Rupa Shenoy, a reporter for PRI's The World, recently published a story titled "Fearing detention, undocumented immigrants seek ways to appoint guardians for their children". Appleseed is humbled to have contributed to this important story about a very pressing family issue.

From the story: "Many undocumented immigrants in the US have been living with the threat of deportation for years — and those who are parents have an additional fear: What will happen to their children if they’re detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement?"

“To be honest, we did not have an answer,' said Elisa Ortiz at the Appleseed Network — a nonprofit group in Washington, DC, that works on social justice issues. They started looking into this in 2017....She said most states don’t have laws in place that allow parents to appoint guardians in the event of their detention or deportation....Activists, lawyers and immigrants across the country have been trying to find solutions."

We've been working on this issue along with our incredible pro bono partners Latham & Watkins LLP and will soon be able to share guidance with immigrant families and practitioners about standby guardianship laws in their states or U.S. territories. Please stay tuned!

​As we come to a close on Appleseed’s 25th anniversary year, we look back at achievements and accomplishments from around the Network. In this issue of our newsletter, you can find updates about our 25th Anniversary celebration, our Seeds of Learning event in September 2019, a spotlight on the work of Alabama Appleseed, and much more. 

We look forward to another 25 (plus) years of developing sustainable solutions to social justice issues. We rely on our supporters to be able to continue our work - we urge you to consider becoming a donor and help us achieve our goals of making society more just and equitable for all.

Find the full newsletter below:

​On Tuesday, September 17, Appleseed hosted the fourth installment in our “Seeds of Learning” event series at Teddy & the Bully Bar in downtown DC. We were excited to welcome Meg Wiehe, Deputy Director of the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) to discuss the organization’s recent report, “The Illusion of Race-Neutral Tax Policy.” The report highlights how tax policy is both a symptom and an instrument of systemic racism.

Here at Appleseed, we believe the first step to meaningful systemic change is to bring an array of diverse stakeholders together to discuss social justice issues and develop sustainable solutions. As a thought leader and resource distributor, we understand the importance of bringing experts together, sharing bold ideas, and taking action for change.

It was in this spirit that Appleseed recently co-hosted our first Bold Idea Symposium at the Ford Foundation for Social Justice in New York City alongside Princeton AlumniCorps. There, we discussed a variety of immigration and forced migration issues, as well as how to effectuate real change through networks and coalitions. The event was part of a broader project with Princeton AlumniCorps, funded by a grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation secured thanks to the efforts of Ralph Nader, a founder of both organizations.

To learn more about our Bold Idea Partnership with Princeton AlumniCorps and the the Bold Idea Symposium, please read our July newsletter (below). As always, thanks so much for being a supporter of Appleseed and let us know if you have any questions.

A conversation with Sally Yates, Esq of King & Spalding, Former Deputy Attorney General conducted by Steve Bunnell, Esq of O'Melveny & Myers LLP, Former General Counsel of the US Department of Homeland Security.
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Please join us as we celebrate the vision of our founders and 25 years of social justice successes.

Located four floors above Mi Vida at the heart of the Wharf, La Vie offers a seafood-centric Mediterranean menu, floor-to-ceiling windows, a canopy of chandeliers, and a 1,100-square-foot terrace overlooking the Washington Channel. 

Join us in this beautiful space to celebrate the vision of our founders and for a conversation with Sally Yates, Esq of King & Spalding, Former Deputy Attorney General conducted by Steve Bunnell, Esq of O'Melveny & Myers LLP, Former General Counsel of the US Department of Homeland Security.