond the anti gender-based violence movement.

 

Jane Doe* – Speaker

Survivor and former CAASE client

Guests will have the privilege of hearing directly from a survivor about the impact of sexual harm and the power of seeking justice with the support of compassionate allies. She is a former client of CAASE’s legal services and we’re honored to welcome her as a speaker. She has chosen to remain *anonymous in public postings.

 

Gail Lee – Pro Bono Luminary Honoree

Attorney

Gail is an Associate in the litigation department at Skadden Arps, where she has made representing survivors of sexual assault the cornerstone of her pro bono practice. Gail obtained her Juris Doctor with honors at the University of Pennsylvania, where she co-chaired the Penn chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, a public interest and human rights focused bar organization, and served as the Education Chair of the Penn chapter of Lambda Legal, a national organization focused on achieving equal rights and protections for LGBT individuals. Gail received a B.A. with honors from the University of Kansas, where she majored in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and minored in Public Policy and Art History. We’ll be recognizing Gail for her outstanding legal work and exceptional compassion on behalf of survivors of sexual harm. She is the recipient of our 2023 Pro Bono Luminary Award.

 

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP – Pro Bono Excellence Honoree

Law Firm

Gail is an associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. We’re also honoring the firm for its lasting commitment to providing exceptional pro bono services in partnership with CAASE and supporting survivors. We’re proud to present them with our 2023 Pro Bono Excellence Award.

 

Sauntè Harden-Tate – Performer

Writer and Spoken Word Artist

Sauntè Harden-Tate (pronounced Sahn-tay) is a Black American Chicago Westside Native, creative writer, Advocate, Community Educator, Trauma Advocate, proud mother of two, and wife. With a deep-rooted passion for healing, advocating, and educating the community on trauma, Saunte has over 10 years of advocacy and prevention work. With her deep understanding of trauma, Sauntè has a special affinity for uplifting and educating the community on the long-stemming traumas and struggles that disproportionately affect the black community.  Knowing firsthand and witnessing the depth of trauma among black people, Sauntè has a profound desire to start the healing process. She created a web show called “Oh! We Gon’ Talk!” which facilitates conversations centered around generational trauma within the black community. Sauntè not only uses public speaking to advocate and educate, but she also uses poetry and writing to share with others about different traumas and emotions. Sauntè will be writing and performing an original piece of poetry inspired by Hood Feminism, which was commissioned for the Celebrating Allies event.

DONATE NOW

 

Donate

Support survivors and back our mission to end sexual harm by giving today. Here are some ways your donation helps us in the fight against sexual harm:

• $100 provides a stipend for survivors who share expertise and input on CAASE policies and programs
• $350 enables the Prevention team to conduct a one-hour training on sexting or pornography to a classroom of High School students
• $500 funds the hosting of one focus or support group for survivors
• $1,000 funds the purchase of one computer for a CAASE staffer
• $1,800 covers the cost of implementing one 5-session Prevention program to a High School classroom
• $5,000 covers the cost of resolving one legal matter for a survivor of sexual harm
• $7,500 pays for comprehensive legal services for one survivor for one year
• $10,000 resolves 2 legal matters for survivors

Generous Sponsors

Sponsoring Celebrating Allies is a wonderful way to support survivors and demonstrate a commitment to ending sexual harm. We welcome you to look over the sponsorship opportunities and contact our Development Manager, Jordan O’Hara Smith, for more details at (773) 244-2230 ext. 217 or email  johara@caase.org.

Presenting Sponsor

 

Gold Sponsor

The Silver Foundation

 

Silver Sponsors

Friedman Family Fund

 

 

 

 

Bronze Sponsors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beverage Sponsor

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