Q3 Appleseed Quarterly Newsletter: A Celebration of Progress

Newsletter

2024 Q3 Newsletter

A Celebration of Progress

Dear Friends,

This past quarter was headlined by our 2024 Appleseed Pillars of Justice Awards Celebration where we honored four extraordinary individuals for their contributions to service and justice.

Appleseed justice centers have been hard at work advancing meaningful reforms across the network. In D.C., Appleseed’s report on election reform is shedding light on essential improvements, while New Jersey Appleseed has taken a landmark gerrymandering case to the state Supreme Court.

Kansas and New Mexico Appleseed’s research on school meal debt even caught the attention of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, emphasizing the need for universal school meals. In Nebraska, Appleseed is making strides with critical ballot work, and we’re thrilled to announce Appleseed Mexico as the host for the 2025 All-Network meeting in Mexico City, where centers across the network will convene to share strategies and strengthen our collective impact.

Together, these achievements underscore the power of our network and inspire us to keep pushing forward for a more just and equitable future.

– Benet

Celebrating Courage at the 2024 Pillars of Justice Awards

The 2024 Pillars of Justice Awards Celebration, held on September 12th at the University of the District of Columbia, was an inspiring evening dedicated to honoring leaders who have made significant contributions to justice and equality. This year, we celebrated Wade J. Henderson, Sherrilyn Ifill, and Jamie Levitt for their unwavering dedication to civil rights, racial justice, and public service. We were also proud to name Teresa Woody of Kansas Appleseed as our Advocate of the Year for her impactful work on behalf of vulnerable children

Learn More >>>

Planting Seeds of Hope for Life After Incarceration

Across the U.S., Appleseed centers are working to remove barriers for individuals reentering society after incarceration. Through initiatives like Medicaid enrollment pilots, advocacy for SNAP access, securing identification documents, and promoting education, these centers tackle critical issues that can reduce recidivism and provide formerly incarcerated people with a path to stability. Appleseed’s efforts are reshaping reentry by offering tailored support, addressing systemic challenges, and helping individuals rebuild their lives with dignity.

**New Mexico & Kansas Appleseed Report Featured on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver**

Research on school meal debt from Kansas Appleseed and New Mexico Appleseed was recently featured on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, where he emphasized the importance of universal free school meals and urged viewers to advocate for them. School meals are a lifeline for students across the country, providing the nutrition they need to learn, grow, and thrive.

For more on how Appleseed centers are fighting for an end to child hunger, check out the Appleseed post Transforming Young Lives: Building a World Where No Kids Go Hungry.

News From Across the Network

D.C. Report Pushes for Election Reform

DC Appleseed recently released its “Improving Voter Representation in DC’s Elections” report on electoral reform. The report is a comprehensive, non-partisan, and independent analysis of several issues within DC’s elections. After two years of research, DC Appleseed and their partners found that DC’s election laws are not currently meeting the needs of its citizens, and the report recommends several reforms that would help to improve democracy & voter representation in the District.

Download the Report >>>

NJ Appleseed Takes Gerrymander Case to State Supreme Court

New Jersey Appleseed achieved a major step forward as co-counsel in a lawsuit on behalf of Jersey City Councilman Frank E. Gilmore and a coalition of 18 local community based organizations challenging the ward redistricting maps drawn by Jersey City after the 2020 census. While the trial court and Appellate Division have mostly ruled against the plaintiffs, the New Jersey Supreme Court has now granted their petition for certification and agreed to hear their appeal later this year.

Nebraska Appleseed Advances Ballot Initiatives

Nebraska Appleseed is advocating for TWO major ballot initiatives coming up for a vote this November. As a leader of Paid Sick Leave for Nebraskans, they submitted over 138,000 signatures to qualify Initiative 436 for the ballot. If passed, Initiative 436 would enable workers to earn between 40 to 56 hours of paid sick leave annually, a huge win in a state where more than three-quarters of part-time workers have no access to paid sick leave. Additionally, after a legal battle resulting in the Nebraska Supreme Court allowing competing abortion measures on the ballot, Nebraska Appleseed is advocating for Initiative 439 as part of the Protect Our Rights coalition. Initiative 439 would protect reproductive freedom and end Nebraska’s current ban on abortion.

Appleseed México Announced As Host of 2025 All-Network Meeting

The Appleseed Network is headed to Mexico City in 2025! This year, we are digging into how improved US-Mexico cooperation can strengthen economic justice, racial justice, childhood rights, and democracy for all communities in both countries. The destinies of the US and Mexico are closely entwined, and the well-being of our communities will be greatly affected by Mexico-US relations over the coming decades. Our work over the next year will culminate in our annual network gathering, hosted by Appleseed México in May, where we will be joined by our partners across the Appleseed Network!