By: Tracey L. Schroeder
The WBAI was proud to co-host the Domestic Violence Summit, which took place on October 29th at the Union League Club of Chicago and featured keynote speaker Denise Brown. The summit benefited WINGS, one of Chicago’s key providers of housing, integrated services, education and advocacy to end domestic violence. The program featured various panels on the current Domestic Violence problem, understanding the systems involved and the path forward through legislation and needed intervention. Panelists included Senator Cristina Castro, Justice Jesse Reyes, and Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis, among many others. This impactful event addressed domestic violence as a critical issue affecting not only individuals directly involved but also their families, communities, and society at large.
The summit highlighted that domestic violence does not discriminate—it impacts people across race, age, gender, and religious lines, and it can occur regardless of education or socioeconomic status. Moreover, domestic violence often perpetuates further violence, underscoring the urgency of addressing this issue comprehensively.
The legal community’s role in shaping systems that support survivors of domestic violence was a key focus of the event. Attendees explored how legal professionals, in collaboration with stakeholders from law enforcement and social service agencies, can advocate for meaningful change and provide essential support to survivors. This summit served as a platform for critical discussions on how the legal system can make a lasting difference in addressing domestic violence.
This article was originally published in the WBAI Winter 2025 Newsletter on page 26.
