SPRING 2021 NEWSLETTER Honoring Our Legacy of Resilience, Pride and Community Engagement President’s Letter One of the greatest privileges of my life has been serving as the 46th President of Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, Incorporated (“BWL”). I am honored to have been given the opportunity to lead BWL and to join the ranks of the 45 amazing women who have previously led BWL. BWL is an important legacy of Black excellence in the city of Los Angeles and despite the challenges we faced as a result of the ongoing pandemic, this year we exceeded expectations in terms of fundraising and in our commitment to the community at large. I am extremely thankful for my 2020-2021 Board of Officers (“Board”), Committee Chairs and every individual who contributed to BWL and participated in our programing this year. The success of BWL depends on a team effort, and I was blessed to have a network of individuals willing to make sacrifices and put in Michelle Kazadi, Esq. the work necessary to ensure that BWL’s legacy continues. 2020-2021 President As the 2019-2020 BWL year came to end, it included BWL swag and special treats. Highlight – 2020 BWL Virtual Installation became apparent that the pandemic was The Retreat started with a virtual welcome Ceremony not subsiding, but was instead taking a turn reception/party on Friday evening. We for the worse, with Los Angeles becoming relaxed as DJ DeVoux, DJ Teddy and MC The next event we had to tackle was the one of the hot spots of the country. Despite Rock played music and entertained us with BWL Annual Installation and Awards Dinner. this reality, plans needed to be made their comedic timing. Thank you to Michelle Clearly, we would not be able to have a live for BWL’s annual summer retreat and Johnson (MJ) at Let’s Play Ultimate Events event and the question quickly became how installation of officers, not to mention all for helping us plan the perfect start to our we were going to reimagine the installation of the other traditional events and services Retreat weekend. on a virtual platform. This year, we decided that BWL is known for providing. Without to “host” a fully recorded 2020 BWL Virtual missing a beat, we got to work! On Saturday we moved on to the business Installation Ceremony (the “Installation”) of BWL and left feeling invigorated and and not select any honorees, because we Highlight – 2020 BWL Virtual Annual Retreat ready to get to work. I especially want to didn’t want them to lose out on the in- thank our generous sponsors for supporting person experience of receiving an award. We started the transition with a reinvented this first ever virtual Retreat: Fly Mommy 2020 BWL Annual Retreat (the “Retreat”). Chronicles, Dansby Law Group, Benefield Thank you to Brand Quality Media for For this event, we created a virtual trip Law Corporation, Equal Rights Law Group, making our vision come to life better to Napa Valley, which was our intended and Demetria Graves. than we could have ever imagined. The destination prior to the pandemic. In Installation turned out beautifully and will advance of the Retreat, each registrant Finally, I want to say a special thank you to inevitably serve as a reminder of how BWL received a specially curated gift box that the 2020 BWL Annual Retreat Committee. always finds a way to shine, even when the only thing certain is uncertainty. CONTINUES ON PG 2 4 2021 Letter From the Editor COVID-19, School Closures, Distance Learning: STEMing From Blackness: 3 Katuri Kaye, Esq. 9 Challenges Throughout the Pandemic 16 A Children’s Book Aimed at Cesely Westmoreland, Esq. Encouraging Black Kids to Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Justice Pursue STEM Careers 4 Ruth Bader Ginsburg 2020-2021 At A Glance Sarah Higgins, Esq. Ruby LeMorin 10 Better Rest When You Are Feeling Restless Living My Best Life Amid ESG Now Top of Mind for Fund Managers 12 Jasolyn Harris, LCSW, M.Div 17 a Pandemic 5 Kendall J. Bass, Esq. Crystal Patterson Fall/Winter 2021 Preview: Homme Coming Financial Resiliency: Changes You Can 13 Khiaecia Key Mismatched Shoes: 6 Make to Take Back Your Power Financially 18 A Shift in Perspective Jala Eaton, Esq. Even “Black Girl Magic” Needs a Little Extra Melanie Scott-Bennett, Esq. 14 Magic Sometimes! Communication Plays A Key Role in the Kasey M. Hemphill, Esq. 20 2020-2021 Officers 7 New Remote Work Environment Alissa D. Hurns, Esq. The Colder Ice Rhetoric In 2021 21 Past Presidents 15 Atyria S. Clark, Esq. Feeling Anxious about Returning 21 Lifetime Members 8 to the Office? Here are a Few Tips! Jacqulyn Lewis, Esq. President’s Message Continued. Thank you to Donald Hayes for his special pivot into the virtual space without missing Diane Spencer-Shaw, Esq., Ina Coleman, shelters, motels, vehicles, group foster Further, in lieu of throwing the BWL arrangement and performance of Lift Every a beat, and in fact, leading the path with Grignon Law Firm, Harriett Buhai Center for homes, and the streets of Southern Annual Holiday Party this year, we Voice and Sing, featuring vocalist Anthony innovative ways to present virtual programs. Family Law, Friends and Family of Heather California. instead spent the allocated funds Saunders. Notwithstanding the raging pandemic, it Horn, Esq., Inszone Insurance Services, Lisa in our budget to purchase toys for was important to me that BWL continued McLean, Esq., and Andrea G. Van Leesten, • SRO Housing Corporation – An children in need. We donated toys Thank you to Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Hon. the great work we do despite all of the Attorney at Law. organization dedicated to building a to Prototypes and Shelter Care, an Letter From Kevin Brazile, Hon. Eric Taylor, Hon. Brenda challenges we faced this past year. In vibrant community for homeless and organization located at Edmund D. Penny, Hon. Patricia J. Titus, Capri Maddox, true BWL form, we continued to provide If you missed the Cocktail Sip, you can find low-income individuals. They pursue Edelman Children’s Court that supports Chambord Benton-Hayes, Alma Graham, intriguing monthly meetings and seminars, highlights on our YouTube channel and our their mission of community revitalization unaccompanied children awaiting their the Editor Nyanza Shaw, Tamara Benefield-Faulk, such as: website. by providing clean, safe and affordable hearings in dependency court. Katuri Kaye, Esq. Past President Nicole Hancock Husband, housing; managing public spaces; and IG: @OhKayeKay Past President Camille Townsend Granville, • Domestic Violence and the Impact on Pride administering needed supportive services. We also participated in the Cozy Coats Past President Rosezetta Upshaw, Past the Entire Family with Hon. Patricia J. Drive with the Crenshaw Family YMCA Times Magazine recently described the President Hon. Tara C. Doss, and Past Titus; Brenda C. Robinson, Esq., Ashley D. This year, we focused on honoring • My Friends House, Inc. – An organization and other community organizations. President Syna Dennis for their participation Williams, Esq., and Dennis Brown; BWL’s history and founders. BWL has that works to end hunger and promote Here, BWL raised over $700 and ongoing 2020-2021 pandemic as an event in the Installation and for their words of • Overcoming and Eliminating Bias with a distinguished history to be proud of healthy living. They serve the homeless, purchased over forty coats for the that has not only touched, but remade, encouragement as we embarked on the Professor Isabel Gunning, Justice Martin and we wanted to make sure that we seniors, women and children, veterans, event. Additionally, BWL, along with our every corner of society. No matter where 2020-2021 Board year. Jenkins and Justice Leondra Kruger; continued to educate both the new and unemployed, underemployed, the most sister bar organizations in Los Angeles, you were situated in the world, no one • Bar Prep Seminar in conjunction with the more seasoned members about our needy and vulnerable in our community. Woman Lawyers Association of Los was immune from this evolving reality, Thank you to Hon. Yvette D. Roland for John M. Langston Bar Association; founding in order to continue to foster Angeles, Latina Lawyers Bar Association, including the Black Women Lawyers swearing in the Board, and to Hon. Patricia J. • Raising the Bar: Interviewing Skills the appreciation and understanding of • Power Girl Ministries – An organization that and Asian Pacific American Women Association of Los Angeles, Incorporated Titus for swearing me in as President. Workshop with Nicole Hancock Husband what makes our organization so special. seeks to encourage, inspire, and validate Lawyers Alliance, donated winter gear, (“BWL”). As such, we wanted to provide and Traci Blackburn.; We hosted a Toast to BWL at our March young urban women to help them make gloves, scarves and beanies to the Los you with a 2021 Spring Newsletter that not Thank you to our sponsors Kirkland & Ellis • History Made: Interview with Assistant general meeting where founding convener, wise and healthy choices in their lives. Angeles Mission. only recognizes the realities of our “new LLP, Sanders Roberts LLP, City National Presiding Judge Samantha Jessner in Shirley Henderson, shared stories about Bank, Bergman Dacey Goldsmith, Reed conjunction with the Women Lawyers the beginning days of the organization. • Kids Managing Conflict – An organization I’m excited to say that one of BWL’s normal,” but also demonstrates that you Smith LLC, Jackson Lewis LLC, Gary C. Eto, Association of Los Angeles; Cynthia Cannady also shared stories about that teaches students conflict most important accomplishments are not alone. From pandemic reflections Esq., Waltzer Melcher LLP, Seyfarth Shaw • COVID-19 Vaccine Awareness Series in co-founder Hon. Vaino Spencer.