ASHLEIGH STARNES | February 19th, 2019
In his State of the Judiciary address, Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Harold Melton shared how Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation’s Standing with Our Neighbors program is making an impact on Atlanta communities.
AVLF had the great honor of attending the State of the Judiciary address to Georgia’s joint legislative session on February 19th. During the address, Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Harold Melton spoke of how the Standing with Our Neighbors program is bringing pro bono legal services and other resources to communities who need them most.
[Read about the State of the Judiciary Address in the Daily Report.]
By placing attorneys and social workers directly in Atlanta schools, the Standing with Our Neighbors program offers easy access to legal support, and helps families in crisis connect with the resources they need to achieve safety and stability.
Chief Justice Harold Melton showed this clip from CBS This Morning to members of the Georgia Legislature:
Justice Melton explained the connection between early intervention and the court system. “We in the judiciary can and will continue to deal with people on the back end,” he said, “but we would love to see our numbers reduced by communities dealing with individuals on the front end.”
[Watch the full CBS This Morning feature.]
After showing the video, Justice Melton shared with the Legislature how our work in the Standing with Our Neighbors program intersects with the health and wellness of communities – and how we continue to innovate in addressing domestic violence and intimate partner abuse.
“The challenge for all of us is to have conversations in our communities,” said Justice Melton, “recognizing that relationships and intimacy are at the core of the solutions.”
Five AVLF staff members attended, including Standing with our Neighbors Staff Attorney Ayanna Jones-Lightsy and Community Advocate Nekesha Whitaker.
“The challenge for all of us is to have conversations in our communities,” said Justice Melton, “recognizing that relationships and intimacy are at the core of the solutions.”
We are deeply grateful for the support of the Judiciary, and look forward to continuing our work in promoting safety and stability for Atlanta families.
Learn more about the Standing with Our Neighbors program.
Ashleigh Starnes
Communications Associate
As AVLF’s Communications Associate, Ashleigh helps Lauren Frazier with website content development, social media outreach, and various other forms of communication with our fiercely compassionate supporters.
Ashleigh is ever-eager to share the remarkable stories of our clients, and the impact of AVLF’s staff and volunteers on our community.
Before joining AVLF, Ashleigh was a Fulbright Scholar in Turkey. She holds a BA in English and Linguistics from the University of Georgia. She is also a performance artist, and can occasionally be seen performing movement pieces, poetry, and combinations of the two around Atlanta and beyond.