The news this past week has shown us, once again, what happens when no one speaks up, no one steps in, and survivors are left waiting for justice.
Survivors deserve people who show up. They deserve to know their rights and understand their options. They deserve to be taken seriously when they speak about what happened to them. They deserve meaningful pathways to justice and outcomes that reflect the harm they’ve experienced. And they deserve people willing to stand beside them—not just in moments that make headlines, but for the long work that comes after, too.
At CAASE, we believe this kind of allyship is essential to creating the change survivors deserve, and this year’s Celebrating Allies honorees show us what it looks like in action.
Some allies bring dedication. This year’s Pro Bono Luminary, Leslie Kuhn-Thayer, has brought her legal expertise to some of CAASE’s most challenging work. As Pro Bono Counsel at Sidley Austin, Leslie has helped survivors pursue justice in circumstances where there is no easy roadmap. Her work reminds us that the law can be a tool for creating new pathways to accountability, and that sometimes doing right by survivors means being willing to try something different.
Some allies bring expertise. This year’s Pro Bono Excellence Award recognizes Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym, an essential partner in CAASE’s employment pro bono practice. Their attorneys have helped survivors navigate systems where they deserve dignity, safety, and meaningful avenues for justice. Their partnership demonstrates what allyship looks like when people bring their professional skills to the table and use them to help survivors pursue outcomes that can make a real difference in their lives.
Some allies bring the power of lived experience. This year’s Visionary Award honoree, Reshona Landfair, shows us what can happen when a survivor reclaims her voice and uses it to create space for others. In her memoir, Who’s Watching Shorty? Reclaiming Myself from the Shame of R. Kelly’s Abuse, she tells her story on her own terms and demonstrates the power of survivors speaking out, using their voices, and deciding what comes next.
If you’ve been part of the CAASE community before—whether as a donor, volunteer, partner, event attendee, advocate, or supporter—Celebrating Allies is an invitation to reconnect.
So join us. Come celebrate the people who have chosen to show up, come see what your fellow allies are making possible, and come back to a community that believes survivors deserve better.
Because survivors deserve allies.
CAASE published this piece on October 8, 2026. It was authored by Ryan Spooner. Learn more about our staff.
