diversity Archives - Page 12 of 14

March 21, 2014

AABANY Co-sponsors: Achieving Diversity in ADR

The AABANY Litigation Committee encourages anyone interested in pursuing a career as a neutral (arbitrator, mediator, etc.), and, in particular, learning about the specific advantages and challenges as a person of color, to attend the New York State Bar Association’s program entitled, “Achieving Diversity in the ADR Field: Overcoming Old Challenges and Seeking New Opportunities.” The program will be held on Tuesday, March 25th from 5:30-9:00 p.m. and, because AABANY is a participating and sponsoring bar association, the program will offer 2.5 FREE NY CLE credits in Skills to all AABANY members. A panel of renowned ADR providers, scholars, and administrators will discuss their practices for recruiting and selecting neutrals, the efforts they have undertaken to diversify their rosters of neutrals, and their efforts to further expose the users of their ADR services to racially and ethnically diverse panels of arbitrators and mediators. Another panel, moderated by AABANY member Theo Cheng, and comprising distinguished ADR neutrals, will provide perspectives on how to navigate a successful career as a neutral; recommending specific networking, marketing, and promotional activities; discussing how best to leverage diversity issues; and providing practical tips for increasing the opportunities for being selected as a neutral. Finally, there will be a discussion about strategies for addressing cross cultural issues in dispute resolution, followed by a networking reception. For more information go to http://bit.ly/nysbareg.

P.S. For those of you who are experiencing difficulties registering via the NYSBA’s website, you can alternatively send an email to Beth Gould at [email protected] with your full contact information (name, address, email, phone number), indicating that you are a member of AABANY. She will handle registering you for the event.

February 10, 2014

Legal Services NYC Annual Diversity Open House

February 27, 2014 – Diversity Open House is an unique opportunity for law students to learn about the important work done at Legal Services NYC, to meet our attorneys and find out about internship, fellowship and possible employment opportunities. Legal Services NYC is the largest provider of free civil legal services in the country and has neighborhood programs in all five boroughs. See, www.legalservicesnyc.org

The format of the Open House is fairly informal. The first hour of the program is table time. Each Legal Services NYC program will have a table staffed by an attorney or two who is available to meet with law students. Then there is a program consisting of brief staff presentations about our vital work and innovative projects. After these presentations there is time for more tabling. The Open House will end with a reception with light refreshments and this is another opportunity for students to meet and network with staff attorneys. Leadership from the various offices will attend the event

All law students must rsvp by February 20, 2014 to diversitycommittee@ls-nyc. org

Open House Program

4:30pm to 5:30pm – Networking and Tabling

5:30pm to 6:15 pm – Welcome: Raun Rasmussen

Innovative Projects Presentations on

Immigration Law Project
LGBTQI Project
Veterans Justice Project
Loan Forgiveness Programs

6:15pm to 7:30pm – Networking and Tabling

February 3, 2014

From the MCCA’s Diversity & the Bar: BU40

The National Asian Pacific Bar Association (NAPABA) celebrated its 25th Annual Convention in Kansas City, MO, last November. The four-day convention was themed Momentum to celebrate the continuing growth and progress in the Asian Pacific American (APA) legal community, and brought more than 1,200 attendees to the show-me state. Among awards given out at the annual convention is the highly coveted NAPABA Best Lawyers Under 40 (BU40) Award. MCCA’s bi-monthly publication, Diversity & the Bar, profiled these award recipients, including AABANY members and leaders, Mike Huang, Michael Park and Asim Rehman, in the January/February 2014 issue. Read more here.

January 6, 2014

News from NAPABA: Perkins Coie Diversity Fellowship

During the summer of 2014, many Perkins Coie offices will offer a 1L Diversity Fellowship to students who have completed one year of law school. These fellowships provide students with a paid summer associate position and a $7,500 academic scholarship that is paid at the completion of the summer program.

More information on participating offices, eligibility, and application deadlines can be found at this link: http://bit.ly/ID30xb.

January 6, 2014

News from NAPABA: 25th Annual Convention Follow-up

Thank you to everyone who attended 25th Annual NAPABA Convention in Kansas City, MO. Without sponsors and members like you, we could not continue to serve as the national voice for the Asian Pacific American (APA) legal profession and to promote justice, equity, and opportunity for the APA community. We truly appreciate your commitment to NAPABA and to diversity in the legal profession.

Please take a few moments to read these convention updates:

Survey: Your feedback is very important to us. Click here to take our convention survey and you may be eligible to receive an iPad mini!
CLE Credits: Click here to confirm your bar number, jurisdiction, sessions attended, and to download your certificate(s) of attendance. Please note that approval is still pending in New Hampshire and Virginia. Kansas attorneys must submit an affidavit to the Kansas Continuing Legal Education Commission. The form is available on our online CLE site. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
Attendee List: Click here for a list of the 2013 Convention attendees.
Photos: Conventions photos have been posted online on NAPABA’s Facebook Page.

I look forward to continuing our relationship as we plan our 26th Annual NAPABA Convention, which will be held on November 6-9, 2014, at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona. Stay tuned for information about how you can get involved in the 2014 Annual Convention.

I wish you and yours a wonderful holiday season and a very prosperous 2014!

Sincerely,

Tina Matsuoka
Executive Director

October 28, 2013

From our friends at PALS: Sign up to be a Mentor today!

ATTORNEY MENTORS

Strengthen the Legal Diversity Pipeline

by Sponsoring a PALS Mentee

The PALS Mentoring Program

Matches diverse law students with practicing attorneys,

who serve as professional development resources,

and has done so for more than 25 years.

Attorney Mentors Make an Impact

● Join a community of diversity champion attorneys mentoring the next wave of leaders of color in the legal profession.

● Be rewarded with your gift of sharing your time and talents with unparalleled networking opportunities.

● Positively guide a mentee’s career path, course selection and the road to success!

Become a Mentor Today!

Commit 2-4 hours per month

to a designated PALS Mentee.

Signup today at: www.palsprogram.org/mentor

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

ACTION REQUIRED

Attorneys Who Have Previously Created a Profile on the PALS Website:

1. Email [email protected] to indicate that you would like to be considered for participation in the mentoring program as a “mentor”.

2. Utilize Email Subject: “PALS 2013 Mentor”

3. PALS will respond to your email within 7 business days, indicating a completed mentor profile status.

4. Please log-in Here to update your profile today!

Attorneys who have NOT Created an Attorney Profile on the PALS Website:

1. Visit www.palsprogram.org/mentor and fill in all requested information on the online form.

2. PALS will respond to your email within 7 business days, indicating a completed mentor profile status.

Current Mentors:

We thank you for your willingness to volunteer as a mentor in the past. If you would like an additional PALS Mentee, or if you have lost touch with your PALS Mentee and are interested in being assigned a new PALS Mentee, please update your profile and let us know via email at [email protected] .

Attorneys matched through the program will be required to review the

PALS Mentoring Manual and sign a Participation Agreement with their mentor.

Please forward this email to colleagues who may be interested in mentoring.

If you have any questions or concerns about the PALS Mentoring Program, please contact the Executive Director of PALS, Paula Donaldson at: [email protected]

July 29, 2013

New Council Districts Highlight the Growth and Diversity of Asian New Yorkers

July 23, 2013

New York, NY— Today, the Asian American Federation released a briefing paper that details the Asian population, ethnic breakdowns and the major Asian languages spoken in each of the 51 Council Districts based on new lines finalized in May 2013.

“As discussed in our demographics report in April 2012, the Asian population remains the fastest growing in the City,” said Howard Shih, Census Programs Director at the Federation. “But to see the Asian American community as monolithic would be erroneous. The population numbers disguise the diversity of our population. With the upcoming City elections, term limits, and with many of the Council Districts slated for new representatives, we hope this will be a useful tool for the incoming City Council to better serve our Asian community,” added Shih.

Some of the key highlights from the briefing paper are:

In addition to one majority Asian district, eleven other districts had more than one in five residents who were Asian.
Four City Council Districts were home to a very diverse mix of Asian ethnic groups. Each of these districts had seven or more different Asian groups who each had populations of more than 1,000 people.
The diversity of Asian languages spoken in the city is a particular challenge when reaching out to the community.

“This report is an invaluable tool that will serve to help elected officials better understand the growing Asian population in New York City,” said Council Member Daniel Dromm, who represents Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, and East Elmhurst. Dromm’s district, one of the most ethnically diverse areas in the City, saw an increase of over 8,000 Asians in the total district population. “The data in this document provides key insight into my district that will enable me to better communicate and understand a vital part of my constituency”.

As the briefing paper points out, Council District 20, centered in Flushing, remains the district with the largest Asian population at 66% of the population. “While I represent the largest Asian population, it is important to note that Asians are living throughout the City. The myth that Asians live in identifiable enclaves [has] long been dispelled. Our city leaders have to be mindful of the diversity of the Asian community, from languages spoken to the cultural practices,” said Council Member Peter Koo. “The onus is on us – the elected leaders – to hear their issues, address their concerns, and make room for them to contribute to their neighborhoods,” added Koo.

Manhattan’s Chinatown still remains as a district with one of the largest Asian populations. “My constituency represents one of the largest populations of Asians and Asian Americans in New York City, and this report highlights what we already know: we must have greater service and resources in these growing communities,” said Council Member Margaret S. Chin, who represents the area. “Cultural understanding, linguistic access, and civic participation are essential keys to ensuring that these voices are heard.”

“The briefing paper shows our growing electoral strength. Asian New Yorkers can play a significant role in determining the next leaders of our city in the upcoming elections,” said Cao K. O, executive director of the Federation. “And our community must re-cast our importance in the city’s civic matters. We have to be willing to embrace this opportunity by going to the polls.”

To access the report, please visit: http://aafederation.org/headlines.asp?hid=141

June 26, 2013

CBAC Reassured by Supreme Court’s Decision in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2013

HNBA Contact: Erika Lopez (202) 223-4777
NAPABA Contact: Emily Chatterjee (202) 775-9555
NBA Contact: Erika Owens (202) 842-3900
NNABA Contact: Mary Smith (405) 761-1723

Coalition of Bar Associations of Color
Reassured by Supreme Court’s Decision in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin

WASHINGTON – The Coalition of Bar Associations of Color (CBAC) – the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA), the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), the National Bar Association (NBA) and the National Native American Bar Association (NNABA) – is reassured by the Supreme Court’s decision today to reaffirm the principle that diversity in higher education is a compelling national interest. We remain cautiously optimistic about the Court’s decision to send the case back to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

The Supreme Court partially vacated a lower court ruling that had upheld the right of the University of Texas at Austin to partially consider race in its admissions’ policy. However, in deciding Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin, it left intact the precedent it set in Grutter v. Bollinger, which allows schools to consider racial diversity as an admissions factor.

Last summer, CBAC filed an amicus curiae brief with the Supreme Court in the Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin case. The brief highlights the progress made in diversifying the legal profession since the Court’s ruling in Grutter v. Bollinger, while discussing the continued need for race-conscious admissions programs to further the diversification of the legal profession.

“We are encouraged that the United States Supreme Court’s ruling affirmed the Grutter v. Hollinger decision which allows racial and ethnic diversity to be considered as one of many factors in a carefully crafted admissions policy,” stated HNBA National President Peter M. Reyes, Jr. “These are important factors to consider when taking a holistic admissions approach, and the Court in a 7-1 strongly supports our position.”

“We are encouraged by the Court’s decision today in Fisher,” said Wendy C. Shiba, president of NAPABA. “A strong majority of the Court has stood in support of diversity as a compelling interest, and members of the Asian Pacific American community are heartened by this outcome. We see evidence of the importance of a diverse workforce every day in the legal profession, and are thankful that our nation’s commitment to the values of diversity and inclusion has been ratified today.”

“Today’s decision underscores diversity as a compelling interest for all institutions of education and higher learning,” stated John E. Page, President of the National Bar Association. “Even with strict scrutiny of the methods used to achieve such diversity, the US Supreme Court continues to agree that many factors, including race, can be a factor in an admissions program.”

“Diversity is important to educational opportunities for all and furthers classroom discussion and understanding,” said Mary Smith, President of the National Native Bar Association. “We are heartened that the Supreme Court has recognized the importance of diversity.”

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June 17, 2013

From CUP: Seeking New York’s Next Diverse Leaders

CUP Logo Long

We are excited to announce that the Council of Urban Professionals is launching New York’s Next Diverse Leaders, an effort to identify and promote talented cross-sector leaders for consideration in the forthcoming New York City mayoral administration.

Coming on the heels of similar successful efforts by CUP to identify and place leaders of color and women in President Obama’s Administration in 2008 and 2012, and in Governor Cuomo’s Administration in 2010, we are excited to announce our initiative to ensure the next Mayor of New York City has a diverse slate of candidates to consider for top public sector roles.

We work every day at CUP to connect, empower and mobilize the next generation of diverse business and civic leaders. Through a series of forums, leadership development programs, and peer networks, CUP empowers aspiring diverse professionals to develop relationships, expertise, and opportunities that best position them for top leadership positions so that they can make a strong positive impact on organizations, as well as on the people and communities that the organizations serve.

To submit your resumé for a range of public sector roles, as well as New York City boards and commissions, please click here. To be considered, resumes must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 1, 2013.

Feel free to circulate this message and the instructions for resumé submittal to your networks. Once our new Mayor has been elected we will schedule an information session via conference call with a municipal administration official, who will explain their internal process further and answer any questions.

Your patience is greatly appreciated and we would also recommend that you continue to think of other connections in your network that may help advance your professional goals.

Best regards,

Chloe Drew

Executive Director, Council of Urban Professionals

June 10, 2013December 4, 2018

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On June 7, AABANY took part in the 10th anniversary Caren Aronowitz Unity in Diversity celebration at the New York State Supreme Court Rotunda. This annual event is one of the highlights of the year at the courthouse, bringing together bar groups, community organizations and unions to celebrate diversity and promote greater understanding and tolerance within the courts and the wider community.

AABANY and participating organizations provided delicious food representing the diverse cultures of New York. AABANY’s table was filled with dim sum items from Nom Wah and was easily among the most popular tables at the event.

Thanks to our interns, Stephanie Yu and Max Zimmerman for staffing the table, along with interns from the chambers of Judge Doris Ling-Cohan.