Kick off the holiday season right and participate in Giving Tuesday on November 28! Join us in celebrating the global day of giving by creating positive impact in our communities.

Giving Tuesday is about working together to make a difference. How will you give this Giving Tuesday?

Volunteer

Give your time on Giving Tuesday and volunteer! With thousands of unrepresented litigants across the state, there’s an urgent need for pro bono representation. Don’t feel comfortable in a courtroom? Contact us at inquiry@massappleseed.org for volunteer opportunities at MA Appleseed. We welcome any skill set, from research, to legal expertise, to marketing, and everything in between!

Donate

Give a gift to support access to justice in Massachusetts! We envision a world where everyone gets their fair day in court, regardless of how much money they have or what language they speak. Your generosity can make this vision a reality. Join the movement and give back on November 28!

Become a Fundraiser

This year, we’re taking part in the Newman’s Own Foundation 500k Holiday Challenge! Participating organizations compete for up to $500,000 from when the Challenge launches on November 21, 2017 to when it ends on January 3, 2018.

Join us for the #GivingTuesday Bonus Challenge, where the organization that raises the most on November 28 will win $50,000. Click here to create your own fundraiser to spread the word and support our cause!

Mobilize

Your voice is your most powerful tool – so use it! Share on Facebook and Twitter why you care and what inspires you to give. Enter the #MyGivingStory contest to win up to $10,000 to donate to a charity of your choice, post a pic of you volunteering, or reach out to friends and family – why do they give? Start a conversation online and be sure to tag us @MassAppleseed!

For more information, please contact Madeline Poage, Development and Communications Assistant, at madeline@massappleseed.org.

Access to Justice through Innovation and Collaboration

New Directions and Emerging Opportunities: Exploring Cutting-Edge Developments Moving Us Closer to Our Goal of Justice for All

The legal needs of our communities far exceed the legal resources currently available — especially for those unable to afford to hire a private attorney. Many exciting efforts are underway to address this problem in Massachusetts and across the country. One thing is clear: we will need creative approaches and consistent collaboration to make a real and lasting impact on the systemic inequities that render legal help inaccessible for so many. Join us as we step back to assess this panorama, look to the horizon, and then work together to brainstorm solutions.

Our expert panelists will use their unique perspectives and experiences to take on questions related to:

  • Bringing a whole person approach to the user experience in court
  • Fostering better and broader collaboration within and beyond the courts
  • Harnessing technology to better serve clients and communities
  • Using research, evaluation, and data to assess impact and improve processes
  • Exploring New Models for Representation and Advocacy
  • Preliminary findings and Recommendations from the Justice for All Grant

In addition to a wide range of participants including private attorneys, legal service providers, court personnel, thought leaders, social services organizations, and community groups, we are proud to be welcoming Katherine Alteneder of the Self-Represented Litigation Network, Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph Gants, and Judge Dina Fein, First Justice, Housing Court Department, Western Division and Special Advisor to the Trial Court for Access to Justice Initiatives, as featured speakers.

Date: Monday, November 20, 2017
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location: MCLE, 10 Winter Place, Boston, MA 02108

Conference Materials:

Conference Agenda

Keynote Address:
Kathrine Alteneder, Self-Represented Litigation Network
How Design Thinking Can Optimize Pro Bono Engagement in the 100% Access to Justice Ecosystem
SRLN brief — Design Thinking

Bringing a Holistic Approach to the Court User Experience:

Exploring New Models for Advocacy and Representation:

Improving Outcomes Through Evidence-Based Research:

Better and Broader Collaboration Within and Beyond the Courts:

Family Resource Center Materials:

Action Alert

We need your help. 

Last week, the omnibus criminal justice reform bill (S.2200) passed the Senate with the provisions we support from H.328/S.876, An Act decriminalizing non-violent and verbal student misconduct.

These provisions include:

  1. decriminalizing non-violent misconduct in schools by eliminating the crime of disturbing school assembly; and
  2. requiring that MOUs between schools and police departments include certain provisions clarifying that SROs should not be involved in routine disciplinary actions for non-violent school infractions and outlining data collection methods and responsibilities.

But these life-saving provisions are not included in the House bill (H4011).

Research shows that arrests of students for non-violent behavior disproportionately affect students of color and students with disabilities, and the impact can be devastating. A student who is arrested in school is three times more likely to drop out and is subsequently more likely to go to prison, earn less income, and rely more on public benefits.

Representative Aaron Vega has filed Amendment 86 to include these critical provisions and representatives are debating amendments TODAY. 

Please take a minute NOW to call or email your representative and urge them to support Amendment 86!

If the following representatives are yours, please join us in thanking them for co-sponsoring Amendment 86!

These common-sense reforms would move schools away from unnecessary arrests and ensure school resource officers get training in child development, de-escalation techniques, and implicit bias. With your help, this will be a major step in keeping kids in class and out of the school-to-prison pipeline. 

Click here to find your representative’s contact information and call TODAY!

Thank you for your continued support.

Want to stay informed on the latest issues Massachusetts Appleseed is working on?
Sign up for future action alerts.

Action Alert

You did it!

Your tireless efforts have paid off! After intense debate last week, the omnibus criminal justice reform bill (S.2200) passed the Senate! Key provisions we support from H.328/S.876, An Act decriminalizing non-violent and verbal student misconduct were also included in the final Senate bill, which means we are one step closer to dismantling the school-to-prison-pipeline!

Specifically, sections 34, 267, and 268 of S.2200 contain provisions:

  1. decriminalizing non-violent misconduct in schools by eliminating the crime of disturbing school assembly; and
  2. requiring that MOUs between schools and police departments include certain provisions clarifying that SROs should not be involved in routine disciplinary actions for non-violent school infractions and outlining data collection methods and responsibilities.

Like suspensions and expulsions, arrests of students for non-violent behavior disproportionately affect students of color and students with disabilities.

I want to thank you for fighting to preserve these vital sections in the final bill to keep at-risk kids safe and in school.

But it’s not over yet!

The bill has passed the Senate and we expect it to be taken up by the House the week of November 13th. Stay tuned for advocacy opportunities in the House and in the meantime, be sure to call your Senator and thank them for protecting vulnerable youth.

Click here to find your state Senator’s contact information.

Thank you for your continued support.

Want to stay informed on the latest issues Massachusetts Appleseed is working on?
Sign up for future action alerts.