For this year’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we focused on collaboration among organizations.
The Safe Families Office hosted an open house for everyone who works in the Fulton County Courthouse. The event was part of this year’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month. From left to right: Judge Robert McBurney, Staff Attorney Erica Taylor, Legal Fellow Angelik Edmonds, Social Worker Camille Millar, Chief Deputy Court Administrator Robin Coggswell, Staff Attorney Joel Correa, Staff Attorney Nilufar Abdi-Tabari, Program Coordinator Lilli Crowe, and Legal Navigator Cynthia Padilla-Pearson.
If you’ve been following Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation on social media or in real life, you probably already know: October was Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Throughout the month, our Safe and Stable Families team appeared at numerous events to educate Atlantans on community resources and honor those who have fallen victim to violence.
While AVLF focuses on outreach and advocacy throughout the year, Domestic Violence Awareness Month–or DVAM as it is commonly called–is a time for the entire domestic violence community to rally together in a show of solidarity and support. Since 1987, advocates nationwide take October to remember those who lost their lives, celebrate survivors, and work together to end future violence. (You can learn more about DVAM’s history here.)
At the 6th Annual Candlelight Vigil, a candle was lit for each person who lost their lives to domestic violence in Georgia in 2016. The youngest honored was 2 years old; the oldest honored was 86.
AVLF takes part in DVAM every year, but in 2017 we were more engaged and connected than ever before. Our Safe and Stable Families team participated in and supported training both faith leaders and sheriffs on how to spot domestic violence and create safe spaces for those in need. In addition to attending multiple resource fairs, they also hosted an open house at the Safe Families Office, which is co-run by AVLF and the Partnership Against Domestic Violence (PADV). The event was open to everyone who works at the Fulton County Courthouse, aimed at educating staff about the ramifications of domestic violence and encouraging collaboration between departments.
Staff Attorney Nilufar Abdi-Tabari presented at the “Domestic Violence Forum: The Refugee and Immigrant Journey: Past, Present and Future,” hosted by Tapestri, Inc. In addition to talking about her experiences with domestic violence and family law, she accepted an award on behalf of the entire organization naming AVLF a Tapestri Community Partner of the Year.
Especially memorable was the 6th Annual Candlelight Vigil, hosted by PADV. The vigil provided space for survivors to share their personal stories. In a moving display, a candle was lit for each person who lost their lives to domestic violence in Georgia in 2016. The youngest honored was 2 years old; the oldest honored was 86.
Legal Navigator Cynthia Padilla, Staff Attorney Joel Correa, and Legal Fellow Angelik Edmonds at the 2017 Domestic Violence Resource Fair. This event was hosted by Atlanta Victim Assistance, Municipal Court of Atlanta and the Atlanta Police Department as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
AVLF's Family Law Staff Attorney Nilufar Abdi-Tabari presents on domestic violence and family law at Tapestri's "Domestic Violence Forum: The Refugee and Immigrant Journey: Past, Present and Future."
Safe and Stable Families Director Jamie Perez and Family Law Staff Attorney Nilufar Abdi-Tabari accepted the award for Tapestri Community Partner of the Year on behalf of AVLF. The award was given at Tapestri's "Domestic Violence Forum: The Refugee and Immigrant Journey: Past, Present and Future."
Staff members and community partners at Tapestri's "Domestic Violence Forum: The Refugee and Immigrant Journey: Past, Present and Future."
Family Law Staff Attorney Nilufar Abdi-Tabari poses with Nilu's felllow panelists at Tapestri's "Domestic Violence Forum: The Refugee and Immigrant Journey: Past, Present and Future." Nilu talked about her experience with DV family law matters on a panel alongside Alpa Amin of Georgia Asylum and Immigration Network (left) and Aparna Bhattacharyya of Raksha, Inc. (right).
AVLF Board Member Elizabeth Finn Johnson participated in the Women's Resource Center to End Domestic Violence's event Dancing with the Dekalb Stars.
Collateral at the Safe Sacred Space Training, co-hosted by the Office of the Fulton County Solicitor General and Fulton County Family Violence Task Force. The event focused on educating faith leaders about recognizing and dealing with domestic violence. This event was part of the 2017 Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Decorated t-shirts lined the event space at the 6th annual Domestic Violence Candlelight Vigil, which honored people who lost their lives in Georgia to domestic violence in 2016. The event was hosted by the Partnership Against Domestic Violence as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Safe and Stable Families staff Joel Correa and Lilli Crowe at the 6th annual Domestic Violence Candlelight Vigil, which honored people who lost their lives in Georgia to domestic violence in 2016. The event was hosted by the Partnership Against Domestic Violence as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Nancy Friauf, President and CEO of PADV, speaks at the 6th annual Domestic Violence Candlelight Vigil, which honored people who lost their lives in Georgia to domestic violence in 2016. The event was hosted by the Partnership Against Domestic Violence as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Names are read and candles lit to honor the dead at the 6th annual Domestic Violence Candlelight Vigil, which honored people who lost their lives in Georgia to domestic violence in 2016. The event was hosted by the Partnership Against Domestic Violence as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Debbie Segal--a fervent supporter of AVLF and our former executive director--was given the Shining Light Community Award for her unwavering support of survivors of domestic violence at the 6th annual candlelight vigil. She is pictured with Alpa Amin of Georgia Asylum and Immigration Network and Monica Khant of Georgia Asylum and Immigration Network. The award was presented by our two organizations, as well as Partnership Against Domestic Violence, Ahimsa House, International Women's House, Fulton County Solicitor General's Office, Raksha, Inc, Secur'us, Fulton County Family Violence Task Force, and Tapestri Inc.
Debbie Segal--a fervent supporter of AVLF and our former executive director--was given the Shining Light Community Award for her unwavering support of survivors of domestic violence at the 6th annual candlelight vigil. She is pictured with Safe and Stable Families Director Jamie Perez and Monica Khant of Georgia Asylum and Immigration Network. The award was presented by our two organizations, as well as Partnership Against Domestic Violence, Ahimsa House, International Women's House, Fulton County Solicitor General's Office, Raksha, Inc, Secur'us, Fulton County Family Violence Task Force, and Tapestri Inc.
Family Law Staff Attorney Nilufar Abdi-Tabari with fellow panelists at Tapestri's "Domestic Violence Forum: The Refugee and Immigrant Journey: Past, Present and Future." Nilu talked about her experience with DV family law matters on a panel alongside She is joined by Alpa Amin of Georgia Asylum and Immigration Network and Aparna Bhattacharyya of Raksha, Inc. The panel was moderated by Gabriela Leon of Tapestri.
Want to know more about what’s happening in our domestic violence programs? Check out our other blogs featuring our Safe and Stable Families Project.
Katie handles all of the online communications for AVLF, overseeing the organization’s social media campaigns, newsletters, and website. She is passionate about community engagement and the city of Atlanta. Katie holds a B.S. in Journalism from Boston University and a M.A. in Southern Studies from the University of Mississippi. Follow her on social media at @katiecarterking.
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