Committed to Inclusion and Social Justice
By AV Board Member Judy Appel
In January of this year, I ended eight rich years serving as an elected member of Berkeley’s Board of Education, and as an aging resident of Berkeley, where I have lived for about 20 years. I moved here with my wife who grew up in Berkeley, after we had the second of our two kids. I have a long history working with the nonprofit community, serving over 10 years as the Executive Director of Our Family Coalition, an LGBTQ family organization, followed by several other positions. I became interested in looking for a way to learn more about and become involved in a progressive elder-serving and inclusive organization. And Ashby Village is the perfect fit. I am excited to be working with the amazing group of long-time activists that make up Elder Action, primarily on Police Reform and Climate Change issues.
In 2019, my wife and I were hit as pedestrians by a car very near our Berkeley home. This has left me disabled and has taught me a lot about what is involved in receiving the appropriate level of support to remain independent, productive and happy. Like in so many areas, the key here is for the needs arising from my disability to be seen and addressed, that I not be objectified, and that I be respected for
who, not
what I am -- the very base of Ashby Village’s work.
I am deeply committed to building equity and inclusion and working towards progressive social justice. I see many opportunities to do this with Ashby Village that are both very thoughtful and engaging. I am currently serving on the Development and Elder Action Committees of Ashby Village, and I greatly appreciate the commitment of staff, Board, members and volunteers. I am grateful to be a part of the Ashby Village family and look forward to growing older with you!
Judy Appel was raised in Pittsburgh, PA and moved to California to attend UC Santa Cruz. She is an attorney with a Masters in City Planning. Judy’s passion for social justice has motivated her career choices. She was Executive Director of Our Family Coalition for 11 years, where she helped pass the Modern Family Act. She also was Senior Program Officer at the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation and Executive Director for the California School-Based Health Alliance. Judy served two terms on the Berkeley Unified School District Board, for which she was president. Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to ensuring welcoming and inclusive schools. Judy also ran for State Assembly in 2018.