Thirty years ago this spring, members of the Harvard Law School Class of 1958 founded Appleseed on a simple but powerful idea: The law should be a force for good, a system that supports genuine opportunity for all.
From that vision, Appleseed today has grown into a network of 18 justice centers across the United States and Mexico, which work together to build a world where every person can thrive and where justice is accessible and abundant.
Because of the Appleseed founders, there are thousands of families today who no longer have to worry about losing their home or not feeding their kids, who don’t have to worry about getting stuck in a system of mass incarceration, and who have faith that their voices will be heard by policymakers and the courts.
Bertrand Pogrebin, an Appleseed founder, has played a central role in the development of the Appleseed Network, serving for many years as chair of Appleseed Center Evaluation and a key champion for New York Appleseed.
In recognition of Bert’s leadership, legacy, and impact, his daughter and son-in-law, Abigail Pogrebin and David Shapiro, this year created the Bert Pogrebin Appleseed Fund for Justice. The fund supports collaboration throughout the Appleseed Network, including a particular focus on New York Appleseed’s advocacy for integrated schools and communities.
We asked Bert’s colleagues and family to describe his impact – take a look:
