We are thrilled to announce Carla Crowder has been named the 2026 Appleseed Advocate of the Year, and Haley Kottler is the inaugural Appleseed Rising Star of the Year!
Carla Crowder is the Executive Director of Alabama Appleseed Center for Law & Justice, a research and policy advocacy nonprofit focused on challenging mass incarceration and excessive punishment in Alabama. An attorney, Carla has won release for dozens of individuals originally sentenced to die in prison, represented individuals on Alabama’s death row, and successfully advocated for parole for numerous others. Under her leadership, Alabama Appleseed has tripled in size and become the statewide leader in Second Chance sentencing policy, advocacy, and direct legal and reentry services.
Prior to attending law school, Carla worked as a newspaper reporter covering criminal justice, prisons, child welfare, and the ways government intersects with impoverished communities. Her journalism earned multiple honors, including the Thurgood Marshall Award from the Death Penalty Information Center, and she has twice been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. In 2024, she was named Alabama’s Woman of the Year by USA Today, and in 2025 she was inducted into the Florence (Ala.) Walk of Fame.
In the words of the person who nominated Carla for the award:
“A book should be written on the impact that Carla has had on the social justice movement in Alabama and other parts of our country over the past four decades. It would be difficult to find anyone in Alabama who is doing more than Carla to fight against the systemic injustice of our system. In a place where positive change is as difficult as Alabama, Carla is leading a dynamic effort to make a difference both at the individual client level and for our entire justice system.”
Carla shared:
“This award is such an honor, and it’s only because of the brilliant and dedicated team of Alabamians who I have the privilege of working alongside that I’ve been able to make a difference here in Alabama. I love this state and I will never stop fighting to make it a better, fairer, and more just place for everyone.”
Haley Kottler leads anti-hunger advocacy as the Senior Campaign Director for Kansas Appleseed. She has spent the past seven years working alongside families, advocates, and community leaders to strengthen food access across Kansas. Haley leads statewide efforts to strengthen SNAP and improve access to healthy food for kids both inside and outside of school, focusing on durable policy solutions and practical, evidence-based change.
Haley believes hunger is not inevitable but a policy choice, and that caring for our neighbors is part of who we are as Kansans. When policy reflects that value, every child and every family has the opportunity to thrive.
As her nominator described:
“Haley’s tenacity and compassion, combined with her deep commitment to social justice, is real. She sees that for too long, too many Kansans have been forgotten and that they need someone in their corner. Haley continuously steps up to be that person.”
Haley shared:
“I am proud to represent Kansas in this moment. For the past seven years at Kansas Appleseed, I have worked alongside advocates, families, and community leaders to advance practical solutions that strengthen food security and help our neighbors thrive. This recognition reflects the collective work across our state that I am so honored to be a part of.”
The Appleseed Advocate of the Year and Rising Star of the Year awards will be presented at the 2026 Appleseed Pillars of Justice Celebration in Washington, D.C., on September 24. Please join us in celebrating the many ways Carla and Haley have made this world a more just and more hopeful place for all.
