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Massachusetts Appleseed Presents 10th Annual “Good Apple” Award

For Immediate Release

Jonathan Chiel
Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Fidelity Investments

Fidelity Investments General Counsel Jonathan Chiel is Honored

Boston, MA – “As a true steward of justice and one of the most respected members of the New England legal community, we could not think of a better recipient for the Tenth Annual Good Apple Award than Jonathan,” said Martha Mazzone, chair of the Board of Directors of Mass Appleseed.

Jonathan Chiel is Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Fidelity Investments, and also has responsibility for Fidelity’s Public Affairs and Policy Group. Prior to joining Fidelity, Mr. Chiel was general counsel at John Hancock Financial Services, the United States division of Manulife Financial, and was a member of the Manulife Management Committee. Before joining Hancock, Mr. Chiel was a partner with Choate, Hall and Stewart in Boston, serving as chair of the firm’s Government Enforcement Practice Group. Earlier in his career, he was an assistant U.S. attorney in the Boston office, and served first as the Chief of the New England Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, then as Chief of the Public Corruption Unit and finally as Chief of the Criminal Division. Mr. Chiel is a director on the boards of the Boston Bar Foundation, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Chamber Litigation Center and Maimonides School. Mr. Chiel received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University and J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Recent past recipients of the Good Apple award include Paul Dacier, General Counsel of EMC Corporation, Susan Alexander, Chief Legal Officer of Biogen Idec, Stephanie S. Lovell, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, and Jeffrey N. Carp, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of State Street Corporation.

About the Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice

Massachusetts Appleseed’s mission is to promote equal rights and opportunities for Massachusetts’ residents by developing and advocating for systemic solutions to social justice issues.

At Massachusetts Appleseed, we dedicate ourselves to remedying social injustices for at-risk and underserved children, youth, and adults. Working with volunteer lawyers, community partners, and others, we identify and address gaps in services and opportunities in areas such as education, homelessness, and the court system. Through in-depth research, consensus building, and community problem solving, we develop powerful solutions for reforming the systems and structures responsible.Our work seeks to level the playing field and transform communities.

April 7, 2017

Press Releases

Appleseed Releases Guide to Help Lawyers Navigate Immigration Courts

For Immediate Release

Guide Comes as Record-Setting Backlog of Immigrant Cases Face Uncertain Future

Washington, DC and Chicago, IL, February 14, 2017 – With refugees and other immigrants facing rapidly escalating challenges, the Appleseed Network today released a major new resource to help new and experienced attorneys navigate the complicated U.S. immigration court system and save immigrants from deportation, exile and persecution.

The new Practice Guide, titled “Getting Off the Assembly Line: Overcoming Immigration Court Obstacles in Individual Cases,” is a product of the Immigration Justice Collaboration of Appleseed, a non-profit network of 17 Centers across the U.S. and Mexico, dedicated to advancing justice and opportunities that help low-income people and working families build better lives.

A record half-million cases are waiting to be heard by U.S. immigration courts, which pose daunting obstacles: the near-absence of formal discovery, the challenges interpreting to and from foreign languages, and minimal out-of-court contact between attorneys, their clients and opposing counsel.

The Guide provides an overview of immigration court proceedings, as well as specific sections on working with clients in detention, obtaining client documents from the government, pre-hearing communications with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), dealing with interpretation and videoconferencing challenges and reporting immigration judge and DHS attorney misconduct. The Guide also provides several template and sample documents to assist attorneys in these cases.

“This Guide should help every attorney do a better job in immigration court — and encourage more attorneys to do pro bono representation in these courts,” said Steve Schulman, co-chair of Appleseed’s national board.

“Better trained immigration attorneys will help insure that immigration courts are guided by due process and that they always follow the rule of law,” said Malcolm Rich, Executive Director of Chicago Appleseed.

“For more than two decades, the Appleseed Network has helped refugees and other immigrants seek justice and opportunity in the United States and Mexico. In this critical moment of moral and legal challenge, Appleseed and many of its Centers around the country are redoubling our efforts to help vulnerable immigrants and refugees: through systemic reforms, pro bono representation, and efforts to help immigrants build better lives and make our nation stronger. The Guide is the next crucial step in that work,” added Bert Brandenburg, President of Appleseed.

The law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP provided pro bono assistance and counsel in the development of the new Practice Guide. This is the latest in a series of immigration-related research and publishing projects on which Akin Gump and Appleseed have collaborated. Previous reports have included A DREAM Deferred: From DACA to Citizenship (PDF) and Reimagining the Immigration Court Assembly Line.

For more information and to download the report, please visit Appleseed’s website.

About Appleseed

A nonprofit network of 17 public interest justice centers in the U.S. and Mexico, Appleseed is dedicated to building a society in which opportunities are genuine, access to justice is universal and equal, and government advances the public interest.

February 14, 2017

2017 Good Apple Reception Announcement

Jonathan Chiel
Good Apple Award Recipient

Save the Date!

March 23, 2017
6:00 pm Reception
7:00 pm Award Ceremony
Boston Harbor Hotel, The Atlantic Room

10th Anniversary Good Apple Award

On Thursday, March 23rd 2017 Massachusetts Appleseed will host its 10th annual Good Apple reception at the Boston Harbor Hotel. We are pleased to announce that this year’s recipient of the Good Apple Award will be Jonathan Chiel, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Fidelity Investments.

The Good Apple Award is presented annually to a person in the legal community who exemplifies the true spirit of Massachusetts Appleseed’s mission; promoting equal rights and opportunities for Massachusetts residents by developing and advocating for systemic solutions to social justice issues. Throughout his career, Mr. Chiel has demonstrated his dedication to excellence in the law, public service and social justice and the reception will highlight his many accomplishments and commitment to caring for others.

As Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Fidelity Investments, Mr. Chiel also has responsibility for Fidelity’s Public Affairs and Policy Group. Prior to joining Fidelity he was General Counsel at John Hancock Financial Services, the US division of Manulife Financial and was a member of the Manulife Management Committee. Before joining Hancock, Mr. Chiel was a partner with Choate, Hall and Stewart in Boston, serving as chair of the firm’s Government Enforcement Practice Group. Earlier in his career, he was an assistant U.S. Attorney in the Boston office for 10 years, serving as Chief of the Criminal Division from 1993 to 1995. Mr. Chiel received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University and a Juris Doctorate Degree from Harvard Law School.

Active in numerous civic, educational and charitable pursuits, Mr. Chiel currently serves as a director on the boards of the Boston Bar Foundation and the Maimonides School. Unwavering in his commitment to fairness and social justice, Mr. Chiel represents the very best in our legal community and is a “Good Apple” in the truest sense.

For sponsorship opportunities or tickets, please contact Stephanie Adler at stephanie@massappleseed.org.

Invitation (PDF)
Sponsor Pledge Form (PDF)
2017 Good Apple Award Recipient (PDF)

January 1, 2017

Press Releases

Mass. Appleseed Announces New Executive Director

For Immediate Release

Deb Silva Executive Director

Boston, MA, June 16, 2016 – Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice (Mass. Appleseed) announces today that it has selected Deborah Silva, Esq, as its new Executive Director. Starting in mid-July, Ms. Silva will lead Mass. Appleseed as it continues to pursue broad systemic reform initiatives focused on equity in public education and access to Massachusetts’ courts and legal system.

Silva has served as the Director of the Equal Justice Coalition for the past four years, within the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation. Equal Justice Coalition’s mission is to ensure civil legal assistance for low-income people in Massachusetts.

“Deborah is a talented advocate with extensive experience building coalitions around social policy initiatives and driving important change for Massachusetts residents,” said Martha Mazzone, Chair of the Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice Board of Directors. “Throughout her career, she has demonstrated her commitment to equality and justice. We are excited to see Deborah put her energy and ideas to work at Mass. Appleseed.”

“This is an amazing opportunity to employ policy and research along with advocacy and collaboration to push reform in Massachusetts,” said Silva.

Silva holds a law degree from Boston College. She has 20 years’ experience in law and advocacy, having worked previously as Director of Public Policy for AIDS Action Committee, Legislative Director for the Mass Law Reform Institute, and Legislative Aide to former state Rep. Carl Sciortino. Silva lives in Arlington with her wife and two children.

About Mass. Appleseed

Mass. Appleseed has been instrumental in leading vital systemic reform initiatives for over 20 years. By building on its experience and expertise as a leader, a convener and a trusted research and policy resource, Mass. Appleseed has been a key voice in influencing policy on education, youth homelessness issues, and the courts in Massachusetts.

June 16, 2016

Press Releases

Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice Thanks Its Former Executive Director for Her Service

For Immediate Release

Boston, MA, April 19, 2016 – Executive Director Joan Meschino of the Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice has won the Democratic primary in the special election for the open State Senate seat in the Plymouth and Norfolk district. In the wake of her victory, Meschino resigned her post as Executive Director effective immediately. Meschino had been on a leave of absence during her primary run.

The Board of Directors of Massachusetts Appleseed extends its thanks and recognition to Meschino for her leadership over the past eight years. During Meschino’s tenure, Massachusetts Appleseed has championed due process rights and equal treatment for children who are suspended and expelled from school, access to education for homeless children, and access to justice for underserved populations. Board Chair Martha Mazzone said, “We at Massachusetts Appleseed are grateful for Joan’s tireless and effective work on behalf of the Center and the citizens of the Commonwealth. Joan is leaving our Center stronger than she found it. Through Joan’s leadership, we are on a clear path for continuing to serve the community by seeking systemic solutions to social justice issues.”

The Board of Directors of Massachusetts Appleseed wishes Meschino the very best in her future endeavors and thanks her for many years of friendship and service.

About MA Appleseed

MA Appleseed’s mission is to promote equal rights and opportunities for Massachusetts residents by developing and advocating for systemic solutions to social justice issues. At MA Appleseed, we dedicate ourselves to remedying social injustices for at-risk and underserved children, youth, and adults. Working with volunteer lawyers, community partners, and others, we identify and address gaps in services and opportunities in areas such as education, homelessness, and the court system. Through in-depth research, community problem-solving, and consensus building, we develop powerful solutions that reform systems and structures.

April 19, 2016

Events, MA Appleseed Conferences

2016 School Climates Conference

2016 “Building Positive School Climates” Conference

MA Appleseed hosted its third “Building Positive School Climates” conference on April 11th, 2016 at Clark University in Worcester. The conference drew a diverse audience of over 200 people from across the state to discuss implementation of the new school discipline law and learn about alternatives to exclusionary zero tolerance policies. Remarks from high-ranking state leaders such as Chief Justice of the Juvenile Courts Amy Nechtem and Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester signaled a significant, multi-sector state-level commitment to school discipline reform, and poignant remarks from Worcester youth inspired many in the audience to consider incorporating Restorative Practices into their work. Overall, participants left feeling encouraged by some of the progress being made in the area of school discipline reform, and equipped with new networks and tools to help them continue this difficult but important work going forward.

Conference materials:

Conference Agenda
Speaker Bios
Presentation Abstracts

Keynote Address:
The Power of Mindsets: Creating a Positive School Climate
Dr. Robert Brooks

Plenary Presentation Materials:
School Discipline in Massachusetts: A Look at the 2015 Data
Rob Curtin, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Youth Perspectives on School Discipline
Carlos Rojas, Rebecca Holland, and Fania Joseph, Youth on Board
The Safe and Supportive Schools Framework
Susan Cole, Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative

Breakout Session Materials:
Deconstructing the School-to-Prison Pipeline: School-Court Collaborations
Honorable Jay D. Blitzman, Middlesex Juvenile Court
Community Schools and Wraparound Zones: Creating a Safe and Supportive Context for Student Success, Wraparound Coordinators, Worcester Public Schools; Dr. Claire Crane and Omar Longus, Center for Community Schools at Salem State University

April 15, 2016

Events, Good Apple Award

2016 Good Apple Reception

Mr. Jeff Carp, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of State Street Corporation

2016 Good Apple Reception

Massachusetts Appleseed hosted its 9th annual Good Apple Reception at the Boston Harbor Hotel on March 24, 2016. Massachusetts Appleseed presented the 2016 “Good Apple Award” to Jeffrey N. Carp, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of State Street Corporation for his “unwavering commitment to social justice, dedication to public service, and generosity of spirit.”Throughout his career, Mr. Carp has demonstrated his dedication to excellence in the law, public service, and social justice, both through his individual charitable work and in private business by promoting corporate responsibility and philanthropy as vehicles for positive change, particularly in the areas of hunger, housing, education, and workforce development.

Mr. Carp is Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of State Street Corporation. In this capacity, he is responsible for the legal, regulatory, and security functions globally, and a member of State Street’s Management Committee. Before joining State Street in 2006, Mr. Carp served as general counsel at MFS Investment Management® (MFS®). Prior to joining MFS®, Mr. Carp spent 22 years in the corporate department of Hale & Dorr, LLP (now WilmerHale). Mr. Carp earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and economics from Tufts University and a Juris Doctor from George Washington University National Law School, where he served as an editor of The George Washington Law Review.

Active in numerous civic, educational, and charitable pursuits, Mr. Carp currently serves as a member of the board of directors for Project Bread — The Walk for Hunger. He previously served on the board of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Boston. A leader in the legal community, Mr. Carp is a Member of the American and Massachusetts Bar Associations. Mr. Carp has lectured on various topics to legal and professional organizations and participates on industry conference panels. Mr. Carp is a “Good Apple” in the truest sense.

March 24, 2016

Press Releases

Massachusetts Appleseed Announces Interim Executive Director

For Immediate Release

Meschino takes leave of absence to run for office

Boston, MA, December 17, 2015 – Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice (MA Appleseed) has today named Sue Heilman as interim executive director. With more than 25 years of experience leading mission-based non-profit organizations, Ms. Heilman will help MA Appleseed continue its broad systemic reform initiatives focused on equity in public education and access to Massachusetts’ courts and legal system. MA Appleseed’s Board granted its current executive director Joan Meschino a temporary leave of absence while she campaigns for the Massachusetts state senate.

“Sue has a proven track record in working with boards of directors, staff teams and additional stakeholders to fulfill missions, inspire vision and meet strategic goals and objectives. We look forward to working with her in this interim period,” said Board chair Martha Mazzone. “We want to thank Joan for her deep commitment to MA Appleseed and her outstanding service in support of this Commonwealth’s most vulnerable populations, and we wish her well in her campaign.”

“I look forward to building on a strong foundation through collaboration and my personal passion for MA Appleseed’s important mission,” said Heilman. “It’s a privilege to step into this role to assist MA Appleseed’s Board and staff in its research, policy development, community outreach, and advocacy initiatives.”

Among other things, Ms. Heilman will lead the center in its new access to justice initiative, exploring the impact that recent technological innovations could have in strengthening access to Massachusetts courts by empowering those who cannot afford to pay a lawyer.

About MA Appleseed

MA Appleseed has been instrumental in leading vital systemic reform initiatives for over 20 years. By building on its experience and expertise as a leader, a convener and a trusted research and policy resource, MA Appleseed has been a key voice in influencing policy on education, youth homelessness issues, and the courts in Massachusetts. The legal community has strongly supported MA Appleseed’s endeavors for many years, through law firm and corporate sponsorship for the MA Appleseed “Good Apple Award.” MA Appleseed awards the Good Apple each year to a corporate general counsel or leader who embodies the commitment to the ideals of justice shared by the Massachusetts legal community. The 2016 Good Apple Award will be given to Jeffrey N. Carp, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of State Street Corporation, on March 24, 2016. For more information, visit the MA Appleseed website, www.massappleseed.org.

December 17, 2015

Events, Good Apple Award

2015 Good Apple Reception

Photo of Award Ceremony © 2015 Rick Friedman

2015 Good Apple Reception

Massachusetts Appleseed hosted its 8th annual Good Apple Reception at the Boston Harbor Hotel’s Wharf Room on March 19, 2015. Massachusetts Appleseed presented the 2015 “Good Apple Award” to Stephanie S. Lovell, Senior Vice-President and General Counsel of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts for her “unwavering commitment to social justice, dedication to public service, and generosity of spirit.”

Keynote speaker, Dean Richlin introduced Ms. Lovell. Martha Mazzone, presented Ms. Lovell with the Good Apple Award. Mr. Richlin is a partner at Foley Hoag LLP. Ms. Mazzone is Chair of the Board of Directors for Massachusetts Appleseed, and a Vice President and Associate General Counsel at Fidelity Investments.

Sara Jane Shanahan, partner at Sherin and Lodgen, LLP, and a Massachusetts Appleseed Board Member, was master of ceremonies for the event, which was enjoyed by some 200 guests. Ms. Mazzone gave a brief report on Massachusetts Appleseed’s recent initiatives. John E. Alessi, partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Massachusetts Appleseed Board Member thanked guests for attending and made concluding remarks.

Massachusetts Appleseed would like to thank all our guests whose presence and goodwill made this year’s reception a tremendous success. We thank the Boston City Singers for their wonderful performance.

We are grateful for all our sponsors. Their generosity and strong support enables Massachusetts Appleseed to further its mission to promote equal rights and opportunities for Massachusetts residents by developing and advocating for systemic solutions to social justice issues.

March 20, 2015

Events, MA Appleseed Conferences

2014 School Climates Conference

Keep Kids in Class: Building Positive School Climates

MA Appleseed hosted its 3rd annual conference on May 2, 2014. A diverse audience of educators, advocates, state agencies, and community service providers attended! The conference sparked much discussion about strategies we can employ now to cultivate positive school climates as a reality for all of our children!

The keynote speaker, Dr. Robert Brooks, gave an engaging and galvanizing presentation about the power of mindsets. Using the notion of the “charismatic adult,” Dr. Brooks explained what it means to have a positive mindset and how mindsets impact teachers, students, and the overall school climate.

The following two presentations provided a national context for a discussion of school climate and school discipline. Kate Upatham, an attorney with the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), spoke on the federal school discipline guidance, and Dan Losen, from the Civil Rights Project at UCLA, presented the most recent OCR school discipline data.

The educators’ panel was the conference highlight! Sara Burd of the Reading Public Schools and Ricci Hall of Worcester Public Schools inspired educators, advocates, and community partners alike when they shared their concrete and practical experiences working with teachers, students, parents, and community members on a daily basis to improve school climates. Anne Gilligan of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education provided an overview and moderated the panel discussion.

The breakout sessions covered topics ranging from principles of culturally responsive practice to implementing the new school discipline law (Chapter 222).

Conference Materials:

Conference Agenda

Keynote Address:
The Power of Mindsets: Creating a Positive School Climate, Dr. Robert Brooks

Supplemental Materials from Understanding and Managing Children’s Classroom Behavior: Creating Sustainable, Resilient Schools (2007) by Sam Goldstein, Ph.D. and Robert Brooks, Ph.D. published by John Wiley & Sons

Developing the Mindset of Effective Students

Developing the Mindset of Effective Teachers

Zero Tolerance” in Schools: How Effective Is it? Dr. Robert Brooks

School Discipline and Data Presentations:

OCR and DoJ’s joint January 2014 Dear Colleague Letter on Race and Discipline

OCR’s Civil Rights Data Collection webpage

The U.S. Department of Education Discipline Guidance Package
Federal School Discipline Data, Daniel J. Losen, UCLA, The Civil Rights Project

Breakout Session Presentations and Handouts:

How to Use Data Well and Recognize the Disparate Impact Based on Race, Gender and Disability, Daniel J. Losen, UCLA, The Civil Rights Project

Implementing the New School Discipline Law: Chapter 222 of the Acts of 2012, Deborah Dorfman, Center for Public Representation

Not Present, Not Accounted For: Trauma, Learning, and School Discipline; How to Create Buy-in for Change,Jennifer Davis Carey, Worcester Education Collaborative

Crisis in School Suspensions, By Jennifer Carey Davis and Mary Jo Marion Farrell