The Appleseed Foundation and New York Appleseed are proud to name Maya Wiley, Raymond Lin, and Pfizer as the recipients of the 2023 Appleseed Pillars of Justice Award.
The honorees’ work on school integration, health equity, and the public interest are powerful examples of Appleseed’s vision of a world where communities work together so every person can thrive and justice is abundant.
Maya Wiley is the President and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and a renowned civil rights attorney. While a Senior Vice President for Social Justice at the New School University, Maya co-chaired the NYC Mayor’s School Diversity Advisory Group, which published two seminal reports furthering equity and integration in NYC public schools.
“The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights has been proud to have Appleseed as a member of our coalition for nearly two decades. Appleseed has been an important leader in the fight forward to reduce poverty and win justice for our communities,” said Maya Wiley, President and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. “We are committed to a shared mission to ensure an America that lives up to its ideals.”
Pfizer is a longtime partner of the Attorney General Alliance. Pfizer was instrumental in starting the Attorney General Alliance Africa Program. The program, which was founded seven years ago, trains prosecutors, judges, and investigators in twelve different nations on the Continent. The AGA Africa Program helps to create a knowledge bridge between the US State Attorneys General and members of the criminal justice system in Africa, all in an effort to share expertise and build capacity to combat a myriad of transnational crimes such as human trafficking, cyber related fraud, and money laundering.
“Pfizer, being a global company recognizes its role and responsibility to be good global citizen. The enterprise simply lives its values,” Markus Green, Vice President & Assistant General Counsel for Pfizer, said. “At Pfizer we understand the inter-connectivity of humanity. We understand that shutting down a human trafficking ring in Nigeria can also save a young girl here in New York.”
Raymond Lin, a longtime leader in the Appleseed Network, served as co-chair of the national Appleseed Foundation Board of Directors and was instrumental in the creation of Missouri Appleseed and Arkansas Appleseed. During his 30-plus years at Latham & Watkins LLP, Raymond was a stalwart champion for pro bono service in the public interest. He is now the Chief Legal Officer of Mohegan, a gaming and entertainment company that operates casino resorts in North America and Asia.
“Appleseed is a bold nonprofit that delivers real, concrete benefits in people’s lives,” Raymond Lin said. “My role in launching Missouri Appleseed and Arkansas Appleseed and my time leading the Appleseed Foundation Board have been highlights of my career.”
Appleseed is a network of 18 justice centers across the United States and Mexico working together to reduce poverty, combat discrimination, and advance the rule of law. Appleseed centers unite research, organizing, policy advocacy, and impact litigation to build systemic solutions for their communities’ most pressing problems. The Appleseed Pillars of Justice Award is presented annually to leaders who have shown an extraordinary commitment to the public interest.
“The 2023 Pillars of Justice honorees exemplify Appleseed’s mission for a more just world,” Rory Leraris, Co-Chair of the Appleseed Foundation Board of Directors, said. “We are grateful for their leadership and the incredible impact they have made for our communities.”
“Raymond Lin, Maya Wiley, and Pfizer embody the Appleseed Network’s commitment to achieving justice and fairness in our communities, and we’re proud to recognize their work with the Pillars of Justice Award,” Jon Walcoff, Chair of the New York Appleseed Board of Directors, said. “It’s particularly fitting that we do so at the renowned Schomburg Center in our hometown of Harlem, New York City, where the accomplishments of so many heroes of civil rights are recognized and preserved.
The 2023 Appleseed Pillars of Justice Celebration will be held on September 19, 6:00pm – 8:00pm, at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York City. More information is available on our website, at www.NYAppleseed.org, and at www.PillarsOfJustice.org.
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