Advancing Real Change, Inc.

Registration is free. We hope you'll join us!

advancechange.org/events/toget...

Just a couple days until Together Towards Justice!

Every year, we gather to celebrate our community of supporters and defense practitioners, and recognize some of the amazing mitigation specialists who are fighting for their clients humanity.

And learn more about our incredible award winners here: advancechange.org/blog/announc...

Join us on October 23 at 1pm for our annual virtual celebration, Together Towards Justice! We will recognize the winners of ARC's annual awards, hear from founding board member, Chris Walters, and more! RSVP here: advancechange.org/events/toget...

The Deserving A groundbreaking new take on the American justice system from one of its unknown “mercy workers,” offering a powerful new vision of responsibility, punishment,…

We are excited for this opportunity to raise awareness about the power and impact of mitigation and the lessons it can teach us. Her book will be published in January 2026 and you can pre-order it now.

www.bloomsbury.com/us/deserving...

Advanced reader copies of Executive Director Elizabeth Vartkessian’s new book, The Deserving: What the Lives of the Condemned Reveal About American Justice, have arrived!

Whispers Beyond Bars is a short film, written and directed by Marci Marie Ray, about life in prison for pregnant women and the lack of compassionate care for mothers who are incarcerated. Learn more about the film and how you can host a screening here:

www.representjustice.org/whispers-bey...

Trump capitalizes on America’s empathy problem | GUEST COMMENTARY Donald Trump wages war on cities like Baltimore by capitalizing on our lack of empathy for the suffering of others, writes Elizabeth Vartkessian.

"It is often easier to grab hold of false narratives — the world is black and white, there are criminals and victims, good and bad people — than to feel the suffering of others and confront the messy, complicated problems we have created together and must solve together."

We're hiring! Candidates for Life History Investigator can apply to work from our Jacksonville, Florida office OR our Birmingham, Alabama office, which will open in January 2026. Join the team!

advancechange.org/blog/join-ou...

YouTube video by LOCKED up & LOCKED Out The Podcast Liz Vartkessian on Death Row, Humanity & Why Compassion Still Matters

“Our criminal legal system harms more than it repairs. It is very easy to harm people when you don’t see them as human.” Listen to Executive Director Liz Vartkessian speaking with our friend and former client, Adam Carmon on his video podcast. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jb0...

Each year, ARC presents two awards to leaders in the field of mitigation investigation. Submissions are open! Submit your nomination by July 7! secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/...

Read Executive Director Liz Vartkessian's letter about her client, Larry, who is no longer on death row after 20 years. mailchi.mp/advancechang...

"Larry was one of the first people I met on death row when I started working as a mitigation specialist in 2004. I was 24 and he was 26. He had arrived on death row shortly after his 19th birthday."

Be sure to sign up for our newsletter for the latest news and updates, upcoming events, and more. advancechange.org/get-involved...

Don't miss our Capital Defense Community Resilience Forum on April 28! Capital defenders are invited to build community, share resources, and discuss best practices for trauma-informed care—for both defenders and their clients. advancechange.org/events/capit...

Less than two weeks until our #StepsTowardsJustice walk-a-thon on April 26, 2025! Join us in Baltimore, DC, or the Bay Area, or pitch in to help us reach our goal!

Your participation will help us serve our vulnerable clients and fight for empathy and justice.

advancechange.org/events/steps...

Just a few more days to register for our annual conference! Defense practitioners are invited to join us, enhance their practice, and connect with peers both within and beyond the defense community. The deadline for registration is April 2 advancechange.org/events/2025-...

Together we can take steps towards a criminal legal system and a society that protects and respects the dignity of every human being.

Learn more and register here: advancechange.org/events/steps...

In this spirit, we invite you to join us on April 26, 2025, for our annual walk-a-thon community event and fundraiser. ARC team members will walk in Baltimore; Washington, DC; and Jacksonville, Florida to build community and raise funds for our work.

At a time when fear, inequality, hatred, and broken systems are driving us apart, we must fight even harder to walk toward a better world. The only way to keep moving forward is to join together.

We believe our criminal legal system should repair harm rather than perpetuate it. We believe that when we know each person’s story and see the humanity in every individual, we can find empathy for one another.

Our 2025 conference in Jacksonville, Reducing Harm Through Mitigation/ Strength in Unity, is just a few weeks away! We'll discuss ethics, the impacts of incarceration, using theory memos, and more. Registration is free. Sign up today! advancechange.org/events/2025-...

ARC is currently accepting applications for the position of Records Specialist in our Baltimore office. Records Specialists obtain and analyze documentary evidence needed to develop a nuanced understanding of our clients’ life histories. Apply today! advancechange.org/career/recor...

Opinions among victims vary widely, and we are encouraged to see open discussion and hear voices in support of the act. “Part of my healing includes forgiveness, and forgiveness is not an overnight process," the family member of one victim said at a recent hearing.

Witnesses bring emotional testimony for, against Second Look Act - Maryland Matters Deborah Haskins sees the Second Look Act, letting longtime inmates petition for a sentence reduction, as part of the healing process in her son's murder; Dawn Collins says it undermines the "little ju...

The Maryland Second Look Act would grant incarcerated individuals who have served at least 20 years a hearing to consider early release. It is an essential step towards making our legal system more humane.

In a time of uncertainty and fear for many it is important to look for moments of light and to find ways to support one another. We are prepared to fight for our clients’ humanity and to work side-by-side with you to build empathy and justice in our criminal legal system.

Last year, we challenged our community to make 100 donations. More than 120 individuals donated to support our work, and so a few ARC team members took the Polar Bear Plunge into the Chesapeake this past weekend!

It was about 36 degrees but we were happy to do it!