AVLF | January 24th, 2023

AVLF has some new faces and some folks returning that you may recognize. We are excited to share with you team updates and hope you will join us in celebrating these individuals.

Crystal Redd has been promoted to Safe and Stable Homes Project Co-Director. Crystal previously served as Managing Attorney of AVLF’s Eviction Defense programs. She will continue to lead the Eviction Defense programs as well as help implement and grow the new Access to Counsel program in partnership with the City of Atlanta.

Cole Thaler will return to the Saturday Lawyer Program as the Managing Attorney and follow his passion for direct client services. Also, Erica Taylor has transitioned to become the Advice Attorney for the Safe and Stable Homes Project. Additionally, Grace Power joins AVLF as an Eviction Defense Attorney. Kenisha Carson has been promoted to Senior Paralegal for the Safe and Stable Homes Project.

Pierce Hand returns as the new Co-Director Safe and Stable Homes. Pierce will lead the Standing with Our Neighbors Program and help re-envision this groundbreaking place-based initiative. Pierce previously served as the Thomasville Heights Staff attorney and was most recently as Assistant DA with Fulton County.

Ayanna Jones- Lightsy is shifting to become Senior Litigation Counsel with the Safe and Stable Homes Project, and Ethan Grossman has joined the AVLF as the Standing with Our Neighbors NPU-V Staff Attorney.

Shameka Love has transitioned to become the Intake Community Advocate for the Standing with Our Neighbors Program. Also, Charmaine Sanders has joined AVLF as a Westside Community Advocate; Quentin Page has joined AVLF as the Carver Cluster Community Advocate; and Kitty Wright has joined AVLF as a NPU-V Community Advocate.

After assisting with the initial phase of the Forest Cove Diaspora, Shamyya Wyatt returns to the Standing with Our Neighbors team as a Westside Community Advocate.

We want to welcome Angel Caldwell, Safe and Stable Homes Paralegal and Alexandria Arnold, Safe and Stable Homes Staff Attorney.

Joel Correa has been promoted to Co-Director of the Safe and Stable Families Project. He previously served at the Managing Attorney of the Safe Families Office and will continue to lead that Office as well as the Family Law Program.

Jamie Perez also becomes Co-Director of the Safe and Stable Families Project. She has overseen the rapid and amazing growth of the Safe and Stable Families Project and will now focus her efforts on the Standing with Survivors Program and AVLF’s place-based services for survivors of intimate partner abuse.

With the departure of Cynthia Padilla Pearson, Kenya Gould has been promoted to Standing with Survivors Program Manager, and Mary Koenig has been promoted to lead the Social Work and Advocacy Program. Mary recently became a Licensed Social Worker!

Additionally, Christen Ansuini was recently promoted to Safe Families Office Managing Attorney, and Andrea Taps has been promoted to Senior Paralegal for the Safe and Stable Families Project. Daysha Brown’s title has changes to Safe and Stable Families Staff Attorney, and Cori Bishop’s title has changed to Survivors Community Advocate.

Grace Power joins AVLF as Safe and Stable Families Attorney. Kayla Thompson joins AVLF as the Safe Families Office Administrator, and welcome our new Safe and Stable Families Paralegal Charlette Woodall.

and Tashique Daly joins the Community Support and Partnership team as a Diaspora Advocate.

“We have an incredible team of individuals who are deeply committed to the community,” said Michael Lucas, Executive Director. “I am proud that we are able to promote so many of our team members, and I can’t wait to see all that our new employees will bring to AVLF. What a way to start the year!”