Ash Stephens

Ash (they/them, he/him) Ash Stephens is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Criminology, Law and Justice (CLJ) and affiliated faculty member in Black Studies and Gender and Women’s Studies at UIC. Dr. Stephens holds a PhD in Criminology, Law and Justice with concentrations in Black Studies and Gender and Women’s Studies, and was a part of the Bridge to Faculty Postdoctoral Scholars program, all from UIC. Guided by an abolition feminist framework, his work is focused on the range of ways that trans, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary people are policed and surveilled in society, the experiences and consequences of that policing and surveillance, and strategies that trans, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary people use to resist state-sanctioned violence.

Their research interests include queer criminology, transgender studies, queer of color critique, surveillance studies, critical prison studies, gender-based violence, critical sports studies, and prison industrial complex abolition and activism.

They also teach courses on Sports and Feminism with the Prison Neighborhood Arts and Education Project (PNAP).

Avi Rudnick

Avi (they/them, he/him) has been an attorney with the Transformative Justice Law Project of Illinois (TJLP) since 2010 and has been in a coordinator role with the monthly Name Change Mobilization at TJLP since 2012. Avi worked at Chicago House and Social Service Agency for 10 years, including 6 years as the Director of Scattered-Site Housing. Avi also provides training, consultation, and education on topics impacting marginalized communities. Avi is also an LCSW and has a small private therapy practice. Prior to working at Chicago House and his involvement with TJLP, Avi worked as a public defender in Portland, Oregon.

Molly Malone - B’goch Waskonedo Kwé

Molly (she/her/hers) is from the Potawatomi Confederacy, enrolled at Citizen Potawatomi Nation, and has been a volunteer with the monthly Name Change Mobilization at the Transformative Justice Law Project of Illinois (TJLP) since 2016. She became a volunteer after having been a client on behalf of her child. Molly is a long-time member of the Northern Council of Illinois PFLAG chapter of PTI-Chicago (Parents of Trans Individuals) including previously serving as their Vice President of Programming and Treasurer for 8 years. Academically and professionally trained as a theatrical prop master, receiving her MFA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Molly currently works as a legal technology trainer and professional development specialist at Epstein Becker Green, P.C. She has also been a trainer and store opening training coordinator for Whole Foods Market and an art teacher for 2nd through 11th grades in Milwaukee, WI. Currently focused on supporting TJLP, her previous volunteer work includes Lurie Children’s Hospital ParentWise program, Evanston Township High School Parent Ambassador program, Howard Brown Health Centers, and serving 2.5 years as a member of the Equity and Empowerment Commission for the City of Evanston.