Johnnie Lacy (1937-2010) was a pioneering leader and advocate for the rights of disabled people, particularly those with intersectional identities. As a Black disabled woman, Lacy dedicated her life and career to supporting the right of the disabled community to live independent lives, with all the dignities and rights afforded to the non-disabled community.

Read Johnnie Lacy’s oral history interview, recorded in 1998.

After moving to California at the age of 10, Lacy became paralyzed at the age of 19 due to a polio infection while working as a student nurse at San Francisco General Hospital. She enrolled in San Francisco State University to study speech therapy, over the objections of the head of the department, who assembled a blue ribbon panel of special ed leaders in an attempt to discourage her from pursuing her vocation. Lacy noted the way her intersectional identity exposed her to discrimination, saying in her oral history, “if I were just a woman, he could not do this to me; if I were only a person of color, he would not be able to do this to me; and my conclusion was that the only reason that the only way that [he] would be able to take this unfair advantage is because I have a disability.”

A long-time resident of Hayward, CA, Lacy was a foundational advocate for the independent living movement in the state and across the country, helping disabled people secure jobs and medical services and whatever else they needed to live self-sufficiently. She was one of the founders of the Berkeley Center for Independent Living, and served as executive director for CRIL (Community Resources for Independent Living), in addition to serving on the state attorney general’s Commission on Disability.

Thank you to everyone who came out to support survivors at last month’s Battle of the Bands! Over two hundred supporters packed the Chapel to cheer on their favorite lawyer bands, together raising more than $129,000 to ensure that all Californians who experience domestic violence get the support they need from the court system. The R-23s took home the coveted title of Best Lawyer Band in the Bay while Morgan Lewis & ROCKIUS secured the Judge’s Choice Cup.

Check out more photos and videos from the event at fvapbotb.com. 

FVAP's Case-Annotated Compendium of California Domestic Violence Laws and Domestic Violence Laws Compendium are updated! These resources help advocates, attorneys and self represented litigants find important California laws survivors can use to keep them and their families safe from abuse. 

Check out FVAP’s Legal Resource Library for more resources at https://fvaplaw.org/resource-library/. 

FVAP’s Lifeline to Justice initiative helps survivors file emergency writ petitions, building on FVAP’s existing models of direct representation, community collaboration and education, and free resources. The initiative empowers survivors to pursue writ petitions confidently and provides access across California.

Lifeline to Justice is made possible through the generous support of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP — a firm whose commitment to justice matches its national reputation for excellence. Learn more about sponsorship packages here and about training opportunities here. 

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP is a “multidisciplinary, integrated national professional services firm known for quality and an extraordinary commitment to clients. By bringing together legal services, advocacy and business strategy, Manatt positions itself to provide a unique and compelling value proposition.” That same commitment now extends to survivors of abuse, ensuring they have a real path to appellate justice. Manatt’s partnership reflects a growing standard among leading firms: that access to justice is not a side project, but a core measure of legal excellence. We are proud to have Manatt standing alongside FVAP in this work, and we invite other firms who share this vision of what the legal profession can be to join them.

If you or your organization would like to help expand this vital work, we welcome your support through program sponsorship. Contact dev@fvaplaw.org for more information. 

Why did you join the FVAP Board of Directors?
I had great exposure to both the wonderful people and inspiring mission of FVAP through several years of participating with my firm in the annual Banding Together to End Domestic Violence event. When I finally had the chance to co-counsel on a case and get first-hand exposure to the people and issues that FVAP supports, I could not resist jumping in further. It has been an honor to do what I can to support FVAP's mission and impact. 

What’s something you wish more people knew about FVAP?
The diversity of services FVAP now offers. At least among my legal circles most people are aware of the original model and direct appeals for decisions implicating DV. But most don't know about either the diversity of subject matter on appeal or the direct services and resource opportunities, which are just as valuable for the communities FVAP serves. 

What's the most rewarding thing about serving on the Board?
Getting the chance to support a mission I fully believe in.

What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
It's a tie. One from my grandmother: "Wherever you are, be there." One from a female colleague and litigation legend: "Take up more space than you're given."

Julia Brunner joins FVAP as Development Manager this month. Prior to joining FVAP, Julia spent several years in development at various Bay Area based nonprofits. Her deep commitment to gender equity, social justice, and advocacy continues to drive her work supporting survivors and advancing justice. Julia holds a BA in Political Science and Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies from the University of Washington. Brunner says, "FVAP sits at a unique intersection of law, advocacy, and survivor justice - and I'm thrilled to be here helping grow the community that makes that work possible."

Read more about how you can support FVAP's work here.

Dani is a rising 3L at Santa Clara University School of Law, where she is involved in the Family Law Society, the Social Justice Coalition, and the Education Law Student Association. Some of her experience includes volunteering with Legal Aid Society of San Diego, where she helped survivors file restraining orders, and the Sacramento Regional Family Justice Center, where she provided case management. During her 2L year, Dani focused on international women's rights. She participated in SCU's International Human Rights Clinic, where she contributed to amicus briefs for the ICHR, and interned with the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti, where she was involved with programs aimed at improving women's access to justice in Haiti. Dani also recently finished her Masters in Social Work with an emphasis in Family Violence. Her interests include trail running and roller derby.

Elaine has completed her 1L year where her activities include serving as an editor on the Berkeley Journal of Gender, Law & Justice and a member of the Animal Law and Advocacy Pro Bono Project. Some of Elaine's experiences include several years as a volunteer with the Domestic Violence Clinic at Neighborhood Legal Services and working at the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office where she was part of a pioneering team specializing in representing clients with cognitive disabilities. Elaine's own lived experience inspired her to go to law school to challenge the barriers facing survivors' access to justice. Elaine is a native speaker of Mandarin Chinese with experience in translation and speaks basic Shanghainese and Spanish. She has her Bachelor's in Philosophy with a concentration in Psychology. She spends her free time making pottery, figure skating, and hosting a feminist philosophy reading group. 

Sophia has completed her 2L year and where her work includes servicing as a Student Attorney and Policy Advocate in the Sunita Jain Anti-Trafficking Initiative Practicum. Prior to clerking with FVAP, she worked with survivors of domestic violence to prepare and submit Humanitarian Relief Petitions at the Jenesse Center. Her experiences include serving as a Court Appointed Special Advocate where she supported foster youth and working at the Center for Anxiety & Traumatic Stress Laboratory at University of Washington researching memory processing for sexual assault survivors and PTSD. Sophia has her Bachelor's in Psychology with a minor in Art History. She notes as some of her interests ballet, teaching her rescue dog new tricks, and trail riding in Griffith Park.

Right now, so much feels unpredictable—but your support doesn’t have to be. Sustainers Circle members give on a recurring basis, creating a strong foundation that keeps life-saving legal services available to survivors, no matter what’s happening in the world. Spreading your donation out across an entire year is easy on your budget, and a big boost to ours: a $5 monthly donation generates $60 over the course of a year to support survivors fighting for justice at the appellate level.

Your ongoing support gives FVAP the freedom to focus on impact—not uncertainty.

Join the Sustainers Circle and make your support count every day of the year.