Texas Appleseed

#GivingTuesday is just around the corner – a day when we come together to make a difference. We’ve set a bold $50,000 goal to advance justice in Texas. Too many Texans face unfair barriers every day, but your generosity can help rewrite that story. Donate today to support safer schools, humane systems, and more: https://lnkd.in/gtVg7Nh7

We’re proud to share our report, “Segregation’s Impact and the Pursuit of School Integration.” The new report examines the state of school integration and educational outcomes in Jefferson County, with a focus on Beaumont ISD, as an example of how efforts to integrate schools have failed in the past and have yet to be realized today, but could succeed in the future. Our mixed methods analysis paired with our historical review pulls data from the U .S. Census, Texas Education Agency, and Beaumont ISD; interviews with students; and focus groups with school faculty and community leaders. As we mark 70 years since Brown v. Board of Education, our findings offer practical, evidence-based recommendations to create true and equitable school integration in Beaumont. Many thanks to our community partners and every student, BISD faculty member, and community leader who shared their experiences with us. Your voices matter and have helped shape this important work. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gGUCw6bx

We thank the Texas Bar Foundation for their support in helping us reach legal deserts in Texas. Their grant will help us build relationships and create mechanisms for attorneys and other legal professionals in rural areas to expand their pro bono capacity. We see a future where legal support is integrated into every community! https://bit.ly/3CEoKdg #ProBono #LegalAid 

Access to education reduces the likelihood of recidivism by 28%. Driven by the recent reinstatement of Pell Grants for incarcerated students, our summer Research Intern M. Sanchez created an interactive story map to highlight the current state of higher education in #Texas prisons. These findings identify where and how higher education stakeholders should increase access to opportunities known to improve public safety and advance workforce development. https://arcg.is/1Onruz

“Justice means accepting that people from all backgrounds—regardless of who we are and what we look like—deserve the same opportunities.” We’re pleased to highlight Kristy Powers as a part of our wonderful donor community this month. Kristy proudly supports our work in creating transformative policy solutions that make a tangible difference in people’s lives. Her dedication demonstrates how individual support can drive meaningful social change. By standing together, we can build a more equitable Texas, one policy at a time. Thank you, Kristy, for your incredible support! #CommunityImpact #SupporterSpotlight 

This Wednesday, our #CriminalJustice Staff Attorney Natasha Malik spoke to members of Minority Women Pursuing Law (MWPL) at The University of Texas at Austin. Founded 21 years ago, this organization invites attorneys from different sectors of the legal field to speak with students interested in a career in law. Thank you Minority Women Pursuing Law for inviting Natasha to stand at the same podium as other awe-inspiring lawyers. #WomeninLaw

As we finish up an unforgettable night, we extend our deepest thanks to everyone who joined us to honor Peter and Lael Brodsky, and our wonderful pro bono partners, Latham & Watkins and Sidley Austin LLP. We’re looking forward to seeing you all at next year’s Good Apple Dinner!

Our team is working hard behind the scenes to prepare our guests for an evening that celebrates the power of the transformative advocacy that we do at Texas Appleseed. Many thanks to you all! 

Last month, our #CriminalJustice Director Jennifer Carreon, PhD spoke at a screening of Boundless at the Lost River Film Festival. Boundless is a short documentary part of the Bridge Builders series, which follows Dr. Carreon’s work reshaping the criminal legal system. They were joined by Maggie Luna, JI-RPS, Executive Director at Texas Harm Reduction Alliance, who appears in the film, and introduced by Karen Muñoz, Justice Catalyst Fellow at LatinoJustice PRLDEF. Thanks to the Caldwell/Hays Examiner and San Marcos Cinema Club for uplifting the stories of change-makers in #Texas.

Thank you January Advisors for working on solutions to reduce roadblocks to record relief for eligible Texans. There are over five million cases potentially eligible for expunction or non-disclosure. By streamlining how we use data, we can prevent background check mistakes, eliminate barriers to employment, and help people move forward with their lives. Read January Advisors’s blog post on how we can prepare Texas for a statewide record clearing program.