For immediate release 

The John Paul Stevens Foundation is proud to announce the recipient for the inaugural  Justice John Paul Stevens Distinguished Alumni Fellow Award (Distinguished Alumni Fellow Award): Christine M. Evans (2002, Stevens Fellowship recipient).

About the Justice John Paul Stevens Distinguished Alumni Fellow Award

For nearly three decades, the John Paul Stevens Foundation has been dedicated to  building a more just and equitable society by investing in the next generation of public interest lawyers – ensuring that the promise of justice is not limited by a student’s financial means. The Foundation, named in honor of Justice John Paul Stevens, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, administers the Justice John Paul Stevens Public Interest Fellowship Program, one of the largest public interest summer law student fellowship programs in the United States—and the largest that supports law students working in both nonprofit and government agencies across a wide range of public interest fields. The Foundation provides financial support and professional development programming for Justice John Paul Stevens Public Interest Fellows (Stevens Fellows), students at partner law schools who spend their summers working in otherwise unpaid public interest law internships with nonprofit and government agencies, experiences that are critical as students embark on their legal careers.

In 2024, the Stevens Foundation reached a milestone of 1,000+ Stevens Fellows who are part of a growing community of legal experts and social justice leaders across the country and around the world. To celebrate the milestone of supporting over 1,000 Stevens Fellows and the continued success of our Alumni Fellows, the Foundation invited nominations for the inaugural Justice John Paul Stevens Distinguished Alumni Fellow Award (Distinguished Alumni Fellow Award).  The Distinguished Alumni Fellow Award is designed to continue the intergenerational impact that Justice Stevens had on his law clerks by providing a cash award of $10,000 each year around Justice Stevens’ birthday (April 20) to an Alumni Fellow whose demonstrated professional commitment to public interest honors the Justice’s legacy of supporting democracy, access to justice, and equality. 

About the Inaugural Recipient of Justice John Paul Stevens Distinguished Alumni Fellow Award: Christine M. Evans

Christine M. Evans was one of the early recipients of a Stevens Fellowship, a 2002 Stevens Fellow from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. 

“We are proud to recognize Christine’s dedication to public interest law and her achievements over the past two decades.  We have no doubt that Justice Stevens would have been equally as proud to celebrate Christine.” Teresa Wynn Roseborough President, Board of Directors 

Christine is the Founder and Principal Director of Shared Roots Collective, a mediation and conflict transformation practice that specializes in applying the principles and practices of restorative and transformative justice to all forms of conflict resolution. With over two decades of experience as a public interest attorney in the United States and internationally, Christine brings her expertise and knowledge of the criminal legal system, victims’ and gender rights, and issues of sexual harm to her work tailoring personalized processes for harm survivors seeking accountability and justice outside of traditional legal systems. In addition to her work at Shared Roots, Christine serves as the Founder/President and chief funding officer of the Evans Family Foundation, which assists Chicago organizations in advocating and providing for access to education and justice. 

“Christine has 20 years of experience and her expertise in international human rights, the criminal legal system, victims’ and gender rights, and sexual harm enable her to apply unique approaches outside the traditional legal system to this extremely important work in the community and make her a well deserved recipient of the the John Paul Stevens Foundation’s Distinguished Alumni Award.”  Leonard S. Rubinowitz, Professor of Law, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. 

Prior to starting Shared Roots, Christine served as an attorney at the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE) for several years. While in law school, Evans was an early recipient (2002) of the Justice John Paul Stevens Public Interest Fellowship and worked at the International Justice Mission (IJM), where she focused on human rights and legal advocacy to combat violence and systemic injustice worldwide.

“I am deeply honored to receive the Distinguished Alumni Fellow Award. My 2002 Stevens Fellowship provided critical support at a pivotal moment in my legal education, enabling me to pursue my passion for social justice through my International Justice Mission internship. This early investment in my commitment to public service gave me the confidence to dedicate my career to public interest law. Two decades later, this award will help Shared Roots expand access to restorative and transformative justice for survivors of sexual harm. I am grateful that the Foundation continues to support innovative approaches to justice while  honoring Justice Stevens’ legacy of expanding access to justice for all.”  Christine M. Evans

Christine’s commitment to the principles of restorative and transformative justice is reflected in her teaching as an adjunct professor at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, where she instructs on gender and human rights issues. 

Christine holds a bachelor’s degree from Boston University, a Juris Doctorate (2003) and LLM (2011) in International Human Rights from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, and a graduate certification in Restorative Justice from Eastern Mennonite University.

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About the John Paul Stevens Foundation – Advancing a Legacy of Justice
The John Paul Stevens Foundation seeks to build a more just and equitable society. As a living tribute to United States Supreme Court Associate Justice John Paul Stevens, the Foundation works to protect and promote democracy and the rule of law, access to justice, and equality by supporting law students, lawyers, and others working in the public interest. The Foundation was established in 2010 in honor of Justice Stevens’ retirement from the U.S. Supreme Court by a group of his former law clerks. An independent nonprofit organization based in Berkeley, the Foundation provides a formal home for the Justice John Paul Stevens Public Interest Fellowship Program.

About the Justice John Paul Stevens Public Interest Fellowship
The Justice John Paul Stevens Public Interest Fellowship was created in 1997 at Northwestern University School of Law, Justice Stevens’ alma mater, to support law students who spend the summer working in otherwise unpaid public interest law internships. The Fellowship Program reflects Justice Stevens’ deep belief that a dynamic and effective justice system depends on a cadre of trained and committed lawyers committed to public interest work. For nearly three decades, the Fellowship Program has supported over 1,100 law students, of whom 73% have gone on to work in the public interest after graduating from law school. In summer 2025, the Fellowship Program will support a cohort of approximately 150 Fellows working in a wide range of public interest placements, serving a variety of communities. 

Media Contact:
Jenny Chung Mejia, Interim Executive Director
jenny@jpstevensfoundation.org