About the Pace Women's Justice Center:
Pace Women’s Justice Center’s (PWJC) free civil legal services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and elder abuse are critical in helping victims of abuse navigate the complex legal system, so they can understand their rights and legal options and stop the violence. We provide direct representation in protection order cases, divorce and spousal support matters, as well as in child support, visitation and custody cases. Our services are multi-lingual and centered around the idea that all abuse survivors, in particular those from low-income and marginalized communities, must have easy access to legal services. In addition to legal help, we work with our community partners to address our clients’ ancillary needs such as shelter, housing, counseling, and immigration issues. Through our outreach, training, and education programs we raise awareness and understanding about abuse, and work to engage law enforcement, healthcare and social service professionals, and other community members in finding solutions to end the systemic problem of domestic violence.

Our Mission: To pursue justice for victims and survivors of abuse, through quality free legal services, community partnerships, education and awareness, service coordination, and referrals.

Ashanti:
Ashanti is a GRAMMY® Award-winning singer/songwriter, actor and author, who burst onto the music scene with her smash hit, self-titled debut album Ashanti. The album landed the #1 spot on both the Billboard Top 200 and R&B album charts, selling a whopping 504,593 units in its first week and set a SoundScan record as the most albums sold by any debut female artist in the chart’s history, granting her a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records, which she still holds today. Ashanti has released six studio albums and received eight Billboard Awards, a GRAMMY, two American Music Awards, two Soul Train Awards, six ASCAP Awards, and many more awards and illustrious honors. Ashanti has continued to reign at the top as one of Billboard’s “Top Females of the Decade from 2000-2010” and continues to break Billboard records as having a Hot 100 entry in the 2000’s, 2010’s and 2020’s.

In 2005, Ashanti made her telefilm debut starring as Dorothy in The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz, opposite Miss Piggy and Kermit. She also starred in the Disney animated series The Proud Family and continued to receive roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Army Wives, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, and portrayed Dionne Warwick on NBC’s American Dreams. She has also played herself and performed on the hit TV series, Vegas.
In her feature film debut in Coach Carter, Ashanti co-starred with Samuel L. Jackson, and the film was a #1 box office hit. Ashanti’s other film credits include Resident Evil Extinction, John Tucker Must Die and Bollywood film Bride & Prejudice. Ashanti executive produced, starred in the musical drama and feature film STUCK, released April 2019. She also executive produced the feature film Mothers and Daughters, starring Sharon Stone, Susan Sarandon, Mira Sorvino and more.

Ashanti recently starred in Honey Girls, in partnership with Build-A-Bear Entertainment and Sony Pictures’ rom-com The Plus One, that she will Executive Produce and star in, alongside Cedric the Entertainer, released September 29, 2023. Ashanti will also star in No Address, a film about a group of people that are experiencing homelessness and realize they must bond together as a family if they are going to survive, to be released in 2024.

Ashanti has built her brand with several major partnerships and has her own fragrance, "Precious Jewel" with AMC Beauty, American Express, Shea Moisture and Ciroc, to name a few. Her endorsements include Herbal Essences, where she is the first African American to land a national campaign, and Candies Apparel. She launched her clothing line in collaboration with Miss Circle and partnered with Pretty Little Thing to create her own swimsuit line “Ashanti.”

She has written her first book of poetry through Hyperion titled Foolish/Unfoolish: Reflections on Love and released her first children’s book, My Name Is A Story, with Harper Collins on July 12, 2022. My Name Is A Story was voted, “2023 Best Children’s Book” by the African American Literary Awards.

Ashanti is the Ambassador for the Jumpstart Reading Program and became the “Youth of the Year” Ambassador for the Boys and Girls Club of America in 2009 and was also inducted into their Hall of Fame. She became a member of their "BE GREAT" Campaign with Denzel Washington, was also a part of the “Let’s Move” campaign with Michelle Obama.

To celebrate her contributions to music and recording, Ashanti received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 7, 2022.

Pace Women's Justice Center is excited to announce this year's Raising the Bar Benefit Concert performer - Grammy Award-winning artist ASHANTI. This event will support free, legal services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse. Supporters of the PWJC community will receive exclusive benefits through sponsorships, including VIP passes, a VIP reception, front orchestra seating, event parking and more!