AVLF held its eighth Turn Up & Turn Out event at Thomasville Heights Elementary School on August 19th. This day was made possible by funding from the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta Neighborhood Fund and Spark Opportunity Giving Circle. Held the third Saturday of each month, Turn Up & Turn Out is designed for the entire family to enjoy and learn from.
We were thrilled to partner with other Spark Opportunity Giving circle funding recipients – Atlanta Community Food Bank and Thomasville Heights Boys and Girls Club – to make this event a reality. Funding from the CFGA Spark Opportunity Giving Circle allows us to deepen our impact, continue to build trust, and sustain our programs in the Thomasville Heights Community. Mindy Kao of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta donated her expertise and time to the event, and Dwayne Patterson of The Sixth Group served as our Community Coach.
AVLF Executive Director Marty Ellin gets ready to feed students and parents at the August Turn Up & Turn Out event. He’s joined by star volunteer JoeAnn Mathis.
Additionally, representatives from the Urban League and Center for Working Families provided invaluable workforce development information to attendees.
Special thanks to Purpose Built Schools for supplying hamburgers and water and to the staff of Thomasville Heights Elementary School, who are always willing to help out in any capacity. We were also joined by excellent neighborhood volunteers, JoeAnn Mathis and Meosha Carr.
At each Turn Up & Turn Out, local residents are invited to the school for a know-your-rights tenants rights clinic, conducted by Standing with our Neighbors Staff Attorney Ayanna Lightsy-Jones, as well as a conversation with one of our many partners. Past speakers have included the City of Atlanta’s Office of Code Enforcement, Dress for Success, Wells Fargo, Worksource Atlanta, and AVLF’s own Safe Families Office.
While parents are in their session, children participate in face painting, games and various activities with volunteers from the legal community. Everyone gathers back together for lunch and give-a-ways.
Stay tuned for upcoming events for the rest of the year in Thomasville Heights. September’s Turn Up & Turn Out will focus on changes at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. In October we will be getting spooky and festive, hosting a fall festival.
I look forward to this Saturday every month. I love seeing familiar faces from Forest Cove and the legal community. This event makes a difference in someone’s life monthly whether it is information from a session, a story shared together over a hot dog, or a child learning to play soccer.
If you would like to volunteer, conduct an information session, or just want more information, please shoot me an email. I look forward to hearing from you.
Want to read more about what Standing with our Neighbors does in the communities it serves? Check out some other articles here.
