The first day of school is always a frightening one. You walk through the school doors not knowing anyone. Who will be your friend; who won’t be? When you open the door to a school year, the possibilities are endless.
When AVLF launched the Standing with Our Neighbors program in September 2016, there were a lot of things we didn’t know, but one thing we did: families needed help. With enrollment turnover surging to 40% during the 2015-2016 school year, families needed help to keep their kids in school. That help came in the form of a community advocate, a staff attorney, and an army of volunteers and partners to back them up.
With their help, our team at Thomasville Heights Elementary hit the ground running. They already knew where the problems were: The Forest Cove Apartments and other unstable and unsafe housing where students simply couldn’t thrive. And they knew who they wanted their friends to be: the residents of Thomasville Heights.
In one year, Community Advocate Christal Reynolds and Staff Attorney Ayanna Jones-Lightsy went from being the new kids to having everyone know their names. They have become trusted members of the community, fighting for families to stay in their homes and children to stay in their school.
Since kicking off Standing with Our Neighbors a mere 270 days ago:
116 local residents learned about their rights as tenants through AVLF-sponsored information sessions, pop-up clinics, or other community events
75 elementary students saw increased housing stabilization or had their housing conditions improved as a result of AVLF’s advocacy
69 free health and safety products were provided to families, including 14 dehumidifiers and $2,900 in emergency utility and housing assistance
67 residents were screened, given in-depth advice, or provided full legal representation
More than 20 cases involved imminent displacement, and over 40 involved poor conditions that often lead to displacement
36 of these cases were identified as involving an asthma-related housing issue
35 volunteer attorneys across multiple firms conducted in-depth legal research as part of AVLF’s action teams
32 volunteer attorneys took on cases, and some took on more than one
Additionally, AVLF and our partner firms sponsored the Thomasville Heights Elementary School Fall Festival, providing volunteers for the event, and contributing to the fall festival at the neighboring Boys and Girls Club. We also organized the donation of 31 winter coats for families in need and led a large group of volunteers on a neighborhood clean-up.
Check out our photos from our first year in schools, and keep an eye out for more. We’re expanding to five new schools for the 2017-2018 school year.
Thomasville Heights Elementary School students participate in a "Boo Bowling Battle" as part of their 2016 fall festival. All of Standing With Our Neighbors nine partner firms sponsored the event.
Volunteer attorneys from different law firms play with children at the 2016 Thomasville Heights Elementary School fall festival. Included in the photo is Kilpatrick Stockton's Pro Bono Manager Dionne Hines Morse.
Andrew Ellis, a volunteer from Jones Day, paints faces at the 2016 Thomasville Heights Elementary School fall festival. AVLF's nine partner law firms all sponsored the event. Jones Day is one of Standing With Our Neighbors' founding partner law firms.
Thomasville Heights Elementary School students dance and play at their 2016 fall festival.
Staff attorney Ayanna Jones-Lightsy paints faces at Thomasville Heights Elementary School's 2016 fall festival.
Community Advocate Christal Reynolds watches over children at play at the 2016 Thomasville Heights Elementary School fall festival. Her shirt bares AVLF's logo and ethos: "The best legal representation money can't buy."
Vanessa Vogel, a volunteer from Jones Day, paints faces at the 2016 Thomasville Heights Elementary School fall festival. AVLF's nine partner law firms all sponsored the event. Jones Day is one of Standing With Our Neighbors' founding partner law firms.
AVLF staff's children often join their parents at different community events. Pictured here, Deputy Director Michael Lucas's daughters help fold tenant's rights pamphlets at January's Turn Up & Turn Out event before going to play with the other children.
Students color inside a classroom on a rainy Saturday at Thomasville Heights Elementary School. While there are usually outdoor activities scheduled as part of AVLF's Turn Up & Turn Out events, there is always a back-up plan.
Community residents always leave AVLF events with a bag full of goodies, including information about how they can contact AVLF and information about their rights as tenants.
A meal is always provided as part of AVLF's Turn Up & Turn Out events. This is part of our ethos that these gatherings should provide emotional and physical nourishment for the whole family.
Representatives from Playworks give out goodies at the April Turn Up & Turn Out event. Playworks is an organization that helps kids to stay active and build valuable social and emotional skills through play. They have partnered with AVLF at multiple events at Thomasville Heights Elementary School.
Thomasville Heights residents gather at the April Turn Up & Turn Out event to learn about their rights as tenants and the resources available in their neighborhood. These conversations are a lynchpin of the monthly events held at Thomasville Heights Elementary School.
Community volunteers and Thomasville Heights Elementary parents at the April Turn Up & Turn Out event. Pictured are active volunteer and community gardener JoeAnn Mathis (left) and Forest Cove resident and school crossing guard Felicia Morris (right).
A thank you note written by a Dunbar Elementary School student to AVLF staff and volunteers . AVLF staff member Cole Thaler was presented this note at an appreciation luncheon Dunbar staff held for AVLF.
Thomasville Heights Elementary School students play four-square while their parents learn about their rights as tenants. Creating a space for both parents and children to learn and enjoy themselves is an integral part of every Turn Up & Turn Out event.
Thomasville Heights Elementary School students gather around a demonstration from the Atlanta Fire Department at the April Turn Up & Turn Out event.
Students excitedly gather-round at the 2016 Thomasville Heights Elementary School Fall Festival. AVLF's partner law firms sponsored the event and provided numerous volunteers.
A third grader at Thomasville Heights Elementary poses excitedly while picking up trash as part of this year's "Love Day."
Love Day is a day focused on loving your neighborhood and giving back. It takes place every year on February 14, shifting the focus of Valentines Day from romantic love to self- and community-focused love. This year, staff and volunteers participated in a community clean-up led by the third grade class.
As part of "Love Day," AVLF staff and volunteers partnered with Thomasville Heights Elementary's third grade class to clean-up the neighborhood. Love Day is a day focused on loving your neighborhood and giving back. It takes place every year on February 14, shifting the focus of Valentines Day from romantic love to self- and community-focused love.
AVLF staff and volunteers pose with Thomasville Heights Elementary's third grade class on "Love Day."
Love Day is a day focused on loving your neighborhood and giving back. It takes place every year on February 14, shifting the focus of Valentines Day from romantic love to self- and community-focused love. This year, staff and volunteers participated in a community clean-up led by the third grade class.
As part of "Love Day," AVLF staff and volunteers partnered with Thomasville Heights Elementary's third grade class to clean-up the neighborhood. Love Day is a day focused on loving your neighborhood and giving back. It takes place every year on February 14, shifting the focus of Valentines Day from romantic love to self- and community-focused love.
Thomasville Heights Elementary School students pose for a photo to say thank you to our partner law firms for sponsoring their 2016 Fall Festival.
A Thomasville Heights Elementary student gets a hands-on demonstration from the Atlanta Fire Department at April's Turn Up & Turn Out event.
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When AVLF launched the Standing with Our Neighbors program in September 2016, there were a lot of things we didn’t know, but one thing we did: families needed help. With enrollment turnover surging to 40% during the 2015-2016 school year, families needed help to keep their kids in school. That help came in the form of a community advocate, a staff attorney, and an army of volunteers and partners to back them up. 
