An Announcement from MA Appleseed’s Board of Directors

It is with a mixture of profound gratitude and sadness that we announce Deborah Silva’s upcoming departure as Executive Director of MA Appleseed Center for Law and Justice on December 6, 2024. We will miss her unparalleled commitment to the pursuit of justice for all, but are proud of the legacy she leaves behind and the groundwork she has laid for the organization’s continued success.

It is impossible to list all of Deb’s accomplishments during her time at the helm of MA Appleseed, but we want to recognize several that epitomize her tenure. Building a new Access to Justice program from the ground up, resulting in sweeping policy changes that have made Massachusetts courts fairer for all. Successfully navigating the organization through a global pandemic. Deepening the organization’s community engagement strategies to fully center and amplify the voices of those we serve. Scaling the organization’s youth homelessness initiative to match the magnitude of the current housing crisis. Developing organizational values and an internal culture that explicitly positions racial and economic justice as the very heart of our work.

We could go on and on. We are so enormously grateful for Deb’s years of passionate service, her steadfastness in the face of once-in-a-generation challenges, and her remarkable vision that has shaped our path forward. At MA Appleseed, we often say: “In advocacy, we do nothing alone.” The fight for systemic change is a collective one that truly takes us all. But having individuals like Deb in that fight certainly makes the journey more joyful. 

Thanks to Deb’s extraordinary leadership over these past eight years, MA Appleseed is fully prepared to continue addressing the critical social justice issues affecting our communities across the state. Working hand in hand with our partners, our talented staff and dedicated Board of Directors will keep furthering our projects, advancing powerful research and policy change to make Massachusetts a place where everyone can exercise their legal rights, care for their families, and thrive. We are hopeful and excited for this next chapter in MA Appleseed’s 30-year history.

We will be launching a search for our new Executive Director in the coming weeks and look forward to keeping you updated throughout this process. In the meantime, please feel free to reach out with any questions at inquiry@massappleseed.org.

Sincerely,

Melanie L. Todman, Board Chair

John A. Shutkin, Vice Chair