Our INItiatives

We advance justice for the most underrepresented children across the state through several initiatives.

School Justice

We work with schools to provide children with needed supports and reduce their risk of involvement with the juvenile justice system. Schools with effective discipline policies keep kids in class learning and create a safe and productive learning environment for all students.

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School Justice

Housing Justice

Georgia Appleseed advocates for reforms large and small, local and statewide, that increase access for low-income children and their families to stable, healthy homes. Children in healthy homes do better in school, have lower levels of justice involvement, and can look to a brighter future.

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Housing Justice

Behavioral Health

We work with local school climate committees that are required in each county across the state to improve children’s behavioral health services and to integrate these services with Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS).

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Behavioral Health

Foster Care (FAIR)

Children in foster care face unique barriers to school success. Georgia Appleseed advocates for legal and policy innovations to the foster care system, grows the community of advocates for children in care, and provides direct legal representation for children in care facing suspension or expulsion from school.

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Foster Care (FAIR)

Our Approach

We employ a three-pronged approach of direct connection, community and coalition building, and system reform.

Direct
Connection

Connecting directly with the children and families we serve is at the heart of everything we do.
Direct
Connection

Coalition
Building

Building a community of advocates across the state is vital to being able to advance justice.
Coalition
Building

System
Reform

Guidance, policy recommendations, and legal resolutions to address persistent systemic issues.
System
Reform

Leadership

Board of Directors

Eric Fisher

Board Chair
Barnes & Thornburg

Micah Moon

Board Vice Chair
Delta Air Lines

Adam Ozgo

Board Treasurer
Yancey Bros.

Adwoa Awotwi

Board Secretary
LocumTenens.com

Tori Silas

Immediate Past Board Chair

Alison Ballard

Buchalter Law Firm

Lou Barbieri

Kilpatrick Townsend

Patrick Becker

Southern Company

Mary Benton

Alston & Bird LLP

John Bey

Bey & Associates

David Brackett

Bondurant Mixson & Elmore

Charlie Ebersol

Infinite Athlete

John Fleming

Eversheds Sutherland

Harold Franklin

King & Spalding LLP

Paula Frederick

State Bar of Georgia

Brian Gordon

McDermott Will & Emery LLP

Brian Harms

Troutman Pepper

Kate Helm

Nelson Mulllins Riley & Scarborough, LLP

Judge Todd Markle

Court of Appeals of Georgia

Jessica McKinney

Smurfit WestRock

Christopher Middleton

Cox Rodman & Middleton

Judge Shondeana Morris

DeKalb County Superior Court

Raj M. Nichani

The RMN Agency

Randi Schnell

Rooms To Go

Neil Shorthouse

Partners in Change

Amy Steigerwalt

Georgia State University

L. Chris Stewart

Stewart Miller Simmons

Debra Tavaras

Soulstice, Inc.

Marc Taylor

Taylor English Duma

Carrie Zhou

Aprio

Team

Staff

Executive Director Michael Waller leads the Georgia Appleseed team in the development of innovative policy solutions and tools to keep […]
Policy Counsel As Policy Counsel, Morgan engages in legal and policy reform to dismantle the school to prison pipeline and […]
Program Manager and Angela B. Royal Fellow Tanesse joined Georgia Appleseed with nearly a decade of experience working with domestic […]
Legal & Policy Director Darlene Lynch brings her extensive expertise and dedication to overseeing Georgia Appleseed’s housing and school justice […]
Director of Engagement & Development A graduate of Huntingdon College and Asbury Theological Seminary, Liz started her career overseas working […]
Administrative Assistant Rosalie brings deep knowledge and broad experience to our team – including teaching, language, coding and tech programming, […]
Development Associate Leah brings experience and deep commitment to advancing social justice and equity through effective fundraising and advocacy efforts.  […]
Policy Counsel Luci applies her background in courtroom advocacy at the individual level to systemic reform that impacts the larger […]
Director of Operations Kate Swett manages Georgia Appleseed’s business functions including finance and accounting, human resources, communications, and contracts, as […]

Career

Jobs and Internships

FULL-TIME POSITIONS

We currently have no open positions at Georgia Appleseed. Please continue to check back for updates. If you are an attorney who would like to volunteer with our organization, please complete the Pro Bono Interest Form.

INTERNSHIPS & EXTERNSHIPS

We invite rising 2L and 3L law students to share our passion to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline, keep low-income families and their children in safe and healthy homes, and support children in foster care. We offer unpaid internships and externships for fall, spring, and summer.  In addition, we host fellows from a variety of fellowship programs. We value new perspectives, and diversity in life and work experience.

Interns and externs assist attorneys and program staff in all current program activities. An individual intern or extern’s experience will depend on their interests and goals, and our current needs.

They may do the following:

  • Conduct legal, social science, and policy research
  • Write and update attorney manuals and guidance
  • Draft and prepare legal and other advocacy documents (including pleadings, briefs, talking points, emails, etc.)
  • Develop tools for parents, students, and other caregivers
  • Visit and interview stakeholders
  • Assist in the representation of children in foster care before school disciplinary tribunals
  • Attend and assist with coalition and other stakeholder meetings
  • Participate in advocacy strategy sessions
  • Collect and assess statistical data
  • Coordinate public programs and events

Interested students should send a current resume by email to programs@gaappleseed.org with “Internship/Externship Query” in the subject line of the email. In the body of the email, please explain why you are interested in working with us, and highlight life, education, and work experiences you believe relevant to our work. We prefer applicants who can commit to a full semester or summer internship or externship.

Georgia Appleseed Center for Law and Justice is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any job applicant or employee because of that person’s race, color, sex, age, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, sexual orientation, creed, citizenship, HIV status, or marital status.  We recognize the value of diversity in the workplace and strongly urge people in all protected groups to apply for employment. Reasonable accommodations will be made for individuals with mental or physical disabilities who are otherwise qualified to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of a given position in a satisfactory manner, provided the needed accommodation does not result in an undue hardship for Georgia Appleseed.