Uptown People's Law Center

While most of CHA's "cement reservations" have been demolished, nearly 60 years later, CHA is still not fulfilling its mission to provide decent, affordable housing to poor people in Chicago. There are still CHA apartments in segregated communities. There are still rat-infested CHA apartments. There are still Chicagoans sleeping under bridges. #MLKday

Congratulations to our three legal fellows Shireen Jalali-Yazdi, Marcus Owens, and Alyssa Meurer on being admitted to the bar last week!

Our Executive Director, Alan Mills, is retiring. Here is a message from him: It is with pride and sadness that I announce I will be stepping down as Executive Director of Uptown People's Law Center after 45 incredible years. My tenure began as a law school intern, and now ends after a decade as ED following Belinda Belcher's untimely death. I am proud of our growth and achievements, especially over the last decade. UPLC has become nationally recognized in prisoners' rights, particularly in ending solitary confinement. Since 1981, we have fought tirelessly to end this torture. Much of our success is due to the trust people inside prison have placed in us. Formerly imprisoned individuals have shaped UPLC into who we are today. I want to recognize Brian Nelson, who spent 28 years in solitary and devoted a decade to helping those still inside until his passing in 2021. As a leading tenants' rights organization, UPLC has been at the forefront of fighting gentrification in Uptown and beyond, helping keep it diverse and livable for thousands. I express my deepest gratitude to our generous donors. Sadly, not enough people care about prisoners, and I am truly grateful that you do. Thank you for your unwavering support. While retiring as Executive Director, I will continue supporting UPLC and fighting against our inhumane prison system in new ways. I look forward to traveling with my wife Karen, who recently retired as a Chicago public school teacher. We especially enjoy hiking in scenic places. It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve alongside you in this fight for justice. Together, we have made a real difference in so many lives. I will stay in my role until the Board finds the right person to ensure a smooth transition. If you or anyone you know may be interested, you can read about the position here: https://lnkd.in/gJ3jknrG Thank you in advance for your continued support of UPLC's vital work now and after I am out of the ED role. I look forward to seeing all that UPLC will accomplish with your ongoing support. With heartfelt gratitude, Alan

Do you have a loved one in prison? Tuesday, August 20 at 6pm you can learn how to help them write a successful grievance, why grievances are needed, and more! Register for this free online event here: https://lnkd.in/gD2297vi

Yesterday, UPLC staff joined with ONE Northside to demand that the Leland apartments in Uptown be preserved as affordable housing. Rep. Hoan Huynh joined the crowd too!

“...there’s no excuse for keeping people in restraints for hours and hours and hours, let alone days,” says our Executive Director Alan Mills in this Illinois Answers Project article.

The water in Illinois prisons is unsafe to drink. The color, taste, and smell is off, and there are even floating particles in it. People inside IDOC are getting sick. Join us as we demand that the federal Environmental Protection Agency step in and fix this issue! #prisonersrights #IDOC