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 was Director of Scattered-Site Housing at Chicago House and Social Service Agency for 6 years and worked as a manager and case manager at Chicago House prior to his Director role. 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. Avi is a non-binary, trans, and queer harm reductionist who believes strongly in the values of prison abolition, self-determination, and transformative justice.

Channyn Parker

Channyn (she, her, hers) is a Human Rights advocate, public speaker, community-centric leader and is the CEO of Equliaty Illinois. Prior to being CEO of Equality Illinois, Channyn was the CEO of Brave Space Alliance. Prior to her role at Brave Space Alliance, Channyn was the Director of Strategic Partnerships at Howard Brown Health, manager of The Broadway Youth Center’s, Youth Development Program, and manager at Chicago House and Social Service Agency’s, TransLife Project. Channyn is quoted as saying, “Equality is the firmest pillar upon which human value stands.  If I am named amongst those who are ambitious, and maybe even crazy enough to believe that we, somehow through our actions can leave this world a place. If I have played some small part in reducing the burden of injustice, then I have lived a life well served.”