Page 7 - Kansas Appleseed Case Statement 2021
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YOUTH JUSTICE BACKGROUND
CHAMPION In 1999, Jack Focht, Larry Rute,
and other Kansas attorneys
formed the statewide chapter
of the national Appleseed
Tyler met Kansas Network, which had been
Appleseed in 2018 established five years earlier
when he was
recruited to join a by Harvard Law School
group of formerly classmates to honor their
incarcerated young 35th Class Reunion. Richard
people interested J. Medalie spearheaded
in advocacy for the Class of 1958 to fund a
youth justice “foundation to help organize,
system reform. establish, and guide state
With Kansas centers for law in the public
Appleseed training interest throughout the
TYLER WILLIAMS and support, the country.” The group sought
Wichita Kansas teenagers to transform pro bono legal
work from helping individuals
formed Progeny,
which meets to focusing on broad
monthly. Kansas Appleseed teaches them how systemic social initiatives.
to organize and communicate, how to use data They believed law is not just
effectively, and when and how to use stories to something to restrain abuses,
motivate social change. but rather an opportunity to
give people the chance to
Tyler is a dynamic advocate. So much so that fulfill their potential.
Kansas Appleseed hired him in 2019 as a Youth
Justice Organizer. Tyler helped create a survey of Kansas Appleseed is one of
youths who were part of their community’s justice only 18 centers nationwide.
system, then helped develop and implement an It is an independent 501(c)3
action plan. The work focuses on ensuring that not-for-profit organization with
youth have access to appropriate services (mental a volunteer, statewide board
health, substance abuse, mentoring, aggression of directors. Individuals,
therapy, family therapy), investing in alternatives businesses, and foundations
to incarceration, and working to close the last provide contributions to
youth prison in Kansas. The youth advocates sustain its work.
have connected with community leaders, given
presentations to the Juvenile Corrections Advisory For more information, or to
Board, and met with stakeholders. Now a discuss a contribution, contact
fulltime organizer for Progeny, Tyler collaborates Jami Reever,
with Kansas Appleseed on ongoing campaigns Executive Director,
designed to improve the justice system. jreever@kansasappleseed.org
Tyler credits Kansas Appleseed with giving him
the skills and experience he needs to effect FID# 48-1219759
positive community change. KansasAppleseed.org
DONATE ONLINE AT
KansasAppleseed.org/support
