Massachusetts Appleseed Launches On-Demand Legal Rights Education Hub
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 15th, 2026
Boston, MA — The Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice is proud to announce the launch of its new On-Demand Legal Rights Education hub, a centralized online resource featuring recorded legal education videos designed to accompany the Massachusetts Homeless Youth Handbook. The hub is now live and includes both English and Spanish versions of its first webinar, which provides an overview of the Handbook, as well as English and Spanish recordings of the Housing Rights chapter, all available for anyone to access at any time. Additional content covering subject-specific legal rights information will be released on a rolling basis.
The Massachusetts Homeless Youth Handbook was created in partnership with global law firm Baker McKenzie to provide clear, accessible information on key legal issues including education, healthcare, housing, civic law, immigration, and mental health.
“We are thrilled to continue to partner with Massachusetts Appleseed and believe the launch of an accompanying online hub of resources will dramatically increase access and use of the Handbook,” said Jaclyn Pampel, Partner and Director of North American Pro Bono at Baker McKenzie. Each chapter is designed to be practical and easy to navigate, empowering youth and those who support them to better understand their rights and access essential services.
The new On-Demand Legal Rights Education hub builds on this work by transforming key handbook topics into engaging, easy to follow video presentations. These no cost recordings, including a Spanish language version, are designed for youth, service providers, educators, and community members, making critical legal information more accessible, flexible, and widely available. To further advance language access, all on-demand videos will include captions in both English and Spanish, ensuring users can engage with the content in ways that best meet their needs.
Across Massachusetts, the need for accessible legal information for young people is urgent. Between 2023, and 2025, the number of youth in Boston without a stable place to sleep nearly doubled. At the same time, access to legal support remains limited, with only about 5 civil legal aid attorneys available for every 10,0000 individuals living in poverty. Without clear and accessible guidance, many young people are unstable to access the protections and services they are legally entitled to.
By offering these resources, Massachusetts Appleseed aims to equip professionals working with youth with tools they can share broadly within their organizations and communities.
“We were thrilled by the engagement during our first webinar and inspired to see attendees thinking about how to bring the Handbook into their work,” said Ranjini Govender Dowley, President and Executive Director at Massachusetts Appleseed. “By connecting directly with educators, service providers, and advocates, we can amplify the impact of this resource and help ensure that young people across Massachusetts have access to the information and support they need.”
The On-Demand Legal Rights Education hub is now available on the Massachusetts Appleseed website, where visitors can access current recordings in English and Spanish and stay tuned for additional videos to be added on a rolling basis.
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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, 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 learn more about the On-Demand Legal Rights Education hub, explore the Massachusetts Homeless Youth Handbook or donate, please visit massappleseed.org.