CHICAGO — The Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender proudly announces the opening of its second community-based office, the Freedom Defense Center of Austin (FDCA), located inside the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation on Chicago’s West Side.
The launch was marked by a week of open-house activities that brought together Cook County leaders, community, business and faith partners, and residents. Guests toured the facility, met with staff, and learned about the legal and community resources available. Public services officially beginning, September 15, 2025.
The Public Defender’s Office opened its first community-based office, the Freedom Defense Center of Roseland (FDCR), earlier this year. Together, these neighborhood hubs provide client-centered access to counsel, community education, and partner referrals — advancing safety, fairness, and dignity while removing barriers to justice.
“We often first meet our clients on the worst day of their lives — at a courthouse. Community-based defense centers change that narrative and return dignity to our clients,” said Cook County Public Defender Sharone R. Mitchell Jr. “By having centers in Roseland and now in Austin, we can build trust, connect people to resources earlier, and help address challenges before they become crises — all while being part of the neighborhoods we serve.”
Open House Week Highlights
Like Roseland, the Austin Center hosted an open-house week before public services began, offering a chance to thank the many advocates, partners, and supporters who made the project possible.
- Elected Officials Preview – Cook County Commissioners and other government leaders toured the completed space.
- Community & Faith Partner Gatherings – Local partners celebrated the opening and explored opportunities for collaboration.
- Community Day: Defenders of the Court – A legal resource fair and 3-on-3 basketball tournament - drew strong turnout, with partnerships from Westside Health Authority, My Block My Hood My City, and Institute for Nonviolence Chicago.
- The Defenders of the Court Legal Resource Fair connected residents with organizations including:
- Cabrini Green Legal Aid
- Cannabis Equity IL Coalition
- Cook County Department for Human Rights & Ethics
- First Defense Legal Aid
- Greater Chicago Legal Clinic
- Illinois Legal Aid Online
- Illinois Prison Project
- Legal Aid Chicago
- The Village Legal and Community Project
- Uptown People’s Law Center
- Westside Justice Center
From Shuttered to Community Anchor
The Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation — a partnership between Westside Health Authority (WHA) and Austin Coming Together (ACT) — officially opened with a ribbon cutting on Juneteenth 2025. Located in the former Robert Emmet Elementary School, closed by CPS in 2013, the 78,000-square-foot facility has been transformed into a hub for opportunity. Today, it houses workforce development programs, financial services, small business support, and legal services under one roof.
From Court to Community
The Austin Center offers walk-in legal information, referrals, and two private pods for clients to attend virtual court hearings. These services help reduce transportation and scheduling barriers, ensuring more equitable access to justice.
Available resources include:
- Expungement assistance
- Legal resources and representation
- Community legal education
- Trauma support
- Pretrial resources
- Arts programming
The Freedom Defense Center of Austin is open Monday through Friday 9am until 5pm by appointment only. For more information about the Freedom Defense Center of Austin or to make an appointment, call 312-738-7399 or email fdca@cookcountyil.gov.
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About the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
The Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender is the second-largest public defender’s office in the nation, representing individuals in criminal, juvenile, mental health, and select immigration matters who cannot afford private counsel. Our mission is to protect the fundamental rights, liberties, and dignity of each person whose case has been entrusted to us by providing the finest legal representation. With more than 700 attorneys and staff, we are committed to client-centered advocacy, advancing fairness in the justice system, and strengthening the communities we serve through legal defense, outreach, and education.
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What people are saying about the Open House Week of the Freedom Defense Center of Austin:
“The success of this event proves what happens when we meet people where they are,” said Morris Reed, CEO of Westside Health Authority. “Seeing the community show up in such great numbers — for resources, for support, and for each other — is exactly why we partnered to bring the Freedom Defense Center of Austin into the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation. This is more than a building; it’s a place where justice, opportunity, and community come together.”
“Defenders of the Court showed the true power of collaboration,” said Darnell Shields, Executive Director of Austin Coming Together. “Our strong turnout reflected the trust and relationships we’ve built with the community. Hosting the Freedom Defense Center of Austin here means residents can connect with legal support in the same space where they access career training, small business help, and wellness resources — all of which are critical to building a stronger Austin.”
“Some people think basketball courts are magnets for violence. They believe if you take the rims down, the neighborhood will be safer. At My Block My Hood My City, we believe something different, said Jahmal Cole, CEO of My Block My Hood My City. “We believe that when rims are up, 50 to 60 teens a day can come out and play. We believe in decriminalizing basketball. That’s why, through our #SaveStreetball initiative, we’ve been putting up rims and restoring courts across Chicago, because access to safe play should never be a luxury.”