Our Mission
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.
First We Mind the Gap, Then We Mend It
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.
Our Systemic Reform Efforts Bear Fruit
As part of one of the nation's largest pro bono legal networks, we have been instrumental in leading vital systemic reform initiatives for over fifteen years. Among our accomplishments:
- Improving access to education for homeless children;
- Enabling caregivers to make educational and health decisions on behalf of the children in their care; and
- Examining inequities in funding that prevent poorer school districts from meeting student needs.
Over the past two years, MA Appleseed has developed expertise on the intersection of school discipline, "zero tolerance" policies and youth entering the juvenile justice system. Our signature project, "Keep Kids in Class," seeks to mitigate the effects of a zero-tolerance approach to discipline in schools; offer alternative, more effective discipline strategies; and reduce the increasing rates of drop-outs and juvenile delinquency among school-aged children in Massachusetts.
