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“When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”
― Maya Angelou
Greetings!
Heading into the holiday season, I am reminded that gratitude and service are the foundation of abundance. This past month, BWLA members have given cheerfully in service to our community. We re-launched our Street Law Program, through which BWLA is set to host bi-monthly sessions with students at Noble Charter Academy. We co-sponsored Youth Guidance’s Career Day, offering mentorship and encouragement to over 100 students. We also contributed to a local domestic violence crisis center to provide Thanksgiving dinner to resident women and children. Many thanks to all BWLA members and allies who volunteered their time and contributed to these impactful initiatives.
We are also grateful for the various opportunities for fellowship that we enjoyed across organizations in the past few weeks. BWLA partnered with the Federal Bar Association to celebrate the investiture of former BWLA board member Judge Candace Jackson-Akiwumi of the U.S. Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit Court. We also co-hosted the Joint Dinner, together with the Cook County Bar Association, Illinois Judicial Council, and the Black Men Lawyers’ Association, where we honored Justice Cynthia Cobbs of the Illinois First District Appellate Court with the Trailblazer Award.
Looking ahead, we are excited to announce that tickets to the National Summit of Black Women Lawyers set to take place on March 30-April 1, 2023 are now available for purchase here! Among other programs and networking opportunities, the National Summit will feature an opening reception, CLE programming, and a Black-tie gala and awards reception. Featured speakers include Janai Nelson, Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, among many others. We hope you will join us!
Sincerely,
Elsa Andrianifahanana
2022-2023 President
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We encourage you to pay your BWLA dues and take advantage of the discounted rates on ticketed events for financially current BWLA members, including a savings of at least $150.00 to our 2023 National Summit of Black Women Lawyers, and our one-day Cyber Monday Sale set for November 28, 2022! Current dues-paying members will receive a separate correspondence with these promotional opportunities.
If you are unsure of your membership status, please contact administrator@bwla.org.
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Tickets Now on Sale to the 2023 BWLA National Summit of Black Women Lawyers | |
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Tickets for BWLA's 2023 National Summit of Black Women Lawyers on March 30-April 1, 2023 are now available for purchase! Discounted rates for tickets are available for financially current BWLA members! Current dues-paying members who purchase tickets will receive a promotional code for the discount.
For more information on how to sponsor and/or get involved with the Summit, please contact our National Summit Team.
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Join BWLA for a Special Virtual Workshop
"Note to Self: You are a Priority"
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Celebrate with BWLA at its
"Jingle and Mingle" Holiday Party
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Save the Date for the BWLA Mentoring Dinner | |
Book Your Room Now for BWLA's Ski & Spa Weekend Retreat! | |
BWLA Co-Hosted Youth Guidance Career Day | |
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On Saturday, November 12, 2022, BWLA partnered with the Black Men Lawyers' Association, the Business Leadership Council, the Cook County Bar Association, the Cook County Physicians Group, and other African American and Latino professional organizations to host a Professional Career Exploration Event for Youth Guidance. Youth Guidance is a non-profit organization that creates and implements school-based programs focused on improving the social-emotional competencies and academic attainment for 7th-12th graders exposed to traumatic stressors in high risk and under-resourced communities.
Students from Austin, Currie, Farragut, Phillips, and Schuarz who have been involved in Youth Guidance's Becoming a Man (BAM) and Working on Womanhood (WOW) programs participated in the event, networking with one another as well as various diverse professionals to learn more about potential career pathways for the future. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle also shared words of wisdom during the event.
Special thanks to Jones Day for hosting the event at its Chicago office.
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On Thursday, November 3, 2022, BWLA co-hosted the Joint Dinner at Row 24 in the South Loop neighborhood of Chicago. BWLA, together with the Cook County Bar Association, Illinois Judicial Council and the Black Men Lawyers' Association, honored Justice Cynthia Cobbs of the Illinois First District Appellate Court with the Trailblazer Award. | |
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BWLA and the Federal Bar Association Celebrate Seventh Circuit Judge Candace Jackson-Akiwumi's Investiture
On Tuesday, November 1, 2022, BWLA, partnered with the Federal Bar Association, to celebrate the investiture of U.S. Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit Court Judge Candace Jackson-Akiwumi at Café by the River in Chicago.
Judge Jackson-Akiwumi was appointed in July 2021 by President Biden and is the second Black woman to serve on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, following in the illustrious steps of one of BWLA's Founders, the Honorable Ann Claire Williams (Ret.).
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BWLA Participates as Guest Speaker on
WGN Radio's Legal Face-Off Podcast
On October 31, 2022, BWLA Past President and Board Member Nakhia Crossley repesented BWLA as a guest speaker on WGN Radio's Legal Face-Off Podcast with Rich Lenkov and Christina Martini in its Halloween episode.
During the segment, Nakhia spoke about the genesis of the Sisters in the Law event in Washington, D.C. to commemorate Justice Ketanji Brown-Jackson's first day on the United States Supreme Court, BWLA's attendance and participation in the event in partnership with several other black bar associations, and the significance and impact of Justice Brown-Jackson's historic appointment as the first Black woman to serve on the nation's highest court.
Nakhia also spoke about BWLA, its mission and upcoming events, including the 2023 National Summit. You can watch Nakhia speak on WGN Radio's Legal Face-Off Podcast here!
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BWLA at the 2022 Top Women Lawyers and Legislators in Leadership Awards Reception | |
On October 27, 2022, BWLA attended the 2022 Top Women Lawyers and Legislators in Leadership Awards Reception where BWLA Past President Erica Kirkwood was honored and celebrated for her accomplishments, professional contributions, and leadership service. | |
BWLA attends the 12th National Conference and 30th Anniversary Celebration for Just the Beginning - A Pipeline Organization | |
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On October 20-23, 2022, BWLA founders and members attended the 12th National Conference and 30th Anniversary Celebration for Just the Beginning - A Pipeline Organization (JTB - APO) held at the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park Hotel.
The national conference brought together judges, law students, and legal professionals from all over the country to connect, network, and commemorate the incredible work that JTB-APO has accomplished over the last thirty years. This year's conference also honored the legacy of the late Honorable George Leighton, who was a prominent civil rights attorney and Senior District Judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
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BWLA and UIC BLSA Host a Tea for Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lisa Holder White | |
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On Friday, October 21, 2022 BWLA and UIC's Black Law Student Association hosted a celebratory tea to honor Justice Lisa Holder White, who was recently appointed earlier this year to the Illinois Supreme Court. Justice Holder White is the first Black woman to serve on the state's highest court.
Law students and legal professionals gathered together to celebrate and fellowship with Justice Holder White, who encouraged attendees to: "bloom where you are planted, never forget where you come from, and always pay it forward."
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BWLA Host Street Law
Informational Virtual Session
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On October 19, 2022, BWLA hosted a Street Law Team Informational session via zoom. BWLA Board Member Kina Arnold presented and led the informational session. Attendees learned how they can volunteer their time with BWLA, by participating in bi-monthly sessions with students at Noble Charter Academy, to inspire the next generation of lawyers and judges.
For those interested in joining the BWLA Street Law Team, please click here.
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BWLA Celebrates with Girls, Inc.
On Thursday, October 13, 2022 BWLA Board Members, Christian A. Conway Dunham and Weeya Young, and Past BWLA President and current Girls Inc. Associate Board Member, Kenyatta Beverly, attended Girls, Inc. of Chicago's Strong, Smart, Bold Awards and Gala in support of the organization's fifth anniversary.
This year, Girls, Inc. honored Cheryl Beebe, BWLA Member Alfreda Bradley-Coar, and Wanji Walcott with the Strong, Smart, and Bold Award.
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Congratulations to BWLA President Elsa Andrianifahanana on being promoted to Partner at Jones Day. | |
Congratulations to BWLA Founder/Past President The Honorable Patricia Brown Holmes (Ret.) on being named to Crain's 2022 Notable Women of Law and being honored with the 2022 MCC Rainmaker Award. | |
Congratulations to Alfreda Bradley Coar on receiving the Strong, Smart Bold Award from Girls, Inc. | |
Congratulations to BWLA Past President Tiffany Harper on winning a Dartmouth Alumni Counsel position. | |
Congratulations to Miranda Livingston on her new position as Staff Attorney, Office of General Counsel - Trial Division at Illinois Commerce Commission. | |
Congratulations to Jordan Matthews on being promoted to Partner at Jones Day. | |
Do you or someone you know have an achievement that you'd like us to highlight in our monthly newsletter? We want to celebrate our members! Send your latest achievement addressed to administrator@bwla.org. | |
Interested in Being More Engaged with BWLA? | |
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Are you interested in becoming more active in BWLA during the 2022-2023 bar year? If so, we have plenty of opportunities you may want to consider, including:
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Joining BWLA. If you haven't yet renewed your BWLA membership for the 2022-2023 bar year, please do so here!
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Serving as a Committee Member. BWLA has several committees that members can join. If you're interested in serving on a committee, please fill out this brief survey here!
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Serving on the Judicial Evaluation Committee. The Judicial Evaluation Committee (JEC) evaluates the qualifications of those who seek election, appointment to or retention to judicial office. The work that the committee does is vital to making sure candidates are just and fair, knowledgeable about the law and are not biased. If interested sign up here!
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BWLA constantly receives new employment opportunities that our members may be interested in. The ever expanding list has become too lengthy to share here, so please be sure to visit the BWLA Job Board to view all current employment opportunities!
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