The Ladders Program Begins Second Year
Fulton County Chief Magistrate Judge Cassandra Kirk and Omotayo Alli, Executive Director of the Georgia Public Defender Council with Ladders Program Participants
By: Avé Mullen
ATLANTA, GA – Year two of the Ladders Program kicked off with a session on the pivotal role of teamwork in personal and professional development. The workshop is one of many that the Ladders Program offers that develop “soft skills” that serve as precursors to vocational training, and eventually, reentry into the workforce.
The program, offered by the Georgia Public Defender Foundation assists individuals who are between 17 and 24 as they exit the justice system. Piloted in Fulton and DeKalb County in 2022, the program is currently expanding to other Metro Atlanta counties and the Savannah Metropolitan Area in 2024.
The first workshop began with spirited icebreakers, setting an energetic tone and accentuating the importance of teamwork. Each attendee was given the spotlight to share their passions and mutual interests. A teamwork-themed interactive quiz provided a way for participants to reflect upon their understanding of team building.
William Felder, Social Services Specialist, leads a team-building activity for Ladders participants.
“Ignorance Is No Defense: A Teenager’s Guide to Georgia Law” by attorney J. Tom Morgan, was used to help participants learn how to steer clear of future legal pitfalls. In the book Morgan, a former DeKalb County District Attorney who is now a law professor at Western Carolina University, said “Many teenagers stumble into trouble without fully comprehending the law and its consequences.”
Fulton County Chief Magistrate Judge Cassandra Kirk gave a powerful presentation on the significance of teamwork and the value of community in achieving personal and professional goals. Judge Kirk’s presentation included one-on-one interactions with the participants which were informed by a gripping excerpt from the film, "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever".
“When we talk about teamwork, everyone is working towards a shared vision. This was evident in the movie where the emphasis was on clear communication, compromise, and valuing individual contributions,” Judge Kirk said.
Candice Chavis, Social Services Specialist, assists Ladders Program Participants with a team building activity.
The workshop ended with a teambuilding activity that required participants to conceptualize a product that would help change the world. The exercise was designed to instill a sense of collective vision to create better outcomes through collaborative effort.
To learn more about the Ladders Program or to partner in our mission, please visit our foundation's website at www.gapdf.org and connect with our dedicated team.
The Georgia Public Defender Council
The Georgia Public Defender Council (GPDC) is an independent state agency within the Executive Branch of the State of Georgia responsible for representing approximately 85 percent of all criminally accused persons. GPDC public defenders work tirelessly to provide zealous, effective, and timely legal counsel to all in the care of GPDC. More at https://www.gapubdef.org.
The Georgia Public Defense Foundation
The Georgia Public Defense Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit that supports the efforts of Public Defenders across the state. It provides comprehensive social services and development programs to assist defendants exiting the justice system. Learn more about the Georgia Public Defense Foundation at https://www.gapdf.org/.