November 2018
A Message from Executive Director Talley Wells: 
"We Are Grateful for You!"
    My parents have a long table.  They bought it over twenty-five years ago so that our extended family could sit together.  Each Thanksgiving, we give thanks for each person at the table, those who have passed on, and those who will join us in the future.  We are grateful that we have been given so much.  That cycle of gratitude mirrors the thankfulness I would like to express to you.
    November 30th marks my one-year anniversary at Georgia Appleseed.  I am grateful for each of you who have supported our work in the past, who support it now, and who will support it in the future.  We have much to celebrate and lots more work to do!  
     We are building on our previous work to keep youth in school and out of the criminal justice system through our new Bridges to Behavioral Wellness Project. As part of this initiative, we have announced a partnership with the Carter Center and Voices for Georgia's Children to make Georgia the leading state in providing school based behavioral health.  We have started this work by hosting events across the state on behavioral health and school climate.  We are working on behavioral health access and advocacy guides.
     But that's not all.  We are also working to create best practices and guidance for local county committees which received new statutory authority to oversee and promote school climate.  We are working directly with these committees in Augusta, Savannah and Atlanta on best practices that we will then share across the state.  In December, we will moderate a panel on Race, Law Enforcement, and the Law and present at the Georgia Positive Behavioral Supports Conference.
     We held a very successful Friendraiser to recruit new members to our Young Professionals Council (YPC).  We are thrilled with the work of our YPC in its advocacy on behalf of foster care children in student tribunals and its new behavioral health Medicaid project.
     We are making a difference across the state to keep kids in class and out of the criminal justice system.  We are grateful for each of you in helping us do this critical work! 
PROGRAM UPDATES
Georgia Education Climate Coalition "Field Trip"
October included a wonderful site visit to Newton County as the Georgia Education Climate Coalition (GECC) learned about school-based early interventions and wrap-around services from experts in the field in that school district.  Thanks for hosting us, Newton leaders!  
 
Georgia Appleseed and the Albany "All In" Committee  Host Youth Summit Event
Just a couple of short weeks after Hurricane Michael, Georgia Appleseed forged ahead to bring the "All In for Youth Summit" to Albany State University to educate community members to learn about PBIS, keeping kids in class & behavioral health services. 
WHAT'S HAPPENING
Requesting your support
Whether it's Nov. 27 on "Giving Tuesday," by Nov. 29 for the Atlanta Bar's ACYL Campaign, or by Dec. 31 for tax purposes, we appreciate you finding a day during this holiday season to support Georgia Appleseed and our mission to increase justice in Georgia for marginalized groups!  
SUCCESSFUL YPC FRIEND-RAISER
The 2018 Young Professionals Council Fall Friend-raiser, hosted by Eversheds Sutherland, brought together fresh faces & long-time Volunteers
Interested in getting involved with YPC and its committee work? Contact this year's YPC Outreach Co-chairs Ebony or Micah.
UPCOMING COMMUNITY EDUCATION EVENTS IN SAVANNAH   
Open & Free to the community 
DEC 13--FINANCIAL LITERACY & FRAUD PREVENTION SEMINAR
(afternoon & evening times offered)

JAN 12--"ALL IN FOR YOUTH" SUMMIT
More details are available on our
"Justice Conversations" was hosted at Taylor English with former Florida Supreme Court Justice Charley Wells, board member Justice David Nahmias, and board member Georgia Bar General Counsel Paula Frederick.  Wells was the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court during Bush v. Gore and shared insights and lessons from that experience.     Pictured above: Allen Nelson of Taylor English, Charley Wells, Talley Wells, Frederick and Nahmias.
New partnership with Carter Center Mental Health Program & Voices for Georgia's Children to Promote Behavioral Health
We are grateful to partner with two great organizations in a multi-year effort that will expand and improve access to school-based behavioral health in our state.  The partnership was formally announced at a program at The Carter Center on Nov. 8.   
This collaboration will empower all three organization to focus on their respective strengths to support children, specifically through behavioral/mental health interventions. 
 
Pictured to left: Executive Director Talley Wells speaking with Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter at the event.

Georgia Appleseed Center for Law & Justice | 678-336-7242 | [email protected] | www.GaAppleseed.org
1600 Parkwood Circle SE, Suite 200
Atlanta, GA 30339