About Us

Mission Statement
The Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice is a nationally connected social impact research and advocacy organization that works to achieve fundamental, systemic reform by addressing policies and practices that prevent individuals from reaching their full potential. We focus on social justice and government effectiveness issues ranging from fair criminal justice systems to equal access in financial institutions.

Research
The Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice works with a multitude of lawyers, legislative experts, scholars, public interest groups and workers in the field to provide research of the highest quality. By using an effective combination of legal research, law practice and social science methodology, an issue is thoroughly examined from all angles to find out what is working with a particular system, and what is not working.

Recommendations
Our expert research provides an objective basis for constructive and realistic recommendations for change in inefficient and unjust social and legal systems. Once we determine what isn’t working with a particular system, we make progressive recommendations to fix the problems. These recommendations are made with the goal of making the best possible changes to positively impact the largest number of affected citizens.

Advocacy
Based on our recommendations, we advocate for fair systemic change to benefit all Chicago residents. This includes taking public positions on critical issues, writing legislation, working to create and pass bills at the local and state levels, speaking out through the media, collaborating with other organizations and holding public forums, expressing our viewpoints directly to policymakers.

The Chicago Appleseed Difference
We at Chicago Appleseed are not content to sit on the sidelines of social reform. We gather and study information from a variety of sources to create objective research that takes all viewpoints into consideration. From this research, we make recommendations to fix the flaws in current systems. Change does not happen by simply making recommendations—we believe that we must actively work to create change. To that end, we meet with policymakers and public citizens in a variety of ways to advocate for fair and just change.

National Appleseed
Appleseed's mission is to build a just society through legal advocacy, community activism, and policy expertise. We work locally to address root causes and produce practical, systemic solutions. We strive for a society in which opportunities are genuine, access to the law is universal and equal, and power is used to advance the public interest. The Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice has been part of the national organization since 1997.

Appleseed Network
Appleseed believes change is made best at the local level, and we then increase and expand our efforts on a national level whenever possible. Organizing, supporting, and assisting a national network of fifteen independent Centers, Appleseed solves difficult problems in communities by leveraging the skills and commitment of local volunteers. Chicago Appleseed often joins other regional Appleseed Centers to create solutions to problems faced throughout the United States. Most recently, Chicago Appleseed partnered with centers in Nebraska and Texas to create a variety of financial education brochures printed in Spanish and English.

Read more about us in our informative brochure.