Advancing Real Change, Inc.

Participants will explore the intentional strategies, resilience, and interdisciplinary work necessary to advance justice, support clients, and drive systemic change. Topics include mitigation strategies for capital defenders navigating today’s legal climate, trauma and mental health, and more!

2026 Jacksonville Summit for Change: Advocacy with Impact - Advancing Real Change Registration for this training is limited to defense practitioners and advocates, including defense attorneys, mitigation specialists, fact investigators, paralegals, justice advocates, and students…

Join us on April 15-17 for the 2026 Jacksonville Summit for Change, Advocacy with Impact! Presented in partnership with the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center, the summit convenes professionals from the legal, social work, justice, health and education fields. advancechange.org/events/2026-...

Virtual Screening of A Case for Clemency: Life for Sonny Burton Join us for a moving documentary screening about Sonny Burton's fight for his life - an eye-opening experience not to be missed!

On February 15, join a virtual screening of A Case for Clemency: Life for Sonny Burton. The event will be hosted by the Alabama Post-Conviction Relief Project and ARC Executive Director Liz Vartkessian, followed by a live Q&A with Sonny’s legal team. www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-sc...

"Change happens in moments of connection; I can feel people becoming lighter, and that’s such a beautiful thing." Read the new profile of Liz in The Telegraph www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02...

Carla Crowder is a new member of ARC's board and the Executive Director of Alabama Appleseed. Learn how she helped transform Alabama Appleseed from "a four-person research shop barely scraping by into a 10-person, $1.4 million organization supported by national grant makers like the NFL."

How Unlikely Allies Help One Nonprofit Get Results in a Deep Red State By staying disciplined and creating broad coalitions, a small criminal justice group has carved out improbable victories in Republican-dominated Alabama.

"In a state dominated by a Republican supermajority and long resistant to criminal-justice reform, Alabama Appleseed has become one of the South’s most unexpectedly effective advocacy groups. "

The Deserving is now available in the UK! The new book by ARC Executive Director Elizabeth Vartkessian provides insight into the work of mitigation investigation and the lives of our clients. Available in the UK from Footnote Press now.

Learn more: advancechange.org/the-deservin...

This webinar is open to all criminal defense practioners.

Don't miss our webinar on February 10: Skynet at the Sidebar: Artificial Intelligence and Ethical Defense in Criminal Cases. Chief Federal Defender Dumaka Shabazz will lead an interactive demonstration about how to harness the the power of AI.
advancechange.org/events/skyne...

The Deserving by Elizabeth Vartkessian - Advancing Real Change The Deserving by Liz Vartkessian is out today!

Learn more about Liz's book here: advancechange.org/the-deservin...

Thank you to everyone who joined us for The Deserving book launch celebration Last night! It was an inspiring event and we are so excited for this chance to share more about mitigation investigation and its impact through this book and the stories in it.

ARC Executive Director Liz Vartkessian’s new book is out today! The Deserving: What the Lives of the Condemned Reveal About American Justice shines a light on the work of mitigation investigation, and how essential connection and empathy are to achieving justice.

advancechange.org/blog/the-des...

We're hiring! We have openings in our Baltimore office for Life History Investigator, and in our Jacksonville Office for an Operations Coordinator and Training and Technology Specialist. Learn more and apply:

Elizabeth Vartkessian: "The Deserving" Elizabeth Vartkessian works with criminal defense teams as a mitigation specialist. She isn't part of the Innocence Project; her clients are often legally guilty, and often of terrible crimes.…

Just two weeks until Executive Director Liz Vartkessian's new book arrives! If you are in Baltimore, you can hear her speak at the Enoch Pratt Library on January 28:

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...