Entries by Xiomara Alfaro-Martinez

MA Appleseed Statement on Continued Discriminatory Treatment at Malden Charter School

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 […]

Urge Your Legislators to Expand Access to Justice and Support the Judiciary IT Bond Bill!

  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 […]

Recruitment Is Open: Seeking Student Participants for a New School Discipline Study

  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 […]

Take Action: Ask Your Legislators to Support The Young Student Exclusion Ban Act!

  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 […]

Contact Your Senator Today to Provide Critical Funding for Students, Youth Experiencing Homelessness, and Renters Facing Eviction

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 […]