Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation celebrates 15 years of Safe Families Office
Safe Families Office staff celebrate 15 years of service to intimate partner violence survivors in Atlanta at a Feb. 9 luncheon. (Photo courtesy of Atlanta Volunteer Lawyer Foundation.)
In February, Atlanta’s largest provider of pro-bono legal services, the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, celebrated 15 years of the “Safe Families Office” dedicated to obtaining temporary protective orders for survivors of intimate partner abuse.
AVLF was founded in 1979 and has since become a hub for assisting low-income Atlantans with secure housing, fair pay and freedom from domestic abuse. Every year, the nonprofit provides over 5,000 people with free legal services from a roster of 500 staff and volunteers.
Over a decade ago, the nonprofit paired with the Fulton County State and Superior Courts and the Partnership Against Domestic Violence to create the “Safe Families Office.” It is the only lawyer-staffed and courthouse-based resource in Georgia aimed at getting temporary protective orders for domestic abuse survivors.
At the office, lawyers meet with survivors to discuss legal options, make a safety plan, talk about opinions and goals and obtain referrals for other support services. If necessary, the team will help complete documents to get a protective order.
In honor of the 15-year anniversary, AVLF honored four people for their contribution to the program at a Feb. 9 luncheon: Judge Alex Manning received the Legacy Award for her career work in domestic violence and stalking, and Jaime Perez received the Trailblazer Award for her advocacy on behalf of domestic violence and stalking victims and work with the Safe Families Office. Mandy Sanifer and Elizabeth Finn Johnson both received the Pioneer Award for their work in the office as well.
“Our collaboration over these 15 years between PADV and AVLF is not just a meeting of two strong organizations, but a fusion of strengths, where together, we achieve what alone seemed impossible,” PADV CEO Katha Blackwell said.
— Delaney Tarr
RICE receives $1 million grant to support Black entrepreneurs
Earlier this month, the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE) announced a $1 million grant from Comcast NBCUniversal to help advance their initiatives to uplift entrepreneurs in the Atlanta area.
RICE, which is the largest center in the world dedicated to growing, scaling and developing Black entrepreneurs, says that the grant will help propel future projects like Digital RICE, the “Level Up” Speaker Series and the RICE Data Science Initiative, which will provide mentorships and resources from industry experts in legal, accounting, marketing, sales strategy, pricing and human resources.
“This grant will further our programming and reimagine the support we offer Black entrepreneurs by ensuring that they have the tools and opportunities to thrive as business owners,” said Jay Bailey, President and CEO of RICE.
Comcast’s grant is a part of Project Up, the company’s $1 billion commitment to connecting people to the internet, advancing economic mobility, and opening doors for the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, storytellers, and creators.
“Research shows that Black-owned businesses systematically lack the access to capital data and resources that are often key determinants of their success. Through this grant, we’re proud to support RICE in their mission to create more equity in entrepreneurship, which will result in greater economic opportunities and security for Black entrepreneurs,” said Dalila Wilson-Scott, Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer for Comcast Corporation and President of the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation.
— Allison Joyner
Atlanta golf apparel store hosts SCAD students for fashion masterclass
As part of the Savannah College of Art and Design’s Fashion program, a group of students visited the PXG Atlanta store on Feb. 20 to meet with the company’s Senior Vice President of Apparel, Product and Design, Lindsay Weart.
Weart came from the Parsons Xtreme Golf home office in Scottsdale, Ariz., for the masterclass. She leads the apparel side of PXG, a company that sells golf clubs, accessories and sporty lifestyle apparel.
She focused in her lesson on the business of fashion, technological advancements, job hunting and what fashion design looks like for a luxury athletic brand. Weart said that in her time as a fashion student, advice from professionals shaped her professional career, and she hopes to do the same.
“I am hopeful my lesson resonated with the students and provided them with helpful insight as they transition from the classroom to a professional career in the industry,” Weart said.
The masterclass was one in a series of presentations from major designers like Anna Sui, Calvin Klein, Diane Von Furstenburg and Zac Posen. The Feb. 20 presentation was a part of Professor Yasha Morehouse’s Pattern Development course.
“SCAD students are poised to shape the fashion landscape thanks to mentorship from influential fashion insiders such as Lindsay and expert faculty who’ve worked with top houses and brands,” Morehouse said.
— Delaney Tarr
Synergies Work partners with Synergies SEED Fund to empower disabled entrepreneurs
On Feb. 14, the nonprofit for supporting disabled entrepreneurs, Synergies Work, announced its new affiliation with Synergies SEED Fund. This 501(c)(3) will offer loans for disability-led businesses and address the financial challenges disabled entrepreneurs face.
“Often due to barriers in the labor market, people with disabilities are more likely to start their own businesses compared to their non-disabled peers but are also more likely to fail due to lack of support. Our affiliation with Synergies SEED Fund will give its loan recipients full access to our services, including award-winning programs, mentor matching, and personalized coaching to place them on a trajectory for success,” said Aarti Sahgal, Founder and CEO of Synergies Work.
Click here to view a video examining Synergies Work’s story and mission.
— Allison Joyner
HouseATL awards five affordable housing champions
At its inaugural Affordable Housing Awards event Feb. 29, House ATL honored five champions in the areas of policy, homeownership, housing retention and financing.
A luncheon was held at Trees Atlanta’s headquarters with an audience of about 125 affordable housing leaders.
“With consistent headlines about the housing affordability crisis, it is time to take a moment to celebrate the progress that has been made toward affordability and the leaders that are driving these efforts in a particularly difficult market,” said Terri Lee, HouseATL co-chair and CEO of Atlanta Housing, in a release.
The honorees were:
- Dr. Bambie Hayes-Brown, president and CEO of Georgia Advancing Communities Together, who has been a longtime leader and volunteer in the housing community
- Wells Fargo Foundation for its $60 million national commitment to the Wealth Opportunities Realized Through Homeownership (WORTH) initiative – of which $7.5 million will support the Atlanta market
- Atlanta BeltLine Partnership for its work preventing the displacement of community residents through its Property Assistance for Legacy Homeowners program founded in 2020, as well as its support of the Atlanta Land Trust
- Marc Pollack, co-founder of the Atlanta Affordable Housing Fund, the first Atlanta social impact fund dedicated to creating and preserving affordable housing
- Enterprise Community Partners for bringing creative funding models to Atlanta through its help in creating the Funders Collective and the Pipeline Review Committee
“These award recipients were selected based on their impact in the Atlanta region, inclusive practices, problem-solving and continued commitment to housing affordability,” said Alan Ferguson, co-chair of HouseATL and CEO of Atlanta Habitat for Humanity.
Natallie Keiser, executive director of HouseATL, said the awards program was launched because Atlanta “needs leaders and problem solvers” to address housing affordability issues.
— Maria Saporta
City of Refuge will host annual ‘Refuge Run 5K’ in March
City of Refuge, a Westside Atlanta-based nonprofit that helps individuals and families transitioning out of crisis, is hosting its annual Refuge Run 5K on Saturday, March 16 at 8 a.m.
Serving as a fundraiser for the organization, the race aims to build awareness of the challenges some city residents face and invites runners to join in on City of Refuge’s efforts to position the neighborhood and its residents to thrive. The Peachtree Road race qualifier will begin at the organization’s campus on Joseph E. Boone Blvd NW and travels through historic Vine City and Downtown Atlanta, allowing participants a glimpse into the transitioning neighborhood.
The Refuge Run helps bring a focus on the needs of the 30314 zip code and aims to open the eyes of participants as they traverse a path where most people who benefit from City of Refuge live.
Online registration for the 2024 Refuge Run will be open until March 11th for $40 per person. On-site registration will increase to $50 per person. If runners are interested in participating but are unable to attend the event, a virtual run option is also available until March 23.
— Derek Prall
Morehouse School of Medicine Establishes Institute of Translational Genomic Medicine
Yesterday, Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) announced the creation of its new Institute of Translational Genomic Medicine (ITGM), which is the only center of its kind operating at a Historically Black College or University.
The institute will provide expertise in next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics for the research centers at MSM. They partnered with researchers to analyze the gnomes of African Americans.
“Health disparities and the underrepresentation of minority sciences are two of the most compelling challenges facing biomedicine. Through this institute, we are providing increased access to cutting-edge research and treatments as MSM leads in the creation and advancement of health equity to achieve health justice,” said Dr. Valerie Montogomery Rice, President and CEO of MSM.
The goals of the ITGM are to provide genomic research capacity to MSM researchers across the existing research centers and institutes and to provide leadership and increase the knowledge of genetic variation across the African diaspora and its impact on health and disease.
— Allison Joyner
Dale Jones nominated to Rollins board
In another example of increased diversity on its board, Rollins Inc. is nominating former Atlantan Dale Jones as a director. He will be up for election at the Rollins annual meeting in April.
Jones, currently CEO of MagnaVista Partners, previously served as the CEO of Diversified Search Group from 2013 to 2023. He began his career in banking before moving into executive search as a managing partner in the Atlanta office of Heidrick & Struggles International in 2000.
Jones serves on the boards of Chick-fil-A, Outset Medical (Nasdaq: OM), the Special Olympics, and his alma mater, Morehouse College. He recently received the Benjamin E. Mays Award for Excellence from Morehouse College.
Rollins also announced that Jerry Nix will retire from the board at the annual meeting. Nix joined the Rollins board in 2020, and he has served as lead director since 2021.
“I wish to personally thank Jerry for his dedicated leadership to Rollins,” said Gary Rollins, executive chairman of the board. “I am also pleased to welcome Dale to our board. He brings a tremendous amount of governance and business expertise to Rollins, and I look forward to working with him.”
— Maria Saporta
Volunteers needed to walk dogs at DeKalb Animal Shelter
There are more than 500 dogs at the DeKalb animal shelter that are only walked every five to seven days. Community advocates are calling for more volunteers and encouraging community members to adopt or foster.
“Whether you are volunteering an hour or two a week to walk dogs or choose to foster or adopt, you can help save the lives of the dogs at the DeKalb County animal shelter,” said Commissioner Ted Terry. “Through our collaborative action, we can improve the quality of care at the DeKalb County shelter and help transform it into a role model of care for the region.”
Millie, a pit-bull mix, is a rescue and she has been an integral member of Commissioner Terry’s family since 2013. Our DeKalb County Animal Shelter has dogs of all sizes and breeds in need of love and ready to find their forever home.
“The dogs at the DeKalb County animal shelter are deserving of dignity and love,” said Michelle Schretter, advocate and volunteer. “There have been many improvements at the shelter and the staff is doing all they can with the resources they have, but we need more volunteers so that these dogs can get more exercise and human interaction. We need these animals to be adopted or fostered. ”
The DeKalb animal shelter is operated by Lifeline Animal Project, which has made significant changes to increase their staff and track daily progress at the shelter. Their goal is to reduce the number of dogs to 450 so that they can better serve them and ensure proper care and attention. Community members are encouraged to visit lifelineanimalproject.org to find the perfect fit for their lifestyle and home.
Those interested in volunteering can contact Brian Cooke.
— Derek Prall
WalletHub: Georgia among worst states for women
As Women’s History Month begins on Mar. 1, personal finance website WalletHub released its latest report, the “Best and Worst States for Women in 2024.”
The report identifies the most women-friendly states in the U.S. and the District of Columbia and compares them to a data set ranging from median earnings for female workers to women’s health care to the female homicide rate.
Georgia ranked 43rd on the list with low factors such as high school graduation rate for women, the female uninsured and women’s life expectancy at birth.
Read the full report here.
— Allison Joyner
Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation receives transformative gift
Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation has donated $100,000 to Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation’s statewide Tele-Optometry vision program to serve uninsured and underinsured Georgians.
The Lighthouse Foundation launched the first-ever nonprofit, statewide tele-optometry vision exam pilot in April 2022. As of today, the program has executed 202 tele-optometry clinics, working with more than 32 statewide partners serving 2,183 patients in 30 counties.
“Meeting Georgians where they live and providing vital health services to those in need resonates with our mission,” said Larry Wynn, executive director of the Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation.
Beth Ehrhardt, executive director of the Lighthouse Foundation, said 52 counties in Georgia currently lack a vision care provider. “There is a shortage of optometrists and ophthalmologists in Georgia,” Earhardt added.
Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation, Inc. operates a full-service vision clinic in metro Atlanta (Chamblee). With strategic clinical partnerships, mobile clinic services and its Vision Care for Children program, the Lions Lighthouse Foundation provides services throughout Georgia.
— Maria Saporta
Atlanta History Center to host second annual Swan House Easter Egg Hunt
The Atlanta History Center will host the Great Swan House Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday, March 24. Located on the beautiful and historic Swan House Lawn, the second annual family-friendly program includes egg hunts, face-painting, a balloon artist, sheep shearing demonstration, photos with the Easter Bunny and other family-friendly events.
The Easter celebration officially kicks off at 2 p.m., but museum members can enjoy early access to Easter Bunny photos and event festivities at 1:30 p.m., as well as entry to an exclusive member lounge with a credit card bar throughout the event. An egg hunt specifically designed for toddlers ages 1 to 3 will take place at 2:45 p.m. and a second egg hunt for children ages 4 to 10 will start at 3:15 p.m. The holiday festivities conclude at 4 p.m.
Tickets are currently available for purchase online for the Great Swan House Easter Egg Hunt, priced $25 for not-yet-members and $20 for museum members. Advance purchase is strongly recommended as the event sold out last year. Infants can attend for free with purchase of a ticket for an adult. Guests should plan to arrive early to allow time for parking and check-in. In the event of inclement weather, the program will be relocated indoors throughout the museum.
Click here for more information.
— Derek Prall
