Honoring a Legacy of Advocacy: Richard Johnson and Air Allergen Named AVLF Partner of the Year
Earlier this year, in what was meant to be a joyful celebration of partnership and progress, the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF) named Air Allergen and Mold Testing Inc. and its late founder, Richard Johnson, as their 2025 Partner of the Year. Instead, the ceremony became a powerful and emotional tribute to a man whose life was defined by tireless service, quiet courage, and an unwavering belief that everyone deserves a safe place to call home.
This honor, coming just two weeks after Rich’s unexpected passing, left a palpable void but also inspired deep reflection on the legacy he leaves behind: one of generosity, integrity, and action.
A Partnership Born from Purpose
The partnership between AVLF and Air Allergen began not through a formal pitch or professional networking event, but through a single, determined phone call in 2013. At the time, a young attorney named Michael Lucas had become increasingly frustrated with the dangerous living conditions his clients were facing. Tenants were getting sick. Children were wheezing through mold-infested hallways. And landlords? They were brushing off the concerns, calling black mold “just mildew” and blaming the tenants for “bad cleaning habits.” Determined to find proof, something tangible that could hold landlords accountable, Michael reached out to Rich Johnson, a mold identification professional and the founder of Air Allergen. Rich listened, and then he acted. That one conversation sparked a decade-long collaboration that would go on to transform the lives of hundreds of AVLF clients.The Man Behind the Mission
Rich Johnson wasn’t just a business owner. He was a man on a mission. Those who spoke at the award ceremony all echoed the same truth: Rich cared deeply. He cared about the science, about the law, and most importantly—about the people caught in the middle. He wasn’t content to send a test report and walk away. Rich showed up. He and his team conducted more than 870 mold tests over the course of their partnership with AVLF. These weren’t just routine inspections—they were lifelines. Rich personally explained the test results to clients, many of whom had long felt ignored or misunderstood. He made time to testify in court—often rearranging personal commitments to make sure tenants had someone on their side when it mattered most. He brought clarity, authority, and compassion into rooms where tenants had historically felt powerless.A Champion for Justice, On and Off the Record
His impact was not limited to individual cases. Rich saw the bigger picture. He actively advocated for legislative changes that would improve indoor air quality and tenant protections for all Georgians. His work wasn’t just about the homes he entered, but about creating systemic change so future families wouldn’t have to live through the same nightmare. One staff attorney described him as a “true mensch—a man of integrity, honor, and kindness.” Those who worked with him recalled his willingness to drop everything to help. One AVLF paralegal, Angel Caldwell, fondly remembered the flood of last-minute emails and phone calls she’d get from Rich: asking for courtroom numbers, trying to connect with attorneys, making sure everything was ready for court the next morning. “I’m going to miss those 3 p.m. calls,” she said, “and the 4 p.m. follow-ups. He raised my blood pressure more times than I can count—but I wouldn’t trade those moments for anything.”Impact in Numbers, Legacy in Lives
The numbers tell part of the story: hundreds of tests, thousands of dollars donated in free and discounted services, countless hours volunteered as an expert witness. But the heart of Rich Johnson’s legacy lives in the people he helped. It lives in the child who no longer wakes up coughing every night because the mold has finally been addressed. It lives in the single mother who had been gaslit by property managers, finally holding a scientific report in her hands that validates what she already knew: her home was making her children sick. It lives in the AVLF volunteers and attorneys who now walk into courtrooms with the confidence of truth behind them—armed not just with legal knowledge, but with evidence that can’t be ignored.Receiving the Award, With Grief and Gratitude
Rich was set to be present at the 2025 AVLF Annual Awards Ceremony. He was still working on new ideas and partnerships just two weeks before his passing. His absence at the ceremony was felt deeply, but so was his presence. One of the most moving moments came when AVLF’s longtime staff and Rich’s colleagues from Air Allergen gathered on stage. With tears in her eyes, one AVLF leader shared, “Rich would have wanted me, his old partner in crime, to accept this award on his behalf.” And so she did—on behalf of Rich, his family, his team, and every person whose life he touched. “We are forever grateful,” she concluded. “Rich, you won’t be forgotten.”More Than a Partner: A Pillar
This award is more than a recognition of corporate partnership. It’s a recognition of leadership. Of sacrifice. Of doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. And in Rich Johnson, AVLF found not just a partner, but a pillar in their fight for housing justice. As the city of Atlanta continues to grapple with housing inequity and unsafe rental conditions, Rich’s legacy sets a powerful example. He proved that one person, one company, one act of service—repeated faithfully—can shift the course of an entire community.Final Words: Thank You, Rich
To Rich Johnson: thank you for your belief in this work. Thank you for never treating people like cases, but as neighbors deserving dignity. Thank you for the hundreds of lives made safer, the thousands of hours given freely, and the immeasurable impact left behind. The homes you helped protect are safer. The people you stood with are stronger. And the legacy you leave behind? It’s just beginning. You may be gone, but you are not forgotten. From everyone at AVLF and every family whose life you touched—thank you, Rich.
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