Reclaiming My Power: A Conversation and Book Signing with Reshona Landfair
2026-04-09 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | Please RSVP for event address.
Please join us for a special event with Reshona Landfair, the author of Who’s Watching Shorty? Reclaiming Myself from the Shame of R. Kelly’s Abuse for a conversation about her new book and her story of survival. Anika Sterling-Florez and Saunté Harden-Tate of CAASE will lead a discussion and Q&A with the author. We strongly encourage guests to purchase the book before the event to bring to the book signing. A very limited number will be available for purchase at the event.
When: Thursday, April 9, 2026, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
This event will be held in Garfield Park. Please RSVP for the event address.
Free to attend! Please fill out this form to register.
Limited spots are available.
This event is hosted by the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE), Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center, and Chicago Advocacy Network for Hope (CAN Hope).

Teal & Tunes: Karaoke at Strugglebeard Bakery
2026-04-10 17:30 - 19:30 | Strugglebeard Bakery, 5221 S Harper Court, Chicago, IL
CAASE’s Community Engagement team and Strugglebeard Bakery are thrilled to collaborate for two special events during Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2026! First up, we have Teal & Tunes: Karaoke at Strugglebeard Bakery on Friday, April 10. Treats will be provided by Strugglebeard Bakery! Free to attend.
To register, please email Saunté Harden-Tate at shardentate@caase.org.
Join us for our other SAAM event with Strugglebeard Bakery, Teal & Tales Open Mic on Friday, April 24.

Surviving the Mic: Virtually Together
2026-04-16 15:00 - 17:00, 2026-05-21 15:00 - 17:00, 2026-06-18 15:00 - 17:00, 2026-07-16 15:00 - 17:00, 2026-08-20 15:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-17 15:00 - 17:00, 2026-10-15 15:00 - 17:00, 2026-11-19 15:00 - 17:00 and 4 more dates | Jane Addams Hull House, 800 S Halsted St., Chicago, IL, United States
Third Thursday of each month, 3-5PM CST
Surviving the Mic: Virtually Together is an online gathering space for survivors of sexual harm and those who support them, either personally or professionally or both.
The virtual gathering happens on the third Thursday of each month, from 3-5pmCST, and is facilitated by Mojdeh Stoakley, with occasional guest facilitators. The gathering begins with a check-in and dialogue on current events, followed by a trauma-informed writing workshop designed for survivors of sexual harm. Attendees are invited to share their writing, if comfortable. This is a drop-in event, no RSVP is required. We hope to see you there!
Join the Gathering on Zoom
Virtually Together is supported by the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation and is produced and facilitated by Surviving the Mic.
More information about the Surviving the Mic method for holding brave space for those navigating the effects of trauma due to sexual violence is available at survivingthemic.org.
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89465588394?pwd=[REDACTED]

Provenance: A BYO Soirée for CAASE
2026-04-18 18:00 - 22:00 | Verve Wine Chicago, 2349 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL, 60614
A celebratory evening to raise much-needed funds for The Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE). Guests are invited to open and share a special bottle from their personal collection, enjoy Champagne from the evening’s wine list, or enjoy a few special drinks from the bar. Chef Ethan Lim of Hermosa Restaurant will offer a vibrant spread of Cambodian-inspired bites, and the evening kicks off with cocktails from Billy Sunday. DJ Catie O will be spinning tunes to get you moving.
CAASE’s Executive Director, Kaethe Morris Hoffer, will give a short introduction to the vastly important work CAASE does for Chicago. We encourage each guest to check out the night’s auction.
Dress: Nowhere to Wear It (Because the Fun Clothes Should be Worn!)
Cost: $250 per ticket
Register here!

Let’s Chat Over Lunch: Community Forum
2026-04-22 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-05-27 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-06-24 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-08-26 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-10-28 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-11-25 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-12-23 12:00 - 13:00, 2027-01-27 12:00 - 13:00 and 2 more dates | Jane Addams Hull House, 800 S Halsted St., Chicago, IL, United States
Fourth Wednesday of each month, 12PM-1PM CT
Join CAASE for our monthly virtual community forum, Let’s Chat Over Lunch. At each gathering, we’ll discuss current cultural events, media, and news headlines related to sexual harm and/or social injustice. Let’s Chat Over Lunch will be held every 4th Wednesday of the month from noon-1pm.
Join the Conversation on Zoom
Topics for each gathering will be updated as current events unfold. This is a drop-in event, no RSVP is required. We hope to see you there!
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81030893716?pwd=[REDACTED]

Teal & Tales: Open Mic at Strugglebeard Bakery
2026-04-24 17:30 - 19:30 | Strugglebeard Bakery, 5221 S Harper Court, Chicago, IL
CAASE’s Community Engagement team and Strugglebeard Bakery are thrilled to collaborate for two special events during Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2026! On Friday, April 24, we’ll gather for an open mic night! Attendees can share stories, poetry, singing, and more. Wear denim to show your support for survivors ahead of Denim Day on April 29. Treats will be provided by Strugglebeard Bakery! Free to attend.
To register, please email Saunté Harden-Tate at shardentate@caase.org.
Join us for our other SAAM event with Strugglebeard Bakery, Teal & Tunes: Karaoke at Strugglebeard Bakery on Friday, April 10.

A CAASE of Empowerment: Prevention’s Impact
2026-04-29 18:00 - 20:00 | 151 N Franklin St, 151 N Franklin St, Chicago, IL, United States
You’re invited to join CAASE for an immersive experience highlighting our prevention education program! Take a trip back to high school for an evening of connection, education, and changemaking. We invite our guests to experience firsthand how our prevention educators empower students to become active allies in ending sexual harm. Reserve your spot, take a seat, and join the lesson to see exactly how our Prevention Educators are setting the next generation up for success.
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. CDT
151 N Franklin St., Chicago, IL
We hope you will join us to socialize and fundraise! Drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be served.
All proceeds from A CAASE of Empowerment: Prevention’s Impact will support CAASE’s prevention education program.
Tickets
Discounted tickets for young professionals, nonprofit, and government employees are available for $100. Regular tickets are available for $130. An additional early bird discount is available for tickets from now until Friday, March 13, 11:59 pm!
Click here to buy tickets.
A CAASE of Empowerment: Prevention’s Impact is an immersive experience where you’ll see the cutting-edge work our Prevention Education team does every day in high school classrooms. You’ll experience the activities we use to teach students the skills for communication, boundaries, and respect that many of us had to learn on our own.
See our work in action on April 29, and make sure today’s teens get the education many of us missed.
Because the next generation shouldn’t have to guess.
Because they shouldn’t have to learn these lessons the hard way.
Because prevention is possible.
Dress code: Business casual.
Accessibility: To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact us.
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:

$350 enables the Prevention team to conduct a one-hour training on sexting or pornography to a classroom of high school students
$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

Can’t make this event? Support CAASE and our Prevention Education program by making a donation.
Thanks to the generosity of the Greer Foundation, contributions to this event will be doubled up to the agreed grant amount!
Generous Sponsors
Sponsoring A CAASE of Empowerment: Prevention’s Impact is a wonderful way to support survivors and demonstrate a commitment to ending sexual harm. We welcome you to look over the sponsorship opportunities.
Sponsorship will be available for purchase up until the event on April 29. In order to be included in our printed materials for the event, please purchase your sponsorship by Tuesday, April 21.
Gold Sponsors
Dan and Mary Cox
Laura Feldman
Silver Sponsors

Denise Fogus Gibson

Bronze Sponsors

The Schuler Family
In-kind Sponsor

Please contact LaQuita Hearn-Quinn to learn more about sponsoring this event by calling (773) 244-2230 ext. 217 or emailing LHearnQuinn@caase.org. We gladly accept new sponsors up until the event.
BECOME A SPONSOR
Stay connected to CAASE and hear about the work we’re doing with your support by subscribing to CAASE’s newsletter and following us on social media: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Bluesky.

Legal Training at the National Center for Victims of Crime's National Training Institute
2026-09-09 10:45 - 12:15 | Hilton Chicago, 720 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60605
Elizabeth Payne and Evelyn Field from our legal team will be presenting at the National Center for Victims of Crime’s annual National Training Institute on September 9! Don’t miss this informative session about working with criminalized survivors.
Learn more and register!

Credit for Change Community Forum
2026-09-18 10:00 - 15:00 | Women’s Justice Institute, 2150 S Canalport Ave, Chicago, IL, 60608, United States
Join advocates, lawmakers, and community members at the Credit for Change Community Forum to discuss restoring sentencing credits for rehabilitative programming and building a safer, stronger Illinois for everyone! This event will take place at the Women’s Justice Institute Reclamation Center at 2150 S. Canalport Ave., Chicago, IL 60608, Suite 4A-11.
Behind bars, real change is happening every day–but right now, Illinois doesn’t reward it. Credit for Change is a statewide campaign to restore sentencing credit for rehabilitative programming for everyone serving a term of years, making prisons safer, families stronger, and saving Illinois taxpayers close to $1 billion. Learn more about Credit for Change here.
Registration for this event is required. Click here to register.

Celebrating Allies 2026
2026-10-28 18:00 - 20:00 | 320 S. Canal St. Chicago, IL 60606, 320 S. Canal St., Chicago, 60606, United States
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
6:00 – 8:00 p.m. CDT
320 S. Canal St., Chicago, IL 60606
Join us at the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation’s 2026 annual fundraiser as we bring together supporters, survivors, advocates, and allies who believe survivors deserve better. Together, we’ll celebrate the people and partnerships creating lasting change—from advancing justice for survivors to building safer communities through advocacy and education.
The evening will feature an award ceremony honoring transformational leadership in culture change, alongside recognition of the groundbreaking legal work helping survivors pursue justice and accountability.
Drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be served.
Dress code: business cocktail attire
The venue is an ADA-compliant space. If you need any accessibility accommodations to attend this event or have questions, please contact Lizzy Springer at lspringer@caase.org.
Tickets
Early bird tickets for Celebrating Allies are available now! Secure your spot and save while the sale is happening. The early bird sale is active until Sunday, September 6, at 11:59 pm CDT. Register and save today!
GET TICKETS
If you are unable to attend Celebrating Allies 2026 but would still like to support the event, we would be grateful if you made a donation in honor of the event!
Honorees and Speakers
Reshona Landfair – Visionary Award Honoree
Survivor, Author, and Leader

This year, we are truly excited to honor and celebrate Reshona Landfair at our annual fall fundraiser!
Reshona Landfair is a dynamic individual whose life journey has been marked by significant achievements in the entertainment industry, dedicated service in community health, and a powerful commitment to mentoring young women. Her story is one of resilience, reinvention, and unwavering purpose. Most recently, Landfair has stepped into the spotlight to reclaim her narrative with the release of her compelling memoir, Who’s Watching Shorty? Reclaiming Myself from the Shame of R. Kelly’s Abuse, published by Legacy Lit. This deeply personal account bravely chronicles her experiences as a teenage victim and her subsequent journey of healing and empowerment.
Learn more about Reshona’s story in Rolling Stone, NPR, and The Guardian, and join CAASE to honor her at Celebrating Allies 2026!
Leslie Kuhn-Thayer – Pro Bono Luminary Award
Leslie Kuhn-Thayer is widely recognized in the Chicago legal sphere as an incredible asset to the pro bono community. As Pro Bono Counsel at Sidley Austin, Leslie primarily dedicates her practice to serving system-impacted clients, including prisoner civil rights litigation and compassionate release and other post-conviction relief. CAASE is currently partnering with Leslie as co-counsel on two different lawsuits against a downstate women’s prison involving sexual abuse of prisoners by corrections staff, along with our partner nonprofit, the Uptown People’s Law Center. Leslie is also a board member at Uptown and is co-counseling a lawsuit with them regarding excessive force and retaliation in the same women’s prison. Her passion for serving the most vulnerable is inspiring, and we are honored to present Leslie with the 2026 Pro Bono Luminary Award.

Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym – Pro Bono Excellence Award

We are honored to award Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym with the 2026 Pro Bono Excellence Award. Hughes Socol attorneys consistently engage in pro bono work in areas like civil rights, refugee rights, labor rights, and education support. This past year, CAASE has worked closely with Hughes Socol on an employment law case and they have regularly provided advice and support on other employment and gender violence issues. Hughes Socol is an essential partner in our employment pro bono practice and we are proud to recognize their important work in this area.

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.
Jane Doe – Survivor 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 to speak at Celebrating Allies 2026.

More information about our other honorees and speakers will be available soon!

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 two legal matters for survivors

MAKE A DONATION
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 Kaethe Morris Hoffer to take full advantage of sponsorship benefits. Call 773-244-2230 ext. 202 or email kmh@caase.org.
BECOME A SPONSOR
We are gladly accepting new sponsors up until the event. To be included in printed sponsor materials, we kindly ask you to submit your sponsorship by Tuesday, October 20.
Presenting Sponsor

Gold Sponsors

Denise Fogus Gibson
The Friedman Family Foundation

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors
Anonymous

Stay connected to CAASE and hear about the latest updates and work we’re doing with your support by subscribing to CAASE’s newsletter and following us on social media: Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Bluesky.
