Spring 2018
Countdown to Good Apple 2018!
Good Apple is less than a month away. Join us at the Stave Room in ATL on April 18th to celebrate our founding Executive Director, Judge Sharon N. Hill, and hear what's next for Georgia Appleseed. 

Online ticket sales close April 15th. Get your tickets and read more about the event  here

Still on the fence? Here are a few  good reasons why you won't want to miss it: 


Milestones in GA Appleseed's History
We've updated our "Milestones" overview to reflect all the exciting changes happening at Georgia Appleseed. Check it out here.   

You can also learn more about our mission, vision, and history by checking out www.gaappleseed.org/about or by downloading our informational brochure

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: 

HB 740: Limits pre-k through 3rd grade suspensions by examining underlying medical/social causes of behavior. 

HB763: Ensures that school climate is examined in every county in Georgia. 

Both bills received final passage with nearly unanimous support on March 29 (Sine Die).  The Governor has 40 days to veto or sign the bills, but his signature is not required before the bills become law. 


Georgia Appleseed is built on "the power of pro bono."  

Over the last twelve years, lawyers have given their time, their talents, and their expertise to our projects.  With a staff of seven, Georgia Appleseed can only accomplish its mission with this vital support.

I recently met with a law partner who led his firm's pro bono work on two of our projects.  He was proud of the work he and his firm had done.  He told great stories about what he learned from the interviews he conducted with stakeholders.  He also made clear that the passion and persuasion Georgia Appleseed Founding Executive Director Sharon Hill brought to the projects motivated lawyers to get involved.  She believed in the projects and that was infectious.  On the evening of April 18 th , we will honor Sharon Hill at our Good Apple Event .
 
As we prepare our next pro bono projects, we take seriously the value and importance of the time lawyers and other professionals provide.  We are also fortunate that Sharon's passion has infected us.  We plan to continue to infect others. 
 
In my seventeen years working at the Atlanta Legal Aid Society, I repeatedly saw injustices my clients were experiencing at a systemic level.  I worked hard to make a difference for each of my clients.  Often, I saw, though, that real change would only come through law and policy reform.  We rely on pro bono attorneys and other professionals to help us build the case for change through our projects.  It is the only way we can continue our work to resolve "injustices that no one should endure."
 
We hope you will join us on April 18!  We will celebrate all that Sharon and Georgia Appleseed accomplished over the last twelve years.  The applause that night will not only be for Sharon, though.  It will also be for all of the lawyers and professionals who gave their time and talents to make these accomplishments happen.

Read more from the Executive Director's Blog here

Around the State: PBIS Tour Showcases Bibb County Success
On March 9, GA Appleseed continued to support the PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support) work we helped launch in Bibb County by sponsoring a PBIS tour of Rutland High School. Under the leadership of Principal Kent Sparks, Rutland High School has become one of the few high schools in the state to be designated as PBIS "Operational" -- the highest designation currently available in Georgia. The tour brought together over 30 educators and administrators from Richmond, Twiggs, and Wilk inson counties, and highlighted best practices in PBIS implementation. Tour par ticipants wer e accompanied by GA Appleseed Staff Attorney, Terrence Wilson, Linda Curry of Middle Georgia RESA and Tammi Clarke, Timi Hunt, and Ben Moor with the Georgia Department of Education's PBIS implementation team. 


Save the Date:Kendra Scott Event Benefiting GA Appleseed

Shop just in time for Mother's Day at Kendra Scott and 20% of your purchase benefits Georgia Appleseed! Join the Facebook event here