By: Celia Thacker Dorn, Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Ninth Circuit Representative

The YLD Affiliate Committee recently completed its review of the Inclusion and Equality Grant Applications submitted by Affiliates.  FAWL chapters led the way with submissions, with applications from: FAWL, Polk County FAWL, Palm Beach County FAWL, Miami-Dade FAWL, Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association, Hillsborough Association of Women Lawyers, and the Central Florida Association of Women Lawyers (CFAWL). Other minority bars that applied included: Broward County Hispanic Bar Association, Caribbean Bar Association, D.W. Perkins Bar Association, Greater Orlando Asian American Bar Association (GOAABA), Fred G. Minnis, Jr. Bar Association, Haitian Law Association, Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida, Palm Beach County Hispanic Bar Association, and the T.J. Reddick Bar Association.

The Affiliate Committee awarded the first ever Joint Affiliate Grant.  GOAABA and CFAWL submitted a Joint Application to host a workshop entitled “50 Lessons for Women Lawyers.” Every participant in the program will receive a copy of Nora Bergman’s book “50 Lessons for Women Lawyers” and attend a panel discussion with the book’s author.  The total project will cost $1000. As the Affiliates were both eligible to receive $500, the Committee made the decision to award the entire $1000 for the program.  The YLD hopes that more Affiliates will work together on grant applications moving forward.

Some of the other great programming supported by the YLD’s Inclusion and Equality Grant include: minority women panel to discuss challenges within the profession, ways to get involved, and the importance of being involved (Broward County Hispanic Bar Association), professional career event to help minority students gain the resources and tools to be successful in their legal careers (Fred G. Minnis), presentation on LGBTQ+ issues at the state and federal level (Jacksonville Bar Association YLS), discussion on the American with Disabilities Act (Palm Beach County Justice Association) and a seminar to discuss diversity in the workplace and how to implement changes/solutions (St. Petersburg Bar Association).  Be sure the check out www.flayldaffiliates.com for these and other upcoming Inclusion and Equality events. Many of the events are going to be virtual which will enable folks from all over Florida to participate.