Every year, CABRINI GREEN LEGAL AID helps more than 7,500 families and individuals clear their names, gain stable employment, and secure their homes. CGLA’s vision of empowering communities and strengthening lives for people facing negative consequences stemming from contact with the criminal justice system.  We are the leader in criminal records relief and utilize our groundbreaking model for impactful partnerships to serve at-risk populations, and address the unmet needs of individuals.    

CGLA’s Reunite Moms and Kids campaign focuses on achieving reproductive justice and addressing the needs of incarcerated mothers and their families. The campaign is driven by the leadership of women who are directly impacted, and amplified through partnerships and coalitions.

During the state budget crisis, CGLA played a central role in preserving an essential service for families impacted by incarceration: bus trips that bring Chicago children and caregivers to visit mothers in downstate correctional facilities that are 180+ miles away. As an interim solution, CGLA partnered with several other organizations to conduct a crowdfunding campaign to fund these bus trips, currently through the fall of 2016. Funds raised to date have supported four bus trips bringing together 40 families and 80 children, with five more scheduled before yearend. We have also used this opportunity to convene these families to be part of the solution.  In 2017 we will continue efforts to maintain the Reunification Rides, while also advocating both for a budget line item to provide future funding and for systems changes.