AVLF Co-Sponsors ACS Georgia’s Public Interest Holiday Party

ASHLEIGH STARNES | November 29, 2018


The Georgia Lawyer Chapter of the American Constitution Society hosted their 12th Annual Public Interest Holiday Party at Manuel’s Tavern. Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation co-sponsored the event.

On Wednesday, November 28th, eleven organizations came together to celebrate this year’s achievements of the Atlanta Public Interest Law community.

Hosted by the Georgia Law Chapter of the American Constitution Society, the 12th Annual Public Interest Holiday Party took place at Manuel’s Tavern. Attendees reflected on the extraordinary impact of public interest organizations on Atlanta families this year. Many of the co-sponsoring organizations influenced legislation, defended the civil rights of Atlantans, and provided significant legal assistance to those who need it most in our community.

Several of these organizations are also key community partners of AVLF.

“We started to focus on how we could move our services closer to our clients, closer to our community.”


A representative from each organization gave a brief toast to the crowd. Deputy Director Michael Lucas was in attendance representing AVLF.

We have had a lot of growth and changes at AVLF this year, and a lot to reflect on and be thankful for,” said Lucas. “We started to focus on how we could move our services closer to our clients, closer to our community.”

Other co-sponsors included Advocacy for Action, Atlanta Bar Association – Public Interest Law Section, Atlanta Legal Aid, Georgia Asylum and Immigration Network, Georgia First Amendment Foundation, Georgia Legal Services Program, Georgia Watch, Gideon’s Promise, Lawyers For Equal JusticeProject South, and the Southern Poverty Law Center.

“So much of this is because of the inspiration that the public interest community gives us,” Lucas continued. “That’s what I’m grateful for this year.”


Want to learn more about our community partners? Check out this blog post featuring a few of our favorites.


Ashleigh Starnes

Communications Associate

Check out more from this author. 

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.