Welcome Angeleigh Dorsey!

In just two weeks AppalReD Legal Aid will have a new Executive Director. We are so excited that we couldn't wait any longer to introduce her to our community of supporters! Angie will begin her role September 1. 

Angeleigh Dorsey is a lifelong legal aider who has spent over two decades working with rural communities. Angeleigh has impressive leadership experience; most recently, she served as the Western Regional Manager for Legal Aid of North Carolina, managing six field offices that cover 27 counties, mostly Appalachian.

Angeleigh has tremendous expertise in senior law, elder abuse, Medicaid, and Social Security. She has given of her time in national, state, and regional leadership roles that have significantly contributed to quality of life in the communities she serves and lives in. She's made a difference for seniors and Medicaid beneficiaries across North Carolina and the country.

"Angie is passionate, empathetic, and tenacious. She has shown up for impoverished people in rural communities for her entire career. We are fortunate that the hiring process was extremely competitive, and we are thrilled to welcome Angie Dorsey to Prestonsburg as AppalReD Legal Aid's next Executive Director," says Evan Smith, Interim Executive Director and Advocacy Director. Smith will continue his work at AppalReD Legal Aid as Advocacy Director and provide leadership during the transition. 

Please welcome Angeleigh as she provides critical leadership for our mission of providing equal access to justice to the people of Appalachian Kentucky.

A History of Learning From The Community

In the upcoming weeks, Angeleigh will be traveling throughout the service region to listen and learn from the people who live there, just like our founder John Rosenberg did 52 years ago.

When John first traveled to Kentucky he immersed himself in the region to learn firsthand about the legal needs of his new home.

One of the most important conversations John had was with Joe Begley in Blackey, KY who taught John about the broad form deed. Joe spoke about the environmental issues landowners were experience because of surface mining. Begley had requested lawyers to come to eastern KY to help.

It took nearly two decades of legal struggle, but in 1988, the broad form deed was finally struck down.

Note: An earlier caption misstated Joe's name as J.T. In fact, J.T. was Joe's son who later worked at AppalReD.