On Friday, May 17, 2024, Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF) and CHRIS 180 proudly opened their new joint office, dedicated to providing comprehensive support services to the Westside community. The event marked a significant milestone in the partnership between AVLF and CHRIS 180, uniting their expertise in pro bono legal representation, mental health and other wraparound services to better serve local residents.

The opening ceremony, held from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the new office located at 283 Joseph E. Lowery Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30314, brought together the AVLF and CHRIS 180 teams with community members and local business, philanthropic, and civic leaders. Discussions focused on the positive impact the new office will have on the community. Leadership from AVLF and CHRIS 180, along with City of Atlanta Councilmembers Jason Dozier and Byron Amos, delivered inspiring remarks. During the event, a CHRIS 180 client and an AVLF Standing with Our Neighbors client shared their success stories,  serving as heartwarming examples of the benefits this new office will provide to the local Westside community. Attendees received a first-hand look at the community support facility, which integrates legal and wraparound services under one roof. The event concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a viewing of AVLF’s innovative Standing with Survivors Mobile Advocacy van that serves survivors of intimate partner abuse in the community.

The new office is set to provide essential services, including legal assistance for eviction defense and landlord-tenant disputes, as well as mental health counseling, support navigating the healthcare system and other essential services. With this  local presence, AVLF and CHRIS 180 aim to address the unique needs of the Westside community, overcoming barriers such as safety concerns, transportation limitations, mental health stigma and time constraints.

“This opening is a testament to our commitment to delivering innovative solutions that directly impact the lives of those we serve,” said Michael Lucas, Executive Director of AVLF. “Our collaboration with CHRIS 180 is our latest step in a very intentional journey to becoming a completely community-based organization, and one that does everything we can think of to knock down the barriers that exist for so many to receive services.”

The partnership between AVLF and CHRIS 180 represents a significant advancement in fostering a stronger, more resilient Westside community. Both organizations are dedicated to making a lasting impact by providing accessible, integrated support services tailored to the neighborhood’s specific needs.

“We are proud to continue our work on the Westside with the opening of this new shared space that will allow us to more effectively serve our community,” said Katy Colbenson, LMFT, President and CEO of CHRIS 180. “Together with AVLF, we have created a safe and supportive environment where residents of all ages can easily access the help they need to heal from their trauma and thrive.”

For more information about the services provided by the new office and other questions, please contact John Casey at AVLF at jcasey@avlf.org, and Chaundra Luckett at CHRIS 180 at Chaundra.Luckett@chris180.org.

About Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation
Serving Atlanta and Fulton County since 1979, AVLF is the largest provider of free legal services to two groups: low-income tenants and survivors of intimate partner abuse. Our mission is to create safe and stable homes and families by inspiring the fight for equal justice. We believe no one standing up for their rights should have to do it alone. Whatever our clients are up against, we’re here for them. At AVLF, ‘here’ means many things. It means beside them in court; at our downtown legal clinics nearly every Saturday of the year; in our two offices in the Fulton County Courthouse; in our communities’ schools; and in our clients’ homes. For more information, visit www.avlf.org.

About CHRIS 180
Atlanta-based nonprofit CHRIS 180 was founded in 1981 and provides life-changing trauma-informed behavioral health services and wraparound support to children, adults, families, and communities that empowers them to change the direction of their lives. Over the past 40 years, the organization has worked with more than 200,000 clients to build resilience and heal from trauma, while becoming a well-respected leader in child welfare and a thought leader in supporting underserved and traumatized communities across Metro Atlanta. For more information, visit CHRIS180.org.