President's Message

Dear BWLA Family,

On June 12, 2025, I had the extraordinary honor of being installed as President of the Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago, Inc. (“BWLA”), alongside a phenomenal group of Black women who serve on our Board of Directors and Scholarship Fund Board, including the incredible Jasmine Fannell, who has returned this year as our Scholarship Fund Board Chair. I step into this role with deep gratitude—for our visionary Founders who lit the torch nearly 40 years ago, for our Past Presidents who carried it with grace and grit, and for each of you—our members, supporters, allies, Founders, Past Presidents, and fellow Board Members—who now continue to carry it forward with me.

The theme for the 2025–2026 bar year is Enduring Legacy. It is both a reflection and a call to action—a reminder of the strength, brilliance, and resilience that define BWLA, and a charge to continue building upon this powerful legacy. A recognition of the lasting power BWLA has built as an organization and the legacy of excellence we have built together as Black women in the legal profession. Through every challenge, we have not only endured, we have thrived. BWLA’s nearly 40-year history is a living testament to the unshakeable spirit and force of Black women in the legal profession. We build. We rise. We persevere.

Yet, we are not untouched by the challenges of our time. We face ongoing efforts to diminish and undermine the rule of law, distort and erase the truth of our history, and silence the voices of Black women and others in the legal field. But we remain undeterred. BWLA’s legacy is one that is built to last. United by the law. Fueled by sisterhood.

In these challenging times, our BWLA community is even more vital. This year, we will continue to offer programming that sustains, strengthens, and builds our BWLA community. We will continue to support our law students through scholarships and outreach to the Chicagoland Black Law Student Associations and beyond. We will continue to strengthen our community through opportunities for mentorship, networking, and fellowship. We will continue to provide programming that prioritizes wellness, rest, and mental health for our members and supporters. We will continue our commitment to civic engagement and community outreach. And we will continue to express our deep appreciation to our sponsors and supporters, while building new partnerships that advance our mission. These efforts are not simply programs and fundraising—they are acts of legacy-building.

I invite you to walk with BWLA this year. Mentor. Volunteer. Serve on a committee. Donate. Show up. Whether you are a law student beginning your journey or a seasoned legal professional, there is space—and need—for you here.

One exciting opportunity to get involved is just around the corner: BWLA will once again participate in the historic Chicago Bud Billiken Parade on Saturday, August 9, 2025. During the parade, BWLA will hand out backpacks and school supplies to youth in our community. A special thank you to BWLA sponsor Burke, Warren, MacKay, & Serritella, P.C., who generously sponsored a drive that raised 100 backpacks! They have also graciously offered to host our BWLA Supply Packing Party on August 7, 2025. We are also deeply grateful to all individuals who have donated supplies—thank you for being a part of BWLA’s story and legacy.

As we move forward together, let us never forget: BWLA’s Lady Liberty symbol does not stand alone—and neither do we. We lift as we climb, we rest when we must, and we rise together. Thank you for your continued support and for being part of this enduring legacy.

With gratitude and sisterhood,

Joan A. Akalaonu

2025-2026 BWLA President

#EnduringLegacy

Upcoming Events

Register and/or Donate Today to Join BWLA at the Bud Billiken Day Parade!

Register today to join the BWLA Scholarship Fund Board on Saturday, August 9, 2025, as we continue BWLA's legacy and annual tradition of participating in Chicago's 96th Bud Billiken Parade, the largest African American parade in the United States. This year, BWLA will continue to encourage educational excellence in Chicago's youth by handing out backpacks and school supplies during the parade. This year, it is even more important for BWLA to show up and show out to once again remind all those at the parade and beyond of the enduring presence and legacy of Black women in the legal profession!

Thanks to all who have donated by purchasing school supplies and backpacks for BWLA to pass out during the parade! Special thanks to the law firm Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, P.C. for sponsoring an amazing backpack drive for BWLA's participation in the Bud Billiken Parade this year! The firm's backpack drive resulted in the donation of 100 backpacks! There is still time to donate school supplies from BWLA's Parade Amazon Wishlist through the link below!

BWLA would love to have you join us! Sign up through the link below to join BWLA at the parade on August 9, 2025! Also, if you are also interested in helping BWLA pack all the donated supplies and backpacks, while enjoying snacks and drinks, please sign up to attend a "Packing Party" on Thursday, August 7, 2025 at 5:30pm hosted by Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, P.C. All volunteers for the packing party and the parade will receive a BWLA T-Shirt!

We look forward to seeing you there!

Sign up Today for the

BWLA 2025-2026 Mentor Program!  

Following the record-breaking turnout and success of the 2025 BWLA Spring Mentoring Dinner, BWLA is relaunching its Mentoring Program starting this fall! BWLA is proud to be a sponsoring organization for the Illinois Supreme Court Commission of Professionalism’s Lawyer-to-Lawyer mentoring program. This year, we are also accepting law student mentees!

To register as a law-student mentee, you must:

• Be attending a Chicagoland area law school during the 2025-2026 school year.

To register as a lawyer mentee, you must:

• Be within your first 5 years of practice in Illinois.

• Be registered as active on the Illinois ARDC Master Roll.

To register as a mentor, you must:

• Have practiced law for 5 years or more,

• Be active and in good standing on the Illinois ARDC Master Roll, and

• Have never been suspended or disbarred in any jurisdiction.

If you are interested in being either a mentor or a mentee, please fill out one of the interest forms linked below. BWLA will match participants and the program will officially launch in Fall 2025. Mentoring matches will be made based on availability or mentors. Mentors and eligible mentees will receive CLE credit for completing the program.

Fill out an interest form today!

Congratulations to all the BWLA Founders, Board Members, and Members who were Award Nominees and Winners at this week's National Bar Association Women Lawyers Division 2025 Gertrude E. Rush Annual Breakfast, Co-sponsored by BWLA

BWLA Membership and Committees

GET INVOLVED:

Sign Up Today to Volunteer or Serve as a Co-Chair for the BWLA Judicial Evaluation Committee

BWLA is one of a thirteen-member consortium of bar associations known as the Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening (“Alliance”). As an Alliance member, BWLA's Judicial Evaluation Committee investigates, interviews and evaluates judicial candidates for the purpose of issuing a rating of "Recommended" or "Not Recommended." Ratings are based on a fair, accurate, and complete evaluation of a candidate and are not to be construed as an endorsement. Ratings are advisory only and are a crucial tool in educating and informing our members and the public about candidates during elections. 

The BWLA Judicial Evaluation Committee is in need of volunteers to represent BWLA in this critical work of ensuring judicial candidates are fit. Eligible volunteers must be law students (2L or above), law school graduates, and not currently serving or running as a judge. Investigators review candidate materials and conduct brief interviews with approximately 20 attorneys to compile a summary report. Interviewers participate in confidential interviews along with other Alliance members and provide BWLA with a recommended rating based on the information collected. Training will be provided. 



The BWLA Judicial Evaluation Committee is also in need of co-chairs. You must be a current BWLA member in good standing to facilitate the evaluation process with the support of administrative staff. Co-chairs act as liaison between the Alliance, volunteers, and the Board of Directors.

If you are interested in getting more involved with BWLA and/or learning more about the judicial evaluation process, please click on the link below to complete a volunteer interest form!

Past Events

An Enduring Legacy: BWLA Celebrates its 2025-2026 Installation and Awards Ceremony

On Thursday June 12, 2025, BWLA Founders, Past Presidents, Board Members, members, supporters, sponsors, families, and friends gathered to celebrate BWLA's 2025-2026 Installation and Awards Ceremony at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP.

BWLA Past President Renai Rodney was the MC for the ceremony's program. After host sponsor remarks from Faegre Drinker Chief Diversity Officer Maria Lewis, 2024-2025 BWLA President, now BWLA Ex-Officio, Weeya Young, gave remarks and announced the following President's award recipients:

• President's Award: Vice President Joan Akalaonu
• Excellence in Leadership and Service Awards: BWLA Past Presidents Kalia Coleman, Mary Melchor, Renai Rodney, the Honorable Kenya Jenkins-Wright, Elsa Andrianifahanana, and BWLA Scholarship Fund Board Member Merili Seale
• Rising Star Awards: BWLA Corresponding Secretary Le'Loni English and BWLA Treasurer Alexandra Rogers
• Bright Bold Balanced Awards: BWLA Board Member at Large Shannon Stokes and her daughter Loni Stokes
• Committee of the Year Award: Mentoring Dinner Committee, chaired by Scholastica Baker and J. Simone Jones
• Volunteer of the Year Awards: BWLA Law Student Outreach Committee Co-chairs Leah Hall, Maryah Person, and Jordan Bernard

This year, BWLA was honored to have the Honorable Candace Jackson-Akiwumi, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, as its honored guest to give remarks and administer the oath to the 2025-2026 BWLA Boards. After giving inspiring remarks about her own BWLA journey and the historical and legal significance of the day, June 12, in American history, Judge Jackson-Akiwumi administered the oath to the following:

• 2025-2026 BWLA President Joan Akalaonu
• 2025-2026 BWLA Board of Directors: Joan Akalaonu (President), Weeya Young (Ex-Officio), Natanya Pope-Sohel (Vice-President), Alexandra Rogers (Treasurer), Kina Arnold (Parliamentarian), Kameelah Pointer (Corresponding Secretary), Le'Loni English (Recording Secretary), Omoyele Ajayi (Board Member at Large), Amber Carpenter (Board Member at Large), Cyerra McGowan (Board Member at Large), and Jade Peeples (Board Member at Large).
• 2025-2026 BWLA Scholarship Fund Board: Jasmine Fannell (Chair), Joan Akalaonu, Weeya Young, Natanya Pope-Sohel, Alexandra Rogers, Kina Arnold, Kameelah Pointer, Le'Loni English, Elsa Andrianifahanana, Merilie Seale, Mariska Richards, Deb Imafidon, Ashlee Germany, Natalie Ellis, and Shannon Stokes.

The program continued with remarks from BWLA Vice President, Natanya Pope-Sohel, who was introduced by friend and BWLA Past Scholarship Recipient, Jaylin McClinton, and from BWLA President Joan Akalaonu, who as a surprised was introduced by friends, colleagues, and clients, BWLA Ex-Officio Weeya Young, Dadri-Ann Graham, from Cargill, CCBA Past President Raymond Rushing, from Cummins, and fellow partner Ruben Gonzalez. During her remarks, BWLA President Joan Akalaonu announced the theme for her bar year as "Enduring Legacy" in recognition and tribute to the strength, resilience, and lasting legacy that BWLA and Black women in the legal profession have created, sustained, poured into and emboldened to last for future generations.

The program concluded with the BWLA tradition, created by BWLA Past President Erica Kirkwood, of presenting BWLA Ex-Officio Weeya Young with a President's Blazer.

Special thanks to BWLA Gold Sponsor Faegre Drinker for hosting and sponsoring the Installation and Awards Ceremony!

BWLA Co-Sponsors the

Business Leadership Council "The State of Black Businesses" Roundtable Panel

On Monday June 23, 2025, BWLA Vice President Natanya Pope-Sohel and others represented BWLA at the Business Leadership Council's (BLC) "The State of Black Businesses" Roundtable Panel, which BWLA co-sponsored along with other organizations and bar associations. The panel consisted of Mayor Brandon Johnson, Commissioner Chere Boatright, Planning and Development, Chief Procurement Officer, Sharla Roberts, and Chief Small Business Officer, Lotika Pai, and was moderated by BLC CEO Keiana Barrett. The panel event was held at RPM Events.

BWLA Attends the

WBAI 111th Installation Dinner

On Thursday, June 26, 2025, BWLA President Joan Akalaonu, BWLA Ex-Officio Weeya Young, BWLA Parliamentarian Kina Arnold, BWLA Corresponding Secretary Kameelah Pointer, BWLA Recording Secretary Le'Loni English and BWLA Past Presidents the Honorable Kenya Jenkins-Wright and Mary Melchor and others attended the Women's Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI) 111th Annual Installation Dinner at the Drake Hotel.

WBAI President Katie A. Twardak was sworn in by longstanding BWLA member, Justice Joy V. Cunningham, Illinois Supreme Court. Justice Elizabeth M. Rochford swore in the WBAI Executive Leadership Team and Justice Mary K. O'Brien swore in the 2025-2026 WBAI Board of Directors. The theme for this WBAI bar year is Justice and Empowerment Through Service.

BWLA Attends the Chicago Bar Association

2025 Annual Meeting for Installation of CBA President Judge Nichole C. Patton

On the afternoon of Friday, June 27, 2025, BWLA President Joan Akalaonu, BWLA Vice President Natanya Pope-Sohel, BWLA Corresponding Secretary Kameelah Pointer, BWLA Board Member at Large Cyerra McGowan, and BWLA Past President Mary Melchor and others attended the Chicago Bar Association's (CBA) 2025 Annual Meeting at the Union League Club of Chicago for the installation of longstanding BWLA member, the Honorable Nichole C. Patton, Circuit Court of Cook County. Judge Patton was sworn in by BWLA longstanding member, Justice Joy V. Cunningham, Illinois Supreme Court.

Surrounded by family, friends, colleagues, and supporters, Judge Patton announced the special initiative for her bar year focused on the intersection between AI, law, and justice. The special initiative, titled "AI 2035 - The Legal Profession and the Judiciary in the Age of Artificial Intelligence" will culminate in a symposium in May 2026. Congratulations to Judge Patton and the rest of the 2025-2026 Chicago Bar Association Board of Managers, which includes BWLA Past President the Honorable Kenya Wright-Jenkins, and BWLA Lifetime Member the Honorable Andrea R Wood.

BWLA Attends the Cook County Bar Association's 110th Annual Installation and Awards Dinner

On the evening of Friday, June 27, 2025, BWLA President Joan Akalaonu, BWLA Ex-Officio Weeya Young, BWLA Vice President Natanya Pope-Sohel, BWLA Treasurer Alexandra Rogers, BWLA Parliamentarian Kina Arnold, BWLA Corresponding Secretary Kameelah Pointer, BWLA Recording Secretary Le'Loni English, BWLA Board Member at Large Cyerra McGowan, BWLA Past Presidents the Honorable Kenya Jenkins-Wright and Mary Melchor, BWLA Past Scholarship Recipient Nneka Jones and BWLA Program Administrator Konesha "K" Rhea and others attended the Cook County Bar Association's (CCBA) 110th Installation and Awards Banquet to install CCBA President Antonio C. Lee and his Board of Directors.

The installation, which took place this year at the Chicago Field Museum, was themed "Rooted in Legacy, Rising in Power." The keynote speaker for the evening was activist Tamika D. Mallory, with remarks from Kristen M. Clarke, Former U.S. Assistant Attorney General, and Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson, of the First District of Illinois, among others. Congratulations to all the awardees and honorees!

Events Around Town

Register Now to Virtually Attend Tonight's American Bar Association's 2025 Thurgood Marshall Award honoring Maya D. Wiley

Register Today to Attend Tomorrow's

Legal Launchpad: A Night of Resume Reviews, Employer Connections & Career Panels

Register Today to Attend

This Weekend's Black Women Expo's Town Hall Discussion "Where Do We Go From Here?"

Join the Chicago Committee for its

Summer Happy Hours at Roanoke

Register Today to Participate in CVLS'

2025 Race Judicata: Run for Justice

Register Today to attend

The Chicago Committee's Speaker Discussion "Nourish: Staying Grounded in the New Legal Workspace"

BWLA Member Achievements

Congratulations to BWLA Past President and Scholarship Fund Board Member Elsa Andrianifahanana who was selected as one of the 40 under 40 Honorees for the National Bar Association's Centennial Class.

Congratulations to BWLA Parliamentarian Kina Arnold who earlier this month performed with the Soul Children of Chicago Choir to sing the National Anthem for the 2025 NASCAR Chicago Street Race. The performance can be seen here. Also, congratulations to Kina who was a featured panelist this week on July 30, 2025 for the National Bar Association Criminal Law and Juvenile Justice Section's on "Dismantling the School to Prison Pipeline."

Congratulations to BWLA Founder and Past President the Honorable Patricia Brown Holmes (ret.) who was recently named to Forbes' Inaugural America's Best-In-State Top Lawyers List and for her recent article, published in Best Lawyers' Spring Business Edition, about "What They Don't Teach Women in Law School: Essential Business Skills for Early-Career Female Lawyers." The article can be read here.

Congratulations to BWLA Board Member at Large Amber Carpenter who recently participated in a private practice panel for law students for The Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms.

Congratulations to BWLA member Alfreda Bradley-Coar who was one of the award winners for the Outstanding Public Service Award at the National Bar Association Women Lawyers Division Gertrude E. Rush Annual Breakfast.

Congratulations to BWLA Past President Kalia Coleman who earlier this month was interviewed by ABC 7 Chicago News about Former Alderman Ed Burke's early release from federal prison. You can watch the full interview here.

Congratulations to BWLA Scholarship Fund Board Member Ashlee Germany who was selected as one of the 40 under 40 Honorees for the National Bar Association's Centennial Class.

Congratulations to BWLA Mentoring Dinner Committee Co-Chair J. Simone Jones on her recent unanimous victory in the United States Supreme Court on the class action lawsuit Soto v. the United States. Simone's client, Corporal Simon Soto, and the class of veterans he represents will now receive the full measure of Combat-Related Special Compensation that Congress made available to them for disabilities stemming from combat-related injuries. The opinion can be read here.

Congratulations to BWLA member Lisa Kpor who will be speaking this year at the 2025 Association of Corporate Counsel Annual Meeting about Navigating Career Transitions and Maintaining Wellness as In-House Counsel. The 2025 ACC Annual Meeting will take place on October 19-22, 2025 in Philadelphia.

Congratulations to BWLA Vice President Natanya Pope-Sohel who was one of the award winners for the Outstanding Public Service Award at the National Bar Association Women Lawyers Division Gertrude E. Rush Annual Breakfast.

Congratulations to BWLA Founder the Honorable Ann Claire Williams (ret.) who was one of the award winners for the Excellence in the Judiciary Award at the National Bar Association Women Lawyers Division Gertrude E. Rush Annual Breakfast.

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.

Employment Opportunities

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!

Sponsors

Black Women Lawyers' Association of Greater Chicago, Inc. | www.bwla.org