Growing Justice
Celebrating 20 years of Georgia Appleseed 2005-2025
Georgia Appleseed launches under the guidance of Founding Board Chair, Steve Clay and Executive Director Sharon Hill. Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton donates in-kind space for the offices.
Becomes a key partner in JUSTGeorgia, a coalition dedicated to rewriting and reforming Georgia’s outdated juvenile code, highlighting the organization’s commitment to youth advocacy.
Publishes its first solo report, Justice for People with Mental Illness in Georgia, spotlighting systemic gaps in care, influencing reforms and laying the groundwork for future research-driven advocacy.
Young Professionals Council (YPC) is established, with Jason Carter serving as its first president. YPC aims to engage young professionals in the organization’s mission and activities.
Hosts inaugural Good Apple Award Dinner, an event that has since become a key fundraiser and celebration of justice champions.
YPC creates the Heirs Property in Georgia Attorney Training Manual for non-real estate attorneys and beginstraining.
The Effective Student Discipline report sparks interest in alternatives to suspension, laying the groundwork for statewide adoption of evidence-based positive school climate practices.
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder keynotes the Good Apple Awards Dinner, a moment that elevated Georgia Appleseed’s profile.
Responds to Hurricane Katrina families denied FEMA aid due to lack of clear legal title in their homes and propose legal reforms.
Uniform Partition Heirs Property Act passes due to our advocacy work, increasing protections for landowners in poor – particularly Black – communities.
Juvenile Code Rewrite passes after years of advocacy. It was the first comprehensive rewrite of Georgia’s Juvenile Code in 40 years, passed unanimously, and becomes a major milestone in juvenile justice reform.
Launches the Keeping Kids in Class Toolkit, providing valuable data and resources to reduce out-of-school suspensions.
Publishes “Unlocking Heirs Property Ownership: Assessing the Impact on Low and Mid-Income Georgians and Their Communities” and propose creation of an independent law firm to help families clear title to family property.
Launches the Georgia Education Climate Coalition to lead a transformation of school discipline policies. Suspension rates decline steadily.
Launches the Tribunal Volunteer Lawyers Network to provide legal support to students in school discipline cases.
Launches the Georgia Heirs Property Law Center after years of work on heirs property issues to support low- and moderate-income property owners.
Rebuilds police-community trust statewide in response to the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri and a request by a Georgia mayor for our help to prevent similar police-citizen encounters. A wide-reaching, data-driven effort ensues, inviting more than 500 Georgians to share experiences and ideas.
Publishes Seeking the Beloved Community: Fostering Crucial Conversations about Race, Law Enforcement, and the Law, a product of more than 180 pro bono attorneys and other volunteers conducting 140 in-depth stakeholder interviews; and our facilitating statewide community forums to share findings and collect local input, in partnership with the State Bar and other community partners.
Launches Healthy Housing Project, addressing substandard rental housing and its impact on public health.
Hosts inaugural Justice Conversations Event featuring Supreme Court Justices David Nahmias (Georgia) and Charles Wells (Florida-retired).
Launches school-based behavioral health (SBBH) initiative to study best practices to integrate behavioral and mental health services in schools in partnership with The Carter Center and Voices for Georgia’s Children.
Launches the FAIR Project to reach foster-involved youth across Georgia, training thousands of caseworkers, foster parents, and other advocates.
Launches the Healthy Housing Project and Georgia Healthy Housing Coalition, Georgia’s only statewide coalition dedicated to improving safety and stability in low-income rental homes.
Creates the Homelessness Intervention Project in Clayton County, a social innovation lab addressing homelessness and unhealthy housing conditions for low-income families. which partners with the Magistrate Court and community leaders.
Drafts and helps to pass the Anti-Retaliation Bill prohibiting landlord retaliation against tenants who report health and safety violations.
Drafts and supports the passage of the Trauma Impact Rule to address trauma’s impact on student discipline and educational access and performance, both academic and behavioral.
Publishes one-of-a-kind Medicaid Appeals Manual in response to widespread and unjustified denials of children’s health care coverage by certain insurers. The guide, Getting Kids the Care They Need: PeachCare and Medicaid Appeals Manual for Attorneys, helps lawyers force insurers to provide medically necessary care.
Executive Director Michael Waller testifies before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs about the impact of institutional landlords and unhealthy housing conditions on Georgia families.
Advocates successfully for the Mental Health Parity Act to improve access to mental health treatment.
SBBH Collaborative develops schoolbasedbehavioralhealth.org as a hub for training and resources school-based behavioral health initiatives.
Wins $1 million in unrestricted funding from MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving, our largest grant to date,. Less than 6% of the 6,300+ applicants were awarded.
Proposes and helps pass important reforms, among them, SB 82 (school accountability), HB 268 (mental health and school climate), and SB 169 which ensures timely school hearings and instructional materials for students awaiting school disciplinary proceedings.
Successfully advocates for the Safe at Home Act (HB 404), which introduces Georgia’s first statewide habitability and safety standards rental homes.
Expands FAIR statewide from serving just students in foster care to also work with students on free/reduced lunch, adding advocacy training, coaching, and legal services for special education services and supports for students.
Working closely with legislators, develops and passes a comprehensive school safety bill which includes expanded mental health services in schools, strengthened positive behavioral interventions, and multi-disciplinary behavioral threat assessments.
Celebrating 20 Years! Georgia Appleseed marks two decades of advocacy for Georgia’s children and families.
