January 2024

Keep kids learning, in school, and out of the prison pipeline.

Even an 11-day suspension could reduce a child’s chance of graduating to just 52% – a coin toss – and a hardship that impacts not just the student (118,000 suspended from Georgia's schools last year) but also our community and future workforce. Keeping kids in school keeps them out of the criminal justice system – 70% of Georgia's incarcerated population did not finish high school.

Senate Bill 169, originally drafted by Georgia Appleseed and sponsored by Sen. Chuck Payne, eliminates "shadow suspensions" that keep kids out of school, sometimes for weeks, before a school disciplinary hearing. Unanimously passed by the state Senate last session and now in the House, SB169 mandates timely disciplinary hearings and ensures that students receive learning materials while they are out of school waiting for their hearing. Current laws result in delayed hearings, leaving students without schoolwork and falling behind. Learn more from our SB169 summary and contact your House Representative to voice your support.

Protect children from unsafe housing conditions.

20% of children in Georgia’s foster care system were removed from their families because of “inadequate housing." Housing instability and unsafe homes make tens of thousands of Georgia's kids sick each year, cause lasting behavioral health challenges, impede learning and high school graduation, and increase a child's risk of entering the justice system.

We are working to strengthen and advance House Bill 404 to promote safer and more stable housing conditions and protect tenants' rights. HB404 sets important standards for rental properties to ensure they are fit for human habitation (currently there is no minimum standard) and provides tenants a "right to cure" opportunity to pay due funds before eviction proceedings. This bipartisan bill has passed the House and is being considered in the Senate. Contact your Senator and tell them to support HB404.

Board News

We are excited to welcome new Board members (clockwise from top left): Patrick Becker (Southern Co.), Charlie Ebersol (Infinite Athlete), Lou Barbieri (Kilpatrick Townsend), and Brian Harms (Troutman Pepper). Learn more about them and why they chose to join Georgia Appleseed. 

2024 begins with new Board leadership too! Eric Fisher (Barnes & Thornburg), Chair; Micah Moon (Delta Air Lines), Vice Chair; Adwoa Awotwi (LocumTenens.com), Secretary; and Adam Ozgo (EY), Treasurer. Special thanks to Immediate Past Chair Tori Silas (Chair, Board of Elections, Cobb County) and past Secretary Carrie Zhou (Aprio) for their leadership.

Left to right: Judge Boulee, Amy Steigerwalt and Tori Silas (Georgia Appleseed board), Garry McGiboney, Judge Heath, Michael Waller (Georgia Appleseed Executive Director).

Contact us for more information about this event or to be alerted to future events. 

Bringing together attendees and panelists from various professions and perspectives across the state, our 5th annual Justice Conversation both inspired and informed. Senator Chuck Payne's opening remarks reminded us that hope compels action and drives a child toward positive behavior. Panelists Federal District Court Judge J.P. Boulee, Superior Court Judge Amanda Heath, and Dr. Garry McGiboney shared their experiences of how school discipline intersects with the criminal justice system.

Thank you to our host, Kilpatrick Townsend, our moderator, GSU's Amy Steigerwalt, and to all who were able to join us in person this year.  

Andrew Boyer, an Associate at Alston & Bird, began supporting Georgia Appleseed during his first year of law school. Since then? "I've jumped at as many opportunities to support Georgia Appleseed as I could manage." This past summer Andrew helped prepare Georgia Appleseed's testimony before the Georgia Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission, working under a tight timeline. "Not only was this a great chance to witness Georgia Appleseed's advocacy in action, but it was also a welcome opportunity to further hone my research, writing, and editing skills."

Pro bono support like Andrew's dramatically increases our impact and reach across the state. Join Andrew and other advocates and fill out our pro-bono form to volunteer.

January 30, 2024 - CLE Training: Education Advocacy for Students in Foster Care

Calling attorneys and advocates! Join Georgia Appleseed at King & Spalding for a training session on representing children in foster care. Learn best practices to effectively advocate for children, navigate the school tribunal process and seek out alternatives to long-term suspension. Growing your skills means providing even more critical support for youth in foster care and students with disabilities. CLE credit will be available. Register now!

April 18, 2024 - Roaring for Justice

We are getting excited about our FUNdraising event at the Zoo! Building on last year's moving exhibit See Me: Pieces of Life from Youth in Care, we are expanding with new art and stories from youth in foster care. You won't want to miss this year's installation.

Tickets go on sale in March, but sponsorship opportunities are available now at various levels. Get in early to maximize the benefits of your sponsorship. Check out RoaringForJustice.org. Interested in volunteering for the event? Contact Liz McDaniel.

Look out for our upcoming Annual Report for last fiscal year (June 2023) soon available digitally on our website. To receive a mailed, printed copy, please contact us. Along with a financial overview, the report highlights supporters, chronicles the growth of our School Justice and Housing Justice initiatives, and explains how we use data to inform and guide our work.

Georgia Appleseed advances justice for Georgia's most marginalized children to keep them in school, in healthy homes, and out of the justice system.

Join us by making a donation and/or becoming a pro bono partner.

Connecting with you helps us build our community of advocates and amplify our mission to advance justice for children across Georgia. Follow our social media sites to stay up to date with resources, celebrations and announcements. View our video library on YouTube, and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn and FaceBook.