March 2025 Newsletter: The latest growing impact for all Missourians

2025 MISSOURI GENERAL ASSEMBLY: LEGISLATIVE NEWS

Bill signed with four major provisions championed by Missouri Appleseed
Missouri Governor Kehoe signed a bill on Wednesday with three major provisions championed by Missouri Appleseed! In partnership with Keyway Center for Diversion & Reentry, through research, education, and advocacy, we helped pass legislation that will strengthen Missouri families.

Incarcerated pregnant women will receive better prenatal and postnatal care.

Banning the Practice of Shackling Pregnant Women in Missouri JailsBanning the Practice of Shackling Pregnant Women in Missouri Jails
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Ensuring Adequate Nutrition for Pregnant Incarcerated WomenEnsuring Adequate Nutrition for Pregnant Incarcerated Women
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Families will be able to stay in touch with incarcerated loved ones without going into debt.

Banning the Practice of Shackling Pregnant Women in Missouri Jails
Learn more >

Research shows that one of the most effective ways to reduce recidivism is to allow individuals the ability to stay in touch with loved ones while they are incarcerated.


The Missouri Incarceration Reimbursement Act (MIRA) is repealed, allowing individuals to successfully return home.

Repeal Missouri’s Incarceration Reimbursement Act
Learn more >

Repealing MIRA alleviates financial burden, supports successful reentry, and helps reduce recidivism—creating safer, stronger communities.

Together we are creating a healthier, stronger, safer Missouri. Thank you to our supporters for standing with us!

View Press Release >

More initiatives Missouri Appleseed is advocating for this legislative session:

Restoring Voting Rights to Individuals on Parole or Probation
Download flyer >

On March 26th, Rep. Stinnett’s HB 617 was unanimously voted out of the House Corrections and Public Institutions Committee. This is the first year a Voting Rights Restoration bill has unanimously passed out of committee.
Learn more >

Eliminating Missouri’s Regressive Sales Tax on Feminine Hygiene Products and Diapers
Download flyer >

Missouri taxes diapers and feminine hygiene products at 4.225%, while other necessities and groceries are taxed at 1.225%.
Learn more >

Through research and policy reform, Missouri Appleseed advances initiatives designed to have a lasting, systemic impact on justice-involved Missourians, their families, and the greater community.

EDUCATION: CLE SPOTLIGHT

Each year Missouri Appleseed presents a full-day, free Continuing Legal Education event on issues related to our work. On March 7th, over 150 people attended Parent Representation in Missouri Child Welfare Cases: Emerging Issues in the Field. Six nationally recognized speakers presented on a variety of topics related to parent representation and family preservation. Thank you to our speakers and attendees for making this year’s CLE our most successful event ever!

“Having attended CLE programs for nearly 30 years, I found this to be one of the most impressive. The speakers were of the highest caliber. I learned so much from their clear and concise deliveries. Thank you for bringing such first-rate material to all of the participants.” — CLE Participant

Parent Representation in Missouri Child Welfare Cases: Emerging Issues in the Field
Missed the webinar? Watch the full recording and download materials below:

IMPACT: ESTABLISHING A PRISON NURSERY IN MISSOURI

A Warm Welcome to the First Baby in the New Nursery Wing
Missouri’s first prison nursery at the Women’s Eastern Reception, Diagnostic & Correctional Center (WERDCC) has welcomed its first baby! Born on March 11, the newborn and mother are settling in with care and support from staff and resident caregivers. Since the wing opened on January 30th, seven mothers and mothers-to-be have moved in, with more babies on the way.

Established through bipartisan legislation in 2022, Missouri’s prison nursery program allows eligible mothers with 18 months or less remaining on their sentences to care for their newborns, fostering bonding and enabling them to leave prison together.

Read > New prison nursery program helps incarcerated moms bond with their babies, learn parenting skills and access programming.

SAVE THE DATE: GOOD APPLE RECEPTION

Save the Date
Good Apple Reception
Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at the Clayton Winehouse

Missouri Appleseed is excited to host our 6th Annual Good Apple Reception. The celebration brings together community members, partners, supporters, and lawmakers to celebrate Missouri Appleseed’s impact in 2024 and 2025. More details coming soon! 

Sponsorship Opportunities Available
Proceeds from sponsorships will directly benefit Missouri Appleseed’s work to improve the systems and policies at the intersection of public health, criminal justice, and child welfare. For information, email Liza Weiss or download the Sponsorship Opportunities flyer below.

Download Sponsorship Opportunites >

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, make a donation.

601 251 Missouri Appleseed

Wilford Pinkney Jr.

St. Louis Mayor’s Office

City of St. Louis, Office of Violence Prevention

Wilford Pinkney Jr. currently serves as the Director of the Office of Violence Prevention for the City of St. Louis. The Office of Violence Prevention provides strategic direction and oversight for the City of St. Louis’ efforts to create safe and healthy neighborhoods free of violence.

Mr. Pinkney previously served as the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Children, Youth, and Families for the City of St. Louis. He has overseen the development of a Crisis Management System focused on building healthy and vibrant communities by addressing trauma and increasing access to care. Prior to joining the administration, Pinkney was a FUSE Executive Fellow leading a cross-sector group of stakeholders in the development of a comprehensive pretrial reform plan in the City of St. Louis.

Wilford holds a B.S. in Organizational Management from Mercy College, a Masters in Public Administration from New York University, and a Master of Arts in Political Science from the CUNY Graduate Center. He is currently a doctoral candidate in Political Science at the CUNY Graduate Center, where he specializes in public policy and American politics.

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Todd Kaye

Board President

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.

Hugh A. Eastwood

Board Secretary

Attorney at Law

Mr. Eastwood is a litigator, mostly in civil rights, who has won significant verdicts and settlements for victims of government misconduct, for whistleblowers, and for those harmed by breach of trust and contract. He received his B.A. and J.D. from Yale, where he has also taught. Before law school, he managed the site design competition for the rebuilding of the World Trade Center at Ground Zero. Mr. Eastwood serves on the boards of several St. Louis nonprofits and has been a director of Missouri Appleseed since November 2017.

Molly Carney

Board Treasurer

Staff Attorney, ACLU of Missouri

Ms. Carney is a staff attorney at ACLU of Missouri. Before that, she served as in-house counsel at Wells Fargo Advisors, where she supported the brokerage business with a variety of legal matters. Previously, Ms. Carney clerked for Chief Judge Rodney Sippel of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri and spent several years practicing trusts and estates law. She is a graduate of Northwestern University and Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. She has been a member of Missouri Appleseed’s Board of Directors since April 2019.

Andrew Schlichter

Board Nominations and Governance

Schlichter Bogard & Denton

Mr. Schlichter is a trial attorney at Schlichter Bogard & Denton, where he focuses on class actions and complex civil litigation. He received his B.A. from Georgetown University and J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and has been a member of Missouri Appleseed’s Board of Directors since November 2017.

Brandon Hall

Husch Blackwell

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.

Cindy Finney Henry

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.

Tali Katz

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.

Ray Lin

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.

Jessica Moore

Head of Enterprise Strategy

Arianna Muckerman

The Centene Corporation

Arianna Muckerman is the for the Centene Corporation. She received her B.A. from Boston College and her M.P.H. from Washington University in St. Louis. She has been a member of Missouri Appleseed’s Board of Directors since July 2021.

Wilford Pinkney Jr.

St. Louis Mayor’s Office

City of St. Louis, Office of Violence Prevention

Wilford Pinkney Jr. currently serves as the Director of the Office of Violence Prevention for the City of St. Louis. The Office of Violence Prevention provides strategic direction and oversight for the City of St. Louis’ efforts to create safe and healthy neighborhoods free of violence.

Mr. Pinkney previously served as the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Children, Youth, and Families for the City of St. Louis. He has overseen the development of a Crisis Management System focused on building healthy and vibrant communities by addressing trauma and increasing access to care. Prior to joining the administration, Pinkney was a FUSE Executive Fellow leading a cross-sector group of stakeholders in the development of a comprehensive pretrial reform plan in the City of St. Louis.

Wilford holds a B.S. in Organizational Management from Mercy College, a Masters in Public Administration from New York University, and a Master of Arts in Political Science from the CUNY Graduate Center. He is currently a doctoral candidate in Political Science at the CUNY Graduate Center, where he specializes in public policy and American politics.

Alexandra Rankin

Upstream USA

Alex Rankin is the Associate Director of State Policy 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, daughter, and dog and enjoys exploring new parks and the vibrant St. Louis foodie scene.

Missouri Appleseed green

Annie Beattie

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.

Michelle Clardy Dobbs

Caleres, Inc.

Associate General Counsel

Missouri Appleseed - Liza Weiss

Liza Weiss

Founding Director

Liza Weiss is the Executive Director of Missouri Appleseed. Liza is a St. Louis native and former public interest attorney. She holds a B.A. from Yale University and a J.D. from George Washington University Law School. Liza’s professional background includes work with the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, the Committee for Public Counsel Services, and the Children’s Law Center (DC).

Julie Alverson

US Account Director, Health and Beauty at Brand Addition

Emily Baron Bernstein

McCormack Baron Salazar

As Senior Vice President of Development at McCormack Baron Salazar, Ms. Bernstein is responsible for all aspects of the development process, including leveraging and securing project financing and coordinating a diverse team of specialists, consultants, investors, stakeholders, and public officials from project inception through project stabilization.

She has worked on multiple development projects, including North Sarah Apartments, Flance Early Learning Center, Covenant Place, and Preservation Square in St. Louis, Foote Park at South City in Memphis, Tenn., and the Cedars and Magnolia in Galveston, Texas.

Prior to joining McCormack Baron Salazar, Ms. Bernstein worked at the Nathalie P. Voorhees Center for Neighborhoods and Community Improvement and the Community Development Financial Institution, IFF, in their Real Estate Development Group. Ms. Bernstein’s experience extends beyond managing development and construction into financial structuring of both 9% and 4% low-income housing tax credit deals, as well as mixed finance transactions.

Ms. Bernstein holds a Master of Arts in Urban Planning from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.

Jake Rosenfeld

The Weidenbaum Center

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

Mary Quandt

Director of Public Health Policy

Mary Quandt is the Director of Public Health Policy 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.

Elizabeth Larsen

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri

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 10-year-old puppy finding the best coffee shops St. Louis has to offer.

Carolina Sanchez

Intern

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.

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