Missouri has the third highest reported rate of domestic violence in the United States. Approximately 50% of women have experienced domestic violence and this figure increases to 70% among incarcerated women in the United States prison population. In these court cases, many of the women argue their actions were in response to experienced abuse, including self-defense, protecting a family member, and coerced acts. However, over 75% of women whose court cases relate to their experienced domestic abuse are convicted and receive lengthy sentences.
The NFL Foundation is supporting Missouri Appleseed, in collaboration with the Appleseed Centers in Oklahoma and Alabama, to survey incarcerated women on links between domestic violence, coercion, and convictions. The research will inform lawmakers, judges, attorneys, and the public in advocating for justice and fairness for survivors.
This legislative session, State Representative Renee Reuter (R-Jefferson) has filed HB 1872. If it passes, this bill will ensure justice in sentencing for Missourians whose convictions can be linked to their experienced domestic violence. A similar bill was recently passed in Oklahoma. The bill works to increase justice in two main ways:
“Regardless of whether their abuser is ever held accountable, many survivors—especially women—are criminalized and punished for the violence they endure. This is sometimes called the “Abuse-to-Prison Pipeline,” and it is a growing problem across the nation.” Oklahoma Appleseed, The Abuse to Prison Pipeline
“We’re not trying to prove guilt or innocence. We’ve already been proven guilty, and the Oklahoma Survivors Act, it doesn’t take away that guilt. It doesn’t take away that felony conviction. All it does is say, ‘You were a victim of domestic violence, and that’s why you committed your crime, and you deserve a little relief,'” – OK State Rep. Danny Williams
Approximately 50% of Missouri women have experienced domestic violence…
If a firearm is involved, a woman’s sentence is often two times as long as one given to a man with a similar conviction.
…and that percentage rises to 70% among incarcerated women in Missouri (having experienced domestic violence).
Over 75% of women whose court cases relate to their experienced domestic abuse are convicted and receive lengthy sentences.
By planting the seed for policy reform, we advocate for systemic and sustainable change that builds stronger families, reduces recidivism, and creates safer communities. To support our work, please consider giving a donation today.
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
A partner at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, where he focuses on mergers and acquisitions, securities law, and general corporate matters, Mr. Kaye holds a J.D. and an M.B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis. He also serves on the Board of Directors of College Bound. Mr. Kaye has been a member of Missouri Appleseed’s Board of Directors since November 2017.
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
A partner at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, where he focuses on mergers and acquisitions, securities law, and general corporate matters, Mr. Kaye holds a J.D. and an M.B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis. He also serves on the Board of Directors of College Bound. Mr. Kaye has been a member of Missouri Appleseed’s Board of Directors since November 2017.
Molly Carney is a solo practitioner focused on trust and estate planning.
Brandon is an associate attorney at Husch Blackwell, in St. Louis, Missouri, where he practices healthcare law. He obtained his B.A. in Political Science from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy at SUNY Albany, and his J.D. with concentrations in both healthcare and employment law from Saint Louis University School of Law. Prior to and during law school, Brandon worked extensively in government relations, including on state and federal health policy matters. Brandon also currently co-teaches Grassroots Health Law, Policy, & Advocacy at Saint Louis University School of Law’s Center for Health Law Studies.
Attorney at Law
Ms. Henry earned her B.A. in Justice Systems from Truman State University and her J.D. from St. Louis University. She spent nearly two years as an Assistant Circuit Attorney in St. Louis City, where she prosecuted cases ranging from misdemeanors to sex crimes and child abuse. Ms. Henry then spent several years representing juveniles in delinquency and criminal proceedings as part of the Missouri Public Defender’s Juvenile Defense Unit. Most recently Ms. Henry taught several courses as an adjunct professor in the Criminal Justice Program at St. Louis Community College. Ms. Henry has been a member of Missouri Appleseed’s Board of Directors since November 2017.
Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C.
Mrs. Katz is an attorney at Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C. She practices litigation with a focus on corporate defense work. She previously worked for the Office of the District Attorney General in Nashville, Tennessee, where she led the domestic violence prosecution team. In 2014, Mrs. Katz received the Outstanding State Government Official award for her work as a prosecutor. Mrs. Katz served as a director of The Mary Parrish Center for victims of domestic and sexual violence in Nashville and has been a director of Missouri Appleseed since January 2018.
Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment
Mr. Lin received his B.A. from Harvard University and his J.D. from Columbia University. He is Chief Legal Officer for Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment. He is a retired partner at Latham & Watkins LLP, where his practice focused on the representation of private equity firms in mergers and acquisitions and capital market transactions. He serves on the Board of Visitors of Columbia Law School. Mr. Lin is Chairman of National Appleseed’s Board of Directors and has been a member of Missouri Appleseed’s Board of Directors since November 2017.
Arianna Muckerman is a Vice President and Chief of Staff for External Affairs at Centene Corporation. She received her B.A. from Boston College and her M.P.H. from Washington University in St. Louis. At Centene she has held roles in population health programs, public policy, and corporate strategy. She has been a member of Missouri Appleseed’s Board of Directors since July 2021.
Alex Rankin is the Director of Policy & Government Affairs with Upstream USA and has worked to advance access to health care throughout her career. Prior to joining Upstream, Alex worked as the Director of Government Affairs for a large health foundation where she was responsible for engaging and educating policymakers on various health policy topics, including Medicaid and maternal and reproductive health. Alex graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law in 2015 with a concentration in health law and is a licensed attorney through the Missouri Bar. Alex lives in St. Louis with her husband, children, and dog and enjoys exploring new parks and the vibrant St. Louis foodie scene.
St. Louis County Justice Services
Ms. Beattie is a staff attorney for the St. Louis County Justice Services Pre-Trial Release Program. She received her B.A. from the University of Virginia and her J.D. from Georgia State University College of Law. Ms. Beattie, who also serves on the founding Board of Directors of Gateway Children’s Charity, has been a member of Missouri Appleseed’s Board of Directors since November 2017.
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
A partner at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, where he focuses on mergers and acquisitions, securities law, and general corporate matters, Mr. Kaye holds a J.D. and an M.B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis. He also serves on the Board of Directors of College Bound. Mr. Kaye has been a member of Missouri Appleseed’s Board of Directors since November 2017.
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
A partner at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, where he focuses on mergers and acquisitions, securities law, and general corporate matters, Mr. Kaye holds a J.D. and an M.B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis. He also serves on the Board of Directors of College Bound. Mr. Kaye has been a member of Missouri Appleseed’s Board of Directors since November 2017.
US Account Director, Health and Beauty at Brand Addition
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
A partner at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, where he focuses on mergers and acquisitions, securities law, and general corporate matters, Mr. Kaye holds a J.D. and an M.B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis. He also serves on the Board of Directors of College Bound. Mr. Kaye has been a member of Missouri Appleseed’s Board of Directors since November 2017.
Jake Rosenfeld is a professor of sociology at Washington University in St. Louis, and a resident fellow of the Weidenbaum Center on the Economy, Government, and Public Policy. He is primarily interested in the determinants of wages and salaries, and how these vary across time and place. His book What Unions No Longer Do (Harvard University Press 2014) examines the consequences of organized labor’s decline, and received wide attention in such outlets as the New Yorker and Harvard Business Review. His book You’re Paid What You’re Worth and Other Myths of the Modern Economy (Harvard University Press 2021) seeks to answer the basic question: who gets what and why? The book has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Harvard Business Review, among other outlets. He received his Ph.D. from Princeton University.
Mary Quandt is the Executive Director at Missouri Appleseed. Originally from rural Wisconsin, she has called Missouri home for almost a decade. Mary received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Master of Public Health from Washington University in St. Louis, and a law degree from St. Louis University School of Law. Before Missouri Appleseed, Mary served in the Peace Corps as a health educator and worked with various public health nonprofits.
Liz Larsen has been an “access to health care” advocate since her time at Saint Louis University School of Law where she graduated with a health law concentration in 2016. In her current role as Program Director of the Advocates for Family Health team at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, she works with families to not only access Medicaid health insurance, but to utilize the benefits to their fullest. Liz engages in both direct client and systemic advocacy to ensure all Missourians have meaningful access to their Medicaid and SNAP benefits. When not thinking about health insurance, Liz spends time with her husband, toddler, and finding the best coffee shops St. Louis has to offer.
Carolina is a senior at John Burroughs who will be graduating in June. She is attending Haverford College in Pennsylvania next fall. Her interest in public policy and care of incarcerated people is what drew her to Missouri Appleseed, as well as its positive impact on Missouri families and communities.
Office Managing Partner
Jordan Ault serves as Office Managing Partner for Husch Blackwell’s Jefferson City office. He is a litigator that chairs the firm’s Nonprofit Organizations & Religious Institutions team.
Aryka N. Moore, Esq. is an Illinois native that received her Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She then attended Georgia State University’s College of Law to receive her Juris Doctorate. Ms. Moore is admitted to practice law in Missouri and Georgia. Weathers Law primarily handles special public defender cases. She is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and has published three book.
Tasha Kaminsky-Gross is a dynamic philanthropic leader with over 15 years of experience driving fundraising success for small and mid-sized nonprofits across diverse sectors. Known for her ability to mobilize niche communities and craft bold, tailored major gift strategies, she has led transformative initiatives—from securing major corporate partnerships to launching the first woman-led capital campaign in the Diocese of St. Augustine. Tasha is also the founder of two thriving nonprofits and currently leads major and legacy giving at the Gateway Arch Park Foundation.
Rachel Sorensen is a Program Manager at Missouri Appleseed researching criminalized survivors to advocate for survivor justice legislation. Rachel received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and English from St. Lawrence University and a certificate in forensic psychology from Washington University in St. Louis. Prior to joining Appleseed, Rachel worked with WashU’s Prison Education Project as an AmeriCorps member. At PEP, Rachel supported the university’s incarcerated student population at the Missouri Eastern Correctional Center and the Women’s Eastern Reception, Diagnostic, and Correctional Center.
Laura LaGesse is the Director of Research at Missouri Appleseed. Laura received her bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Whitman College and a Master of Public Health from Washington University in St. Louis. Prior to joining Appleseed, Laura worked in public health research and within local public health departments. Her experience includes working in correctional environments helping incarcerated residents get connected to resources and enrolled in Medicaid.
Patti is proud to lend her nearly 25 years experience in Healthcare policy, government health programs and health insurance to the Missouri Appleseed Board. A life long passion committed to improving the lives and health of low-income, underserved populations, Patti is fully aligned and supportive of Appleseed’s mission and excited to see what more we can do to support Missourians live better lives.
Becca Craig is a Partner and Wealth Advisor at Focus Partners Wealth in Kansas City, Missouri, where she helps individuals and families navigate financial planning decisions, especially during times of transition. She holds the CFP®, CeFT®, and CSLP® designations and has nearly 15 years of experience in the financial services industry. Becca earned her B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis, with concentrations in political science, economics, and American culture studies. She is a board member of Missouri Appleseed and Lakeside Nature Center and a frequent contributor on financial topics to national media outlets including CNBC, Forbes, NPR, TheStreet, and Retirement Daily.
Civic Ventures
Freddy Doss serves as Executive Director of AmplifyMO Actions PAC and a Communications and Policy Specialist at Civic Ventures, where he works on national economic policy and gun violence prevention initiatives. He also produces the nationally recognized Pitchfork Economics podcast with Nick Hanauer. A veteran political strategist with more than 20 years of experience, Freddy has worked across campaigns, government, and advocacy at the local, state, and national levels, including service on the Democratic National Committee from 2020 to 2024 and in the Missouri House of Representatives.
Christy Engemann serves as Director of Sustainability for Seaboard Foods, which lies within the food production and agriculture sector. Her work focuses on translating complex systems—such as supply chains, environmental impacts, and regulatory frameworks—into measurable strategies that improve accountability and long‑term outcomes. She is committed to advancing Missouri Appleseed’s mission to promote justice by strengthening systems, so they are more transparent, equitable, and responsive to the people they impact.
Scott is a corporate litigator and compliance attorney at Armstrong Teasdale. He participates in many cultural institutions within the St. Louis community, presently serving as a trustee and capital campaign co-chair for the Missouri Historical Society, is a member of the William Greenleaf Eliot Society and serves as the chair of its Patrons Committee, and formerly served on the Board of the City Academy. He has been married to Stacy, an interior designer and writer, for 16 years, and together they have four sons.
