Abbey Philips – Policy Director, Legal Aid Justice Center

Abbey Philips is a macro Social Worker by training and began her public policy career with the goal of centering equity and creating systemic change while eliminating racism, discrimination, and barriers to economic mobility.

She has extensive experience working in the Virginia General Assembly, from running special projects in the Governor’s office as Assistant Secretary of the Commonwealth to serving as Chief of Staff for a state Delegate and Senator. Abbey also has experience working in the nonprofit sector.

Abbey is committed to empowering and uplifting marginalized communities in the policy arena and is excited to bring her experience to LAJC. She has seen first hand how power, money, and stature can provide access and influence in the government and policy-making arena and how this influence and its corresponding outcomes can often be in direct contrast to what marginalized communities want and need.  

She is a co-founder and board member of a philanthropic giving circle, Collective 365, a Henrico County Court Appointed Special Advocate for 14 years, and serves on the Virginia Criminal Justice Service Board. Abbey loves to read, run, and be in nature. One of her favorite authors is Octavia Butler who wrote “all that you touch you Change. All that you Change Changes you.” Abbey lives in Richmond, Virginia with her child, spouse, cat and a handful of fish. 

Patrice Lewis – Government Affairs Director, Gentry Locke

Patrice Lewis is an attorney and the Government Affairs Director at Gentry Locke, a mid-sized law firm
with offices in Roanoke, Richmond, Lynchburg, and Norfolk. Her background combines law, policy, and
communications, allowing her to help clients plan for the future. Her notable clients over the years
include Apple, the REFORM Alliance, the Virginia Circuit Court Clerks Association, and the Sixteen Thirty
Fund.

Before Gentry Locke, Patrice was a strategic marketing consultant for SIR, Inc. in Richmond, where she
focused on diversity, equity, and community engagement. She also taught market research at VCU’s
Brandcenter for four years. Patrice has presented to thousands, emphasizing the importance of
understanding one another in a changing society.

Prior to her consulting work, she was an outreach representative for Senator Mark R. Warner and served
as a legislative assistant to the late Onzlee Ware. A Roanoke native, Patrice graduated from William
Fleming High School in 1999, earned a sociology degree from the University of Virginia, and received her
law degree from Regent University School of Law. She is licensed to practice in Maryland and Virginia
and enjoys music, food, travel, and new experiences like skydiving.

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