Freedom Defense Center Of Roseland Opens To Public

Community stakeholders and elected officials during the ribbon cutting for the Freedom Defense Center of Roseland. Photo by Tia Carol Jones.
Community stakeholders and elected officials during the ribbon cutting for the Freedom Defense Center of Roseland. Photo by Tia Carol Jones.

Freedom Defense Center Of Roseland Opens To Public

By Tia Carol Jones

The Roseland community now has a place where residents can receive legal defense. The Freedom Defense Center of Roseland is located at 11437 S. Michigan.

At the center’s opening on Tuesday, May 13th Emmanuel Andre, Deputy with the Cook County Defender’s Office, said opening the center is a significant milestone. He said the center isn’t just a building, but a beacon, a promise and a dedicated space forged from collaboration to help every individual, because they deserve equitable access to justice.

“Access, accountability, agency, for far too long barriers have stood in the way of these fundamental rights. Access to vital legal resources and support has been uneven and leaving too many feeling unheard and unsupported in some of the scariest moments of their lives,” he said.

Andre added that the Freedom Defense Center of Roseland marks the start of a different kind of relationship between the Cook County Public Defender’s Office and the communities that have been the most impacted by the criminal justice system.

Cook County Public Defender Sharone Mitchell, Jr. said that the community stood with the Cook County Public Defender’s Office to ensure there was a center in Roseland. He said the people of Roseland deserve resources, support and advocacy.

“The Freedom Defense Center of Roseland is not just a building, it’s a declaration. A declaration that legal defense belongs in our neighborhoods. That healing matters just as much as litigation and that Public Defenders are not just court room actors, we’re agents of justice and care,” he said.

Mitchell added that the center brings the Public Defender’s Office and the services right into the community. He said the vision could not have come together without a lot of stakeholders championing the cause. Mitchell recognized people from the Public Defender’s Office for being committed to the project and thanked the center’s staff.

Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle said the creation of the Freedom Defense Center of Roseland is a critical step towards addressing the inequities that persist in communities. She said that the center is opening a door to fairness, community-driven justice and a future where every resident has access to the support and advocacy that they deserve.

“The Freedom Defense Center of Roseland represents what happens when government works in partnership with the community. It shows the power of investing in people, not just systems. It also reflects the values that Cook County works every day to uphold,” she said.

Preckwinkle said the center was made possible by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, which was designed to help communities recover and rebuild in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. She said Cook County made a deliberate choice to invest those funds to create lasting change.

Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon said in her role, she understands the importance of having a community-driven justice center and understands the need for accessible and compassionate legal support for the residents of the Roseland community. In her previous role as Cook County Commissioner of the 5th District, Gordon played a role in securing funds for the center. She said she is proud to see the center open and serving the community.

“Bringing traditional criminal legal defense services out of the court room and into the community is an amazing example of restorative justice and will be a game changer for so many who live and work here,” she said.


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