About Our Research: Using Semi-Structured Interviews as a Data Collection Method 

Given our community-based research approach at MA Appleseed, we collect data in several ways. Whether qualitative or quantitative, we center racial equity in our process to ensure that those impacted by the issues we study have their voices heard. 

We explained focus groups and qualitative surveys in past blog posts. In the next blog post, we outline our use of quantitative data requests from state agencies. This post will dig into semi-structured interviews. 

Interviews allow us to dive deeper into a particular topic with various individuals who are experts, whether from their lived experience or work in and around the issue. This data collection method can stand alone, or follow another kind, such as a survey.  

Via interviews, we can gather more detailed information and stories from those experiencing a specific social issue or inequity. This research method gives space for a more relational and personal approach with each participant, placing the sole focus on one person and their stories. 

Our project investigating language access for Limited English Proficient (LEP) clients of the MA Department of Children and Families (DCF) exemplifies how we utilize semi-structured interviews. A few years after we released our Families Torn Apart report, we sent a survey to lawyers who work with DCF-involved families that are LEP to gauge any potential improvements. Following the survey, we held short interviews with respondents who agreed to be contacted further. We were able to ask tailored questions based on their survey responses to get more detailed information and narratives. These interviews proved critical to the memo we drafted given that they greatly bolstered our qualitative findings. 

How do we prepare for interviews? We create an interview guide ahead of time, which is a list of questions ordered in a certain way. Interview guides are important for several reasons: 

  • They provide the researcher with a list of questions to ask at each interview to standardize the data collected 
  • The questions are in an order that help to “warm up” the interviewee and allow for relationship building between the interviewer and interviewee 
  • There are “probes,” or follow-up questions that delve deeper into specific topics, that can be used depending on participants’ responses in the moment 

Interview guides are crucial to a successful semi-structured interview and the interviews are semi-structured for a reason. The idea behind a guide, rather than a script, is that interviews should ultimately feel like conversations where the interviewee is as comfortable as possible. Having the structured interview guide along with the flexibility to veer away from it to ask different questions makes for the ideal situation. Essentially, this is the definition of a semi-structured interview.  

This data collection method mainly centers on qualitative data. When we do interviews, we look for personal accounts, emotions, and outcomes. The stories and quotes that arise from interviews are incredibly valuable data that uplifts the people behind the social issue, rather than solely thinking about the problem from a numerical (quantitative) point of view. 

The next blog post in this series will explain our use of quantitative data requests from state agencies. Stay tuned! 

Breaking the Cycle: The Connection Between Youth Experiencing Homelessness and Sexual Exploitation

This year, concerning findings emerged from the 2024 Massachusetts Youth Count, which surveyed 661 young people across the state. These 661 individuals met the definition of an “unaccompanied young person currently experiencing homelessness” (UHY), as defined by the Massachusetts Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Commission. This definition includes young people aged 24 or younger who are not in the physical custody of a parent or legal guardian and who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. 

The 2024 Youth Count demonstrated how the absence of a stable, safe home or support system leaves youth experiencing homelessness vulnerable to harm. Specifically, the survey showed the connection between homelessness and exchanging sex for basic needs. In 2024, 19.8% of youth experiencing homelessness reported exchanging sex or sexual content to meet needs like food, shelter, or money, an increase from 17% in 2021. Of this group, 26.7% said someone else controlled the profits from those exchanges, meeting the definition of commercial sexual exploitation. 

These statistics point to a dangerous reality for many youth experiencing homelessness. Accessing essential services such as housing, healthcare, and financial resources is so challenging that the risk of exploitation increases significantly. 

While there are resources available for youth experiencing homelessness in Massachusetts, existing legal and systemic barriers often inhibit access to them. Current Massachusetts law does not allow youth under the age of 18 to receive many services without the consent of a parent or guardian. While minors in Massachusetts can consent to some services, such as family planning and emergency medical treatment, without the consent of their parent/guardian they cannot consent to other basic services like lockers, showers, or case management. As a result, youth are turned away when trying to access these essential services because they do not have a parent or guardian to sign off. 

Another major barrier is the requirement for state-issued identification (ID). Youth experiencing homelessness are often unable to obtain an ID due to the cost and need for parental consent in many cases. Without an ID, young people are unable to access essential services like healthcare, nutrition assistance, cash assistance, and employment opportunities. According to the 2022 Massachusetts Youth Count, the lack of ID was identified as one of the most significant obstacles to accessing these services. Specifically, 22% of homeless young people reported being unable to receive nutrition or cash assistance due to not having an ID. In addition, a lack of ID prevented 19% of young people experiencing homelessness from accessing essential health services, and 17% from accessing employment services. 

These barriers to accessing basic services make youth experiencing homelessness more vulnerable to exchanging sex for needs. To end the cycle of commercial sexual exploitation, the barriers preventing youth from accessing the services they need must be addressed. Without action, the cycle of exploitation and harm will continue. 

At MA Appleseed, we support An Act Allowing Certain Minors to Consent to Supportive Services (H.290/S.132). This bill would allow a mature minor between the ages of 15 and 18 who is experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness to consent to supportive services without needing a parent or guardian. We also support An Act to Provide Identification to Youth and Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness (H.3750/S.2399). This bill would create an exception process to waive the $25 fee and allow unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness to obtain a Massachusetts ID card without parental consent. 

Both of these bills are crucial to ensuring youth experiencing homelessness can access the services they need and break the cycle of sexual exploitation. 

To support these bills or join us in coalition, contact Nadia Romanazzi at nadia@massappleseed.org. 

Dismantle Longstanding Language Barriers to Equal Access to State Services: Improve Language Access at State Agencies

People depend on state agencies to address needs and challenges – from applying for unemployment assistance, to keeping food on the table and staving off an eviction, to navigating the complexities of the child welfare system. While nearly 1 in 4 Massachusetts residents speak a language other than English in the home, our Commonwealth’s services and information are overwhelmingly conveyed in English alone, effectively denying hundreds of thousands of families the ability to access critical resources.

Take Action

 

An Act relative to language access and inclusion H.3384/S.2125 (Sen. DiDomenico, Rep. Madaro, Rep. González), would address this crisis by standardizing and enforcing language access policies and practices at select state agencies to ensure all residents have equal access to the services and information they need.

Language access is essential to the safety, stability, and well-being of our communities. Take this one-minute action to urge your legislator to co-sponsor this important piece of legislation! 

 

Keep informed & stay involved!

Stay tuned for more opportunities to take action and support Massachusetts families and youth by liking us on Facebook and following us Instagram and LinkedIn! Check out our website for our most recent news.

To support our work, please consider giving a donation today.

Thank you for advancing social justice in Massachusetts!

 

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About Our Research: Using Qualitative Surveys as a Data Collection Method 

Given our community-based research approach at MA Appleseed, we collect data in several ways. Whether qualitative or quantitative, we center racial equity in our process to ensure that those impacted by the issues we study have their voices heard.  

We explained focus groups in our last blog post. In the next few blog posts, we outline the data collection methods we employ, including semi-structured interviews and quantitative data requests from state agencies. This post will dig into qualitative surveys. 

Surveys are a helpful tool in our research repertoire. This method can be especially useful when we want to: 

  • Hear from lawyers, advocates, service providers, and other people working on the social issues we are studying 
  • Get information from a large and diverse set of respondents 
  • Gather data in a more convenient manner for participants 
  • Collect quantitative data to support our qualitative findings 
  • Compile a considerable amount of data 

Putting together a survey takes thought and intentionality. We try to focus on ordering the questions in an intuitive way for respondents and only ask questions that we need answers for.  

We prioritize including several types of questions in our surveys to create a dynamic experience for participants. This variation is also important in terms of the data we collect. For example, we can extrapolate percentages, majorities, and the number of respondents providing a specific answer from the different types of questions we ask. This quantitative information helps back up our largely qualitative research findings.  

Surveys take a good deal of time to compile, and we test them before dissemination to work out any kinks and make sure the questions provide the information we are seeking. Although we spend a lot of time on the front end with survey creation, participants only need to take a set amount of time to complete a survey, making this data collection method more passive and less time-consuming for them.  

An example of these strategies in practice is a follow-up survey to our Families Torn Apart report and subsequent civil rights complaint against the MA Department of Children and Families (DCF). We disseminated this survey to lawyers who represent families with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) that are involved with DCF and gathered updated information on language access services provided to their clients. By including a variety of question types and spaces for respondents to expand on their answers, we were able to analyze the data and compile findings that confirmed a lack of improvement in outcomes for families that are LEP and involved with DCF. 

Another positive aspect of survey dissemination is that surveys can be sent to a large group of people easily, for example via listservs. Reaching a wide audience is typically important when collecting data in this way.  

Overall, surveys are useful when we are looking to reach a diverse set of respondents, put less onus on participants, and compile findings that are both qualitative and quantitative in nature.  

The next blog post in this series will explain our use of semi-structured interviews. Stay tuned! 

About Our Research: Using Focus Groups as a Data Collection Method

Given our community-based research approach at MA Appleseed, we collect data in several ways. Whether qualitative or quantitative, we center racial equity and lived experience in our process to ensure that those impacted by the issues we study have their voices heard. 

In the next several blog posts, we outline the data collection methods we employ, including qualitative surveys, semi-structured interviews, and quantitative data requests from state agencies. This post will dig into focus groups. 

One way we uplift the voices of impacted individuals on a particular topic is hosting small focus groups with community members. These structured sessions allow us to hold and create space for impacted individuals to share their experiences in a supportive and validating setting, bring community together, and gain a deeper understanding of the issue at hand from those directly facing it.  

We prioritize intentional community outreach to recruit participants, oftentimes partnering with direct service providers who already serve the populations we are focusing on. Our existing relationships with partner organizations help to facilitate this outreach. For example, we got feedback on an ad campaign for the Homeless Youth Handbook from The Home for Little Wanderers, where we have previously given Know-Your-Rights presentations. Additionally, we hold focus groups in locations that are convenient for participants and provide a meal and financial compensation for their time and expertise.  

One of our current projects is investigating the state of language access in the MA Trial Courts for litigants who are Limited English Proficient or Deaf and Hard of Hearing. As part of this research effort, we held focus groups with impacted community members who speak different languages. To make these sessions feel more genuine, familiar, and comfortable for participants, we found facilitators who spoke the relevant language to eliminate the need for an interpreter. 

In all, focus groups are a great resource in our toolkit when we want to understand the everyday experiences of marginalized and minoritized individuals interacting with institutions such as the criminal legal, education, and public benefits systems. That said, they require deep relationship building and must not be transactional in a way that only benefits the researcher.  

The next blog post in this series will explain our use of qualitative surveys. Stay tuned! 

MA Appleseed Welcomes Melina Muñoz Turco and Lyndsey Stults to the Board of Directors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Boston, MA, February 18, 2025 – Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, a social justice research and advocacy nonprofit, welcomed Melina Muñoz Turco and Lyndsey Stults to its Board of Directors on November 18, 2024.  

Melina Muñoz Turco, Turco Legal, P.C.

Melina Muñoz Turco (she/her/hers) is Turco Legal, P.C.’s Director of Community Engagement, leading the firm’s philanthropic efforts and managing projects that make legal information more accessible to the public. She began her public service career as a legislative aide, first in the Boston City Council and then in the Massachusetts State Senate. She later joined the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center as the statewide Forensics Legal Advocate, an experience which inspired her to pursue a legal career. Melina brings extensive understanding of the ways legal issues impact people’s ability to live healthy lives from her time supporting the medical-legal partnership at both the Central West Justice Center and the Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts. She eventually went on to serve as a staff attorney at the Boston Court Service Center, where she provided information and assistance to pro se litigants. Melina dedicates her time as a volunteer with the Massachusetts Bar Association and additionally serves on the Racial Justice Committee of the YWCA Greater Newburyport. In 2023, she won a Massachusetts Bar Association Volunteer Recognition Award for her work and, in 2024, received an Excellence in the Law: Up and Coming Lawyers Award from Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. Melina is also the Co-Founder of JusticeApp, a free mobile app designed to help those with legal issues more easily navigate the court process. 

“I’m deeply honored to join the Massachusetts Appleseed Board and am eager to support the organization in advancing its mission,” said Ms. Muñoz Turco. “Throughout my legal career, I’ve witnessed the profound and meaningful impact of Appleseed’s work in promoting equity and justice. I hope to draw on my knowledge and experience to help strengthen its efforts in creating transformative, systemic change.” 

Lyndsey Stults, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP

Lyndsey Stults (she/her/hers) is a Partner at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, where she focuses on complex commercial litigation and counseling institutions of higher education. She brings significant appellate experience as a former assistant district attorney at the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, where she wrote appellate briefs and argued several cases before the Massachusetts Appeals Court. Her commitment to advancing civil rights blossomed in law school as she worked with a range of organizations and agencies, including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Family Equality Council, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, Equality Illinois, and the John Marshall Law School Veterans Legal Clinic. An active volunteer with MA Appleseed, Lyndsey has contributed hours and expertise to the organization’s Access to Justice Initiative alongside her Nelson Mullins colleagues, helping examine language access policies across the country to inform recommendations for change in Massachusetts’ own courts.

“I am deeply honored to join the Board of Massachusetts Appleseed, an organization at the forefront of advocating for system solutions to promote justice, access, and opportunities across Massachusetts,” said Ms. Stults. “I look forward to supporting Massachusetts Appleseed’s mission, and I am excited to collaborate with fellow Board members and advocates along the way.” 

“I am thrilled with the recent election of two new Directors to our Board, Melina Munoz Turco of Turco Legal, P. C., and Lyndsey Stults of Nelson Mullins LLP, all of whom have long shared and supported the values we embrace at Appleseed,” said John Shutkin, Appleseed’s newly elected Board Chair.  

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About Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice  

MA Appleseed is driven by a mission to promote equal rights and opportunities for Massachusetts residents by developing and advocating for systemic solutions to social justice issues. Through policy analysis and research, coalition building, education and training, community organizing, and advocacy, the nonprofit seeks systems-level change so all Massachusetts families and youth can exercise their legal rights, build pathways out of poverty and crisis, and thrive. Responding to emerging and enduring inequities, MA Appleseed addresses an array of complex issues including self-representation in the civil justice system, language access for immigrant families, the school-to-prison pipeline, and youth homelessness. To explore recent research, find resources, sign up for opportunities to take action, or donate, please visit massappleseed.org.   

 

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John Shutkin and Wesley Gee Elected Chair and Vice Chair of Massachusetts Appleseed’s Board of Directors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Boston, MA, February 7, 2025 – The Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice Board of Directors unanimously voted to appoint John Shutkin as Chair at its Board meeting on January 28, 2025. He succeeds Melanie Todman, Senior Legal Counsel at Massachusetts General Brigham, who served as Board Chair since 2019 and who will remain on the Board.  

Additionally, the Board unanimously elected Wesley Gee, Partner at ArentFox Schiff LLP, as the new Vice Chair, succeeding Mr. Shutkin who served as Board Vice Chair since 2019. 

“It has been an honor to serve as Chair of the Board over the past several years, and I thank my fellow Board members for their collaboration and trust,” said Ms. Todman. “I join the rest of the Board in congratulating John, who has a strong commitment to moving Massachusetts Appleseed’s mission and projects forward, as well as Wes, the Board’s new Vice Chair. I am confident that, under their leadership, Appleseed will continue to address the systemic barriers that keep equal opportunity out of reach for so many in our state.” 

John Shutkin, CliftonLarsonAllen (retired)

John. Shutkin has extensive legal experience including serving as the General Counsel of CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, KPMG International, and the law firm of Shearman & Sterling LLP. Throughout his career, he has devoted his time to working for equal justice and educational excellence, especially for communities in need, serving on the boards of the Wisconsin Equal Justice Fund, the Partnership for After School Education (PASE), the Bank Street College of Education, and the National Center for Law and Economic Justice. Mr. Shutkin is a committed member of the Appleseed Network and previously served on the Board of Massachusetts Appleseed’s sister center, Connecticut Appleseed, and currently serves as an Affiliate Member on the National Appleseed Foundation’s Board. 

“I want to extend my deepest thanks to Melanie Todman for her tireless work as Chair before me, and to the Board of Directors for their confidence in me to serve in this new role,” said Mr. Shutkin. “Appleseed’s work to break down systemic barriers affecting our most vulnerable residents is more important than ever, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Board and Marcy and Appleseed’s amazing and dedicated staff to continue moving Appleseed’s vital mission and projects forward.” 

Wesley Gee, Partner at ArentFox Schiff LLP

Wesley Gee is a Partner in ArentFox Schiff’s Boston Office and his practice focuses on advising clients on corporate and commercial matters across a wide range of industries, including sports and entertainment, fashion, consumer products, and healthcare. A dedicated member of ArentFox’s Pro Bono Committee, Mr. Gee has guided multiple nonprofit organizations through the formation and tax-exempt status processes and routinely advises these organizations on a wide array of legal issues. In his time on the Board of Directors, Mr. Gee has generously supported the organization’s work, being involved on the Finance Committee and now as Vice Chair, will also chair the Governance Committee.   

“I am honored to have the opportunity to work alongside John, the Board, Marcy, and Appleseed’s staff to advance Appleseed’s vital mission and projects as Vice Chair,” said Mr. Gee. “I also want to thank my fellow Board members for their trust in me and express my deep gratitude to Melanie Todman for her years of leadership and wisdom. I will carry forward the lessons learned as we look toward the future.”  

Massachusetts Appleseed is thrilled to have Mr. Shutkin and Mr. Gee at the helm, along with Interim Executive Director Marcy Goldstein-Gelb, as the organization charts its path forward. 

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About Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice  

MA Appleseed is driven by a mission to promote equal rights and opportunities for Massachusetts residents by developing and advocating for systemic solutions to social justice issues. Through policy analysis and research, coalition building, education and training, community organizing, and advocacy, the nonprofit seeks systems-level change so all Massachusetts families and youth can exercise their legal rights, build pathways out of poverty and crisis, and thrive. Responding to emerging and enduring inequities, MA Appleseed addresses an array of complex issues including self-representation in the civil justice system, language access for immigrant families, the school-to-prison pipeline, and youth homelessness. To explore recent research, find resources, sign up for opportunities to take action, or donate, please visit massappleseed.org.   

 

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Marcy Goldstein-Gelb Named Interim Executive Director of MA Appleseed

Marcy Goldstein-Gelb, Interim Executive Director

At a time when MA Appleseed’s mission to promote equal rights and opportunities for all has never been more essential, we are excited to announce the appointment of Marcy Goldstein-Gelb as our Interim Executive Director to build on the strong foundation we have established together. This important step will help us further strengthen the organization and ensure we are well-positioned for the future.

Marcy, a member of Interim Executive Solutions Network, brings a wealth of experience and leadership to our team. With a long history of guiding nonprofit legal advocacy organizations, most recently at National COSH (Council for Occupational Safety and Health), she will bring expertise in organizational management, coalition-building, and navigating complex policy landscapes — skills that will be invaluable in supporting our continued growth.

With a background in homelessness prevention, language justice, and community-led research, Marcy joins MA Appleseed’s talented staff ready to face the many challenges in the coming months. From sweeping anti-immigrant policies, the ongoing criminalization of homelessness, and attacks against LGBTQ+ youth, we find ourselves at a decisive inflection point. Grounded in our mission and core values, MA Appleseed will keep doing what we do best: listening to individuals closest to the issues, investigating the root causes of community harm, and bringing people together to advance powerful policy reform that improves the lives of Bay Staters.

As we prepare for the next chapter in MA Appleseed’s 30-year history, this is a moment for reflection and progress, and we are confident that Marcy’s leadership will help us identify key actions to deepen our impact in the communities we serve.

Please join us in welcoming Marcy and feel free to connect with her if you have any suggestions, questions, needs, or concerns. She can be reached at marcy@massappleseed.org.

Together, we look forward to building an even stronger future for our organization and the people of Massachusetts.

Sincerely,

Melanie L. Todman, Board Chair

John A. Shutkin, Vice Chair

 

About MA Appleseed Center for Law and Justice:

MA Appleseed is driven by a mission to promote equal rights and opportunities for Massachusetts residents by developing and advocating for systemic solutions to social justice issues. Through policy analysis and research, coalition building, education and training, community organizing, and advocacy, the nonprofit seeks systems-level change so all Massachusetts families and youth can exercise their legal rights, build pathways out of poverty and crisis, and thrive. Responding to emerging and enduring inequities, MA Appleseed addresses an array of complex issues including self-representation in the civil justice system, language access for immigrant families, the school-to-prison pipeline, and youth homelessness. To explore recent research, find resources, sign up for opportunities to take action, or donate, please visit massappleseed.org.

About Interim Executive Solutions (IES):

IES nonprofit interim professionals are dedicated to strengthening the nonprofit sector by assisting organizations to increase their productivity and impact. IES Partners and their Network Members bring extensive nonprofit leadership experience as well as specialized expertise that can be accessed as needed by nonprofit organizations contemplating or undergoing leadership transitions.

 

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Update from MA Appleseed’s Board of Directors

Happy New Year! I am writing as the proud Vice Chair of Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice. Later this month, I will be succeeding Melanie Todman as Chair of MA Appleseed, and I first want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their partnership and support – Appleseed’s strength comes from our entire community, and it’s only by working together that we’re able to move the dial on urgent social justice issues impacting people across Massachusetts.

As you already know, our much beloved Executive Director Deb Silva departed last month to become Director of the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission. And now, Maddie Poage, our equally beloved Director of Development and Communications since 2017 (and, briefly, our Acting Executive Director), has informed us that she will be leaving Appleseed at the end of January to assume the position of Communications Manager at Just Vision. As with Deb, this is terrific news for Maddie, and we wish her nothing but the best, but we will miss her greatly here at Appleseed.

In light of these moves, Melanie and I have put together a Succession Committee of our Board of Directors which we are jointly leading to quickly secure a new interim Executive Director. On a longer-term basis, the Succession Committee will be moving forward to hire a permanent Executive Director by way of a careful, comprehensive search process.

These are obviously crucial and challenging efforts and times for Appleseed, but we are well-situated to address them, programmatically, financially, and in terms of our outstanding staff and dedicated Board of Directors. Having chaired and/or served on search committees of about a half-dozen other leadership searches for non-profit organizations, I know this is also an opportunity to strategize about how we can maximize our impact and I’m looking forward to the fresh perspectives and new talent we will be bringing in to launch this next chapter in MA Appleseed’s 30-year history.

If you have any questions – or, indeed, any Executive Director suggestions or recommendations – please don’t hesitate to reach out to me per the contact information set forth below. In any event, we very much appreciate all your support of Appleseed and shall, of course, keep you informed of developments.

All the best,

John A. Shutkin (he/him/his)
Vice Chair of the Board
Massachusetts Appleseed

Email me
414-306-1929

 

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