The Appleseed Network’s annual meeting was held in Boston, MA on May 4-5, 2023 and hosted graciously by the Massachusetts Appleseed team. It was a much-awaited event for the entire network as it was the first all-network in-person meeting after months of virtual interactions throughout the year. The meeting was attended by representatives from the majority of our 18 justice centers, including Appleseed Mexico and Nebraska Appleseed, who joined us from the furthest distances in the network.
The meeting was preceded by a baseball game at Fenway Park, courtesy of MA Appleseed, for those who arrived early. It was a great way to start the festivities and enjoy the famous Red Sox stadium. There was also a brief pub crawl (which turned out to be more of a pub shuffle since everyone was in pretty early), but it was still an enjoyable experience and a great opportunity for everyone to relax and get to know each other better.
The week’s events kicked off in earnest with a tour of the Massachusetts State House on May 4th, led by former MA Appleseed Executive Director and current MA State Representative Joan Meschino. The tour was a highlight of the meeting, providing an opportunity to learn more about the state’s political system and its history. Meschino, MA Appleseed Executive Director Deb Silva, Leon Smith (the Executive Director of Citizens for Juvenile Justice), and Iman Hassan (the Director, Stop the School-to-Prison Pipeline (STOPP)) also gave a presentation about their work and the impact they’ve had on the community.
The annual meeting provided an excellent opportunity for staff and board members from across the country to meet in person for the first time after months of Zoom calls. It was great to finally put faces to the names we’ve been hearing over the past few months. The meeting agenda was packed with updates from every center in the network, cross-center collaborations, and presentations by Arkansas Appleseed and Oklahoma Appleseed, the Network’s newest centers, who shared their experiences as new centers, discussing their highs, lows, victories, setbacks, and lessons learned.
The meeting was a vibrant exchange of ideas, perspectives, and insights that energized and rejuvenated everyone who attended. We were all reminded of the importance of the work we do and the power of collaboration. It was inspiring to see how much we can achieve when we come together and work towards a common goal.
The pictures from the week’s events showcase the fun and engaging experience that the meeting was. The smiles, the laughter, and the sense of community that were present throughout the meeting highlight the bond that we share as members of the Appleseed Network.
Overall, the annual meeting was a resounding success that left everyone feeling motivated and inspired to continue their work towards justice and equity. The opportunity to interact, share, discuss, and plan together was invaluable and reminded us all of the importance of the work we do. We’re already looking forward to next year’s meeting and the chance to come together once again!
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