According to current news reports, a staff member of the Mystic Valley Regional Charter School in Malden recently cited an eighth-grader for wearing a hijab, which was deemed a “uniform infraction.” Deborah Silva, Executive Director of Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, released the following statement: “Policies like this harm students – there’s simply […]
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, self-represented litigants faced an uphill battle in the civil justice system. For a person unable to afford an attorney and forced to walk into court alone, something as small as knowing how or where to file a form could be a confusing, anxiety-inducing process. Then COVID-19 hit. Thousands lost jobs, […]
In April, you joined us in calling on the House to prioritize equity, justice, and opportunity in the Massachusetts state budget, especially for those who have been hit hardest during the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re so thankful to everyone who took action, sending more than 100 letters to representatives across the Commonwealth! This was an […]
The state budget is a reflection of our values and an opportunity to secure essential funding for services across the Commonwealth. As our communities work to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring the budget prioritizes equity, justice, and opportunity for those who have been hit hardest is more urgent than ever. The Massachusetts House […]
Thanks to the swift action of supporters like you, the Judiciary IT Bond bill was reported out of the Judiciary Committee favorably earlier this year! Now, it moves to the Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets. We cannot miss this opportunity to invest in access to justice at an unprecedented scale. Take action […]
Budget season is in full swing in Massachusetts, and we need you to raise your voice for language access. Earlier this week, the Massachusetts House released a supplemental budget bill (H.4479) allocating about $1 billion in federal funds. In exciting news, Chairman Antonio Cabral of New Bedford has filed an important amendment in support […]
The civil justice system is designed by lawyers and for lawyers, which means trying to navigate complex court processes without legal representation can be almost impossible. But thousands of people facing life-changing challenges like wrongful eviction or crushing debt cannot afford an attorney, so representing themselves is their only option. Contact your legislators and tell […]
Last year, we published a collaborative, data-driven report which found that Black girls in Massachusetts schools are nearly 4 times more likely to be disciplined than their white counterparts. Now, we’ve brought together a Community Advisory Board – made up of students, educators, advocates, and organizations from around the state – to conduct a new study that will […]
The Massachusetts Legislature is preparing to break for the holidays soon. But before that happens, we have an exciting opportunity to move the Young Student Exclusion Ban Act forward and eliminate harsh disciplinary policies that fuel the school-to-prison pipeline. This bill is scheduled for a legislative hearing next week – which means we have just a few days to […]
Just a few weeks ago, the House debated hundreds of amendments to determine how to allocate funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and surplus funds from last fiscal year. And with your help, several significant amendments were included – prioritizing BIPOC youth and youth experiencing homelessness and addressing barriers to education for low-income […]
