Tickets Now Available for Good Apple: Amplified!
Join us on April 23, 2021, for an amazing livestreamed event that will include:
- Keynote guest Dr. Beverly D. Tatum,
- Sally Yates,
- Ambassador Andrew Young,
- BJ Pak,
- Representative Sharon Cooper,
- Musical guest Delfeayo Marsalis, and more!
When you register for your ticket, you'll have the opportunity to become a Patron supporter at the Stakeholder ($1,000) or Friend ($500) level.
Good Apple is our most important fundraiser of the year. Your support funds our advocacy and policy work for Georgia’s children throughout the year.
|
|
Thank you, Good Apple Sponsors!
We are so grateful for the sponsors who have already stood up for Georgia’s children by becoming Good Apple sponsors:
|
|
Ensuring Good Legislative Outcomes for Georgia’s Children
We hope that you will let your legislators and the governor know that you care about equity and justice for Georgia’s children and that you support this important bill:
-
HB 163 - Medicaid Express Lane for Children: Thousands more children across Georgia may soon have access to Medicaid/PeachCare if Governor Kemp signs HB 163. The new law will automatically enroll children who receive SNAP benefits (food stamps) in Medicaid/PeachCare. The impact means greater access to supports for them to thrive. The bill, which passed both the House and the Senate unanimously, awaits the Governor’s signature.
For more information, contact Legal and Policy Director, Caroline Durham, at [email protected].
|
|
|
|
Last Chance CLE! March 30 Tribunal Representation Training
Here's your chance to earn those CLEs before the May 31 deadline!
Join Georgia Appleseed in an Atlanta Bar Association March Madness CLE event to train attorneys to represent students who are facing public school disciplinary hearings.
Date: March 30, 2021
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Approved for 3 CLEs
After completing this CLE, lawyers will be eligible to join our Tribunal Volunteer Lawyers Network to offer pro bono representation to children in foster care facing long-term suspension or expulsion. For attorneys who are already part of the Tribunal Volunteer Lawyers Network, this CLE provides a terrific opportunity to refresh on the step-by-step representation of children in Tribunal hearings.
|
|
Advocating for Your Child: Online and In-Person on April 1
The importance of empowering caregivers to advocate for their children at school is core to the work of Georgia Appleseed. On April 1, 2021, join Georgia Appleseed Legal and Policy Director Caroline Durham and Executive Director Michael Waller for an Advocating for Your Child training.
Date: April 1, 2021
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Early County High School (12020 Columbia Street, Blakely, GA 39823) and online via Zoom
Caroline and Michael will be at Early County High School safely presenting to a group of parents and caregivers. Everyone else can join via Zoom by registering at http://bit.ly/April1Advocating.
This presentation will cover information about how to get help for your child at school and in the community. The conversation will touch on engaging special education services, accessing resources in the school, understanding school discipline processes, and how best to support our children so they thrive in school.
|
|
Working toward a World Without Prisons: Meet Caroline Durham
Louisiana-native and Minnesota-transplant Caroline Durham started volunteering at Georgia Appleseed almost two years ago and joined the staff as Legal and Policy Director in January 2020. With decades of experience as a public defender and criminal defense attorney, Caroline knows that her end-goal is a world without prisons. After experiencing the work of Georgia Appleseed, she discovered that policy work was the next step in that journey.
“Georgia Appleseed opened my eyes to what effect policy can have and how it can empower individuals. What we do is creating real systems change,” she says. “If we do this right, we won’t need prisons. Schools will provide what’s needed. Jobs will pay enough to live comfortably. We’ll have thriving communities and children who are living their dreams.”
And then?
“I’ll go off and do my meditation work,” she says, laughing.
Until then, Caroline will continue to work to keep Georgia’s kids in school and out of the criminal justice system and ensure they have access to safe, healthy housing. And as part of her meditation practice, she offers a virtual 15-minute Meditation for Change Agents one Thursday a month. If you’re interested in joining, email Caroline at [email protected] for details.
|
|
Restorative Practices in Georgia Schools
Next month, Georgia Appleseed staff will be participating in a free, virtual conference, Restorative Practices in Georgia Schools to learn from and share with a range of practitioners about student circles, staff circles, restorative cultures, and more.
The event takes place on April 22 (12:30pm-4:00pm) and April 23 (12:30pm-4:00pm).
|
|
Additional Resources & Reading
We like to share reading and resources that are helping us think about justice-related issues of the day. We stand in solidarity with the AAPI community against racist violence, and we will continue our work to dismantle systemically racist systems and institutions.
In recognition of the incredible impact COVID-19 is having on our lives and throughout our communities, we are continuing to share resources on our social media channels. Below are a handful of links that we hope will help connect people to the resources they need at this time:
-
Help Guides for Children with Behavior and Learning Challenges—Easy-to-read guides on school-based topics including discipline, learning disabilities, and more. Las Guías de ayuda de Georgia Appleseed para niños con problemas de comportamiento y aprendizaje ya están
-
Tribunal Representation—Caseworkers and caregivers can request pro bono representation for kids in care who are facing school disciplinary hearings.
-
(866) 399-8938—This COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline is available to all Georgians from 8:00 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
-
211—Calling 211 or searching the website can help you find food, pay housing bills, access childcare, and more.
-
Atlanta Legal Aid—This resource list includes information about court closings, emergency food help, and more.
-
Georgia Department of Education—This DOE site includes links to school closure information and online learning resources.
-
Voices for Georgia’s Children—Voices has put together a robust list of news and resources around COVID-19, including financial resources, food assistance, closures, guidance on talking to children about the pandemic, and more.
-
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta—CHOA's Strong4Life resource page provides parenting guidance for the COVID-19 era, including how to talk about social distancing with kids, avoiding injuries during isolation, and much more.
-
Deepen Your Work by Engaging in Meditation for Change Agents: Caroline Durham, our Legal and Policy Director, has been leading meditation programs for lawyers, activists, and change agents for more than 10 years. Her meditation practice began more than 15 years ago while serving as a public defender. Take a moment to ground and strengthen your work life by joining us. No experience necessary. For more information, contact Caroline at [email protected].
|
|
Georgia Appleseed Needs Your Support
At Georgia Appleseed, we focus on dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline and advocating for healthy housing because we believe these areas are powerful leverage points for meaningful, systemic change.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
