Thursday, October 23rd, 2025

6 - 9 PM

Wanamaker Building

100 E Penn Square

Tickets & Sponsorships

Registration

Tickets

We keep our ticket prices reasonable to reflect the community who wants to attend. The fair market value of one guest ticket is $50 which is why nonprofit professionals like public defenders are only asked to cover the cost of their attendance. Keep in mind your ticket comes with all you can eat Szechuan food and an open bar!

There are a limited number of free tickets for dedicated volunteers to assist running a smooth evening, and returned citizens are invited to attend the event for free. More info in the FAQ’s below.

$100 Standard Admission

$50 Nonprofit Professionals

Registration Page

Sponsorships

Sponsorships start at $500 and come with a variety of promotional incentives, tickets, and opportunities to support returning citizen tickets.

$10,000 Diamond Level Sponsor

$5,000 Platinum Level Sponsor

$2,500 Gold Level Sponsor

$1,000 Silver Level Sponsor

$500 Bronze Level Sponsor

Sponsorship Packages

In honor of 15 years of Atlantic Center service, we’re trying to raise $100,000 this year.

Help us reach our goal - every donation counts!

2025 Awardees & Speakers

Keisha Hudson, Chief Defender .

Stuart Schuman Award for Indigent Defense

We are thrilled to honor Keisha Hudson, Chief Defender of the Defender Association of Philadelphia, for her transformative leadership and lifelong commitment to justice. With over two decades of experience as a public defender, from trial work to death penalty appeals, Keisha has brought national attention to the essential role public defenders play in advancing systemic reform. Her work spans from the Capital Habeas Unit to her tenure as Deputy Chief Defender in Montgomery County, where she helped build one of the strongest defender offices in Pennsylvania. Since taking the helm in Philadelphia, Keisha has reshaped the Defender’s mission to center community, equity, and accountability. Her voice continues to propel the movement forward, reminding us that public defense is a form of public power.

James Muhammed Taylor, Founder of PAR .

Returning Champion of Justice Award

We are deeply honored to recognize James Muhammed Taylor, who returned home this year after nearly five decades of incarceration. A visionary leader, mentor, and prison reform advocate, Mr. Taylor transformed his sentence into a lifetime of service, founding People Advancing Reintegration (PAR) while still incarcerated, mentoring countless others, and inspiring outside supporters to join the fight for justice. His work laid the foundation for PAR Recycling Works, a recycling business helping returning citizens build new lives. Named Prisoner of the Year by the Pennsylvania Prison Society, Mr. Taylor is living proof that people can change and that our justice system must be built on mercy and rehabilitation, not endless punishment. We celebrate his long-overdue freedom and his continued commitment to healing, dignity, and transformation.

Celeste Trusty, FAMM .

Celeste Trusty is a force for change in Pennsylvania’s criminal legal system. Whether in her current role as State Legislative Affairs Director at FAMM, or in her previous role serving as Secretary of the Board of Pardons, Celeste has demonstrated true commitment to the community we gather to celebrate and always brings the extra sparkle.

Special Guest Emcee

FAQs:

Click here for a map showing the location of the entrance to the venue. The ACCR office is also on the map marked in green. For parking, there’s a garage directly next to the ACCR office building.
If you’re coming from the train station, it’s a short walk from the 15th street stop on the Broad Street & Market-Frankford lines, and less than a ten minute walk from Jefferson Station.
Dinner is buffet-style Szechuan food, courtesy of our friends at Han Dynasty. The venue has plenty of space for you to sit and eat comfortably, but there is no assigned seating. This is not a white-linens affair.
Vegan & Kosher friendly with plenty of dishes for our meat-eating guests as well.
Dress to celebrate, whatever that means to you. Many guests will be coming straight from work in varying states of business casual, some will be all gussied up, and others may forget what day it is and arrive shorts and a t-shirt. All guests will be welcomed no matter how fancy they come.
The event features an open bar all evening and is primarily a gathering of adults, so we don’t generally encourage kids or supply childcare. That said, we’re more than happy to discuss and make exceptions when it makes sense - hi, Karume!
Student tickets aren’t on sale this year, but if undergraduate or graduate students are interested in attending they should reach out to ask about a discounted ticket.
All returned community members from long-term incarceration are invited to attend the event for free.
On the registration page, select Standard Admission and click Register. On the next screen under the details of the ticket, you’ll see “Enter Promo Code”. The code is FREE and will comp the price of the ticket.
If you have questions or need assistance with your registration, call Maura @ 267.566.7216.