LOTUS Legal Clinic

06/18/2026

In honor of Juneteenth, LOTUS Legal Clinic will be closed on Friday, June 19th.

Juneteenth is a day of celebration of Black culture, achievements, and excellence. It is also a reminder to educate ourselves on the imperfect history of our country and commit ourselves to knowing and doing better.

Our country is still a work in progress, and there is so much road ahead of us on our journey to true equity, but we can all work together to realize the vision of our founders and make this country a place where everyone has equal access to opportunity.

Today is a great day to support a Black-owned business…follow MKE Black to discover Milwaukee’s rich offering of Black-owned businesses to support. And consider becoming a member of America's Black Holocaust Museum; it is only by learning the truth about America’s legacy of slavery that we can work to repair the trauma of our past.

“This is not a story--and this is not a moment--for black people. This is a story and a moment for all Americans. And that the more Americans understand their past, understand their commitment, understand how we all are shaped by race, that gives us the kind of foundation to effect change.”
― Lonnie G. Bunch III

06/16/2026

06/04/2026

🎉EXCITING FUNDING NEWS!!🎉

LOTUS is incredibly proud to be awarded a two year grant from Bader Philanthropies as well as an anonymous donation through the Madison Community Foundation!

We are so grateful for the trust and support of these individual donors and community foundations as we work together to advance survivor-driven justice and healing.

06/02/2026

✨ATTENTION STORYTELLERS!✨

The Driftless Writing Center, Inc. hosts FREE virtual "First Friday" Open Mics throughout the year!

7:00pm (Central Time) on the following Fridays:

June 5
August 7
October 2
December 4

Held online ✨via Zoom✨

All community members are encouraged to read their work and/or be part of the listening audience.

✨REGISTERED WRITERS GET FIVE MINUTES TO READ THEIR WORK✨

Poets and prose writers are welcomed.

All “First Friday” events are free, though donations are very much appreciated! Make a donation to support this event, and all of DWC's amazing programs at www.driftlesswritingcenter.org

CONTACT [email protected] for more information on signing up to read.

05/20/2026

LOTUS is honored to be selected as a recipient of the Women & Girls Fund of Waukesha County’s “Girl Powered Giving” grant 💜

Through the Young Philanthropy Group, the WGF empowers young women to engage directly with issues impacting the Waukesha community and invest in organizations working to improve the lives of women and girls.

The young women who spoke at the Women of Distinction luncheon were truly inspiring — thoughtful, engaged, and deeply committed to continuing to serve their communities far beyond their time with WGF.

On behalf of our staff and the survivors we serve, thank you to Women and Girls Fund of Waukesha County for your trust, support, and investment in survivor driven justice.

04/22/2026

Restorative justice practices center responsibility, repair, and healing - prioritizing the individual needs of those who have experienced harm, as well as investing in the accountability and growth of those who inflict harm on others.

'Our conventional legal system asks “what law was broken, who broke it, what punishment is warranted,”... restorative justice asks “what happened, who was harmed and what can be done to help them heal and make things as right as possible.”'

Survivor advocate Marlee Liss recounts her own experiences navigating the legal system, and the the transformative process of defining, and perusing, her own pathway to justice.

https://davisvanguard.org/2026/04/berkeley-law-restorative-justice/

Marlee Liss, a survivor advocate and founder of Survivors for Justice Reform, delivered a speech at Berkeley Law School advocating for restorative justice processes that prioritize healing and survivor agency, rather than punishment, in cases of s*xual violence.

04/17/2026

When we truly listen—without interrupting, questioning, or trying to fix—we create space for something powerful: validation, dignity, and healing on their own terms.

Listening says: I believe you.
Listening says: Your story matters.
Listening says: You deserve to be heard.

And beyond individual healing, listening to survivors helps shape stronger communities. Their voices expose gaps in systems, challenge harmful norms, and guide us toward more compassionate, effective responses to harm.

We don’t need perfect words. We don’t need to have all the answers.

We just need to be present, to hold space, and to honor the courage it takes to speak.

Because every time we listen, we help shift the culture—from silence to accountability, from isolation to connection.

*xualassaultawarenessmonth

04/13/2026

No one is unaffected by s*xual violence, but individuals from systemically marginalized communities are not only more likely to experience violence, they also face additional barriers to getting help. Lack of representation within support spaces is one of those barriers.

LOTUS is addressing this in our own healing spaces.

We are accepting applications for workshop facilitators to help diversify our programming so it more accurately reflects the complexity of identities and experiences of the community of survivors we serve.

**This is a paid contract opportunity**

Check out the application packet for more details https://tinyurl.com/LLCfacilitator or email [email protected] for more information.

02/23/2026

There are just a few spots left for our March Advocacy Writing Workshop series!

This workshop is a fantastic opportunity for survivors who are ready to take the next step in their healing and learn how to engage in storytelling as a tool to advocate for change.

NOTE: This is a SERIES of workshops held on different dates at different venues - all applicants should be available to attend all three dates.

This series is made possible in collaboration with Kat Klawes, Sarah Bondar, and Bloom Art and Integrated Therapies, Inc.

02/09/2026

During this TWO DAY workshop survivors will explore the power of STORYTELLING learning how to maximize the impact of their testimony while mitigating risk when sharing personal information publicly.

With a focus on SELF-CARE, HEALING, and CREATIVITY, participants will engage in art therapy practices, mindfulness activities, and creative writing as tools for self-expression and stress management.

The workshop will culminate in a private event where writers will share their stories with community leaders and decision-makers, giving them a chance to LISTEN and LEARN directly from those who have experienced harm.

Space is limited so submit your application early!

https://tinyurl.com/StorytellingWrkshp
or email [email protected] for more information