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Spelman's Title IX Office Honored for Partnership That Supports Survivors
The AVLF Award Honors an Often-Invisible Pipeline Between Spelman's Title IX Office and Legal Advocates Across Atlanta
The Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF) has named the Violence Prevention and Intervention Program, part of Spelman College's Title IX and Compliance Office, its Safe and Stable Families Partner of the Year, an honor that affirms nearly a decade of collaborative work supporting survivors of intimate partner abuse on campus.
AVLF, which provides free legal services to survivors of abuse and low-income tenants across Fulton County, presented the award at its annual All-Star Awards ceremony on April 23 at the Fox Theatre's Egyptian Ballroom. Spelman was one of seven honorees recognized that day, alongside firms including Alston & Bird and The Manely Firm, and partners such as Kaiser Permanente and First Step Staffing.
The recognition traces back to 2018, when the U.S. Office on Violence Against Women awarded Spelman a federal grant to reduce sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking on campus. That funding launched a partnership between Spelman's Coordinated Community Response team and AVLF's Safe & Stable Families Project, pairing survivors with confidential legal support — sometimes connecting students with an attorney before a protective order is even served.
The collaboration was built, in part, to address a documented gap: women of color report abuse to law enforcement at lower rates than their peers, often out of fear of police violence or concern about jeopardizing another person of color's future. By embedding legal advocacy directly into Spelman's support network, the partnership gives survivors a path to protection that doesn't require navigating that fear alone.
Today, Spelman College's Title IX and Compliance Office, through the Violence Prevention and Intervention Program, continues this important work. The program is led by Paula Hall, assistant director of Prevention and Intervention under the guidance of Jaray Mazique, director of Title IX and Compliance, and Kristin Couch, associate director. It oversees prevention education, response and reporting support for the campus community while maintaining the AVLF referral pipeline for students in need of legal advocacy.
"Partnerships like the one with AVLF are important because they create a direct and supportive pathway for students to access legal advocacy and community-based resources when they need them most," Mazique said.
"Rather than navigating systems alone or experiencing the frustration that can come with seeking help, students are connected to trusted partners who understand the impact of trauma and the importance of responsive care. Spelman students benefit from the trauma-informed, individualized support that AVLF attorneys and advocates provide, including guidance, advocacy, and resources that help them make informed decisions about their safety, rights and options."
"There have been several moments where having AVLF advocates available made a meaningful difference for a student," Hall said.
"One example that stands out,” recalled Hall, involves students who were uncertain about whether to apply for a Temporary Protective Order. In those moments, AVLF advocates were able to help students understand their options, ask questions, and make informed decisions without feeling pressured or alone."
"What made the partnership especially impactful was the level of accessibility and support AVLF provided," Hall said.
"At one point, AVLF had a mobile advocacy van that could come directly to students and assist them with completing the necessary paperwork. Ex-parte hearings could also be conducted from the van, which helped remove major barriers such as transportation challenges, courthouse navigation, and the emotional stress of entering a legal setting. That kind of trauma-informed, student-centered support can change what happens next for a survivor."
The award adds Spelman to a growing list of Atlanta institutions AVLF has recognized for sustained impact since launching the All-Star Awards five years ago. For AVLF, the honor is also a reminder that some of its most effective work happens through institutional partnerships that operate quietly, year after year, away from the courtroom.
Learn more about Spelman's Violence Prevention and Intervention Program, part of the Title IX and Compliance Office, or visit the AVLF's Safe & Stable Families Project for additional resources.