Location: BlogsAppleseed in the NewsNational Appleseed
	3/19/2007
Betsy Cavendish, executive director of Appleseed, talks about her new position at Appleseed. March 19, 2007 Upper Arlington News Lyndsey Teter Former Upper Arlington resident Betsy Cavendish has been named the new executive director of Appleseed, one of the nation's largest legal pro bono networks. Cavendish, 47, is a 1978 graduate of Upper Arlington. For the past 25 years, she has worked in the public arena, including positions in all three branches of the federal government. Cavendish most recently served as interim president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. "Those issues are dear to my heart, but here I'll have the opportunity to work with a broader issue scope," said Cavendish of her new position. With 16 public interest law centers in the United States and Mexico, Appleseed utilizes pro bono talent to address social injustices ranging from education, health care and immigrant rights through advocacy, education and policy expertise, Cavendish said. Appleseed centers operate both independently and collectively, bringing together top private practice lawyers, corporate counsel, law schools and civic leaders to fight "for lasting change," Cavendish said. The firm, based out of Washington, D.C., has worked with Columbus' Porter Wright Morris & Arthur -- the oldest law firm in Columbus. Such collaborative nationwide efforts do trickle down to Central Ohio, she said. "Improving health care for children and expanding options for small businesses, increasing transparency in financial institutions, increasing literacy for Spanish-speaking populations ... many of these issues are nationwide in their scope," she said. "All work in social justice is tied together. It touches everyone." Prior to becoming interim president of NARAL, Cavendish held the positions of vice president and legal director for the organization. She spent several years at the U.S. Department of Justice and was an assistant professor of law at the University of Illinois College of Law. Cavendish has worked as a law clerk for U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Permalink |  Trackback