The Bridge
PLDIC News and Resources
July 22, 2020
Moving Pittsburgh's Legal Community Forward,
Together
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PLDIC Board Urges Members to Address Inequities in Profession and City with Increased Urgency
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The PLDIC’s 11-member Board recently sent a letter to the leaders of the Coalition’s 33 members inviting them “
to join with us to ask with a new sense of urgency and commitment what we are willing to do to finally make our profession and community more just, more equitable, and more inclusive
,” acknowledging that “
none of us can say with confidence that we have done enough. Otherwise, surely things would be different
.”
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Towards a Culture of Inclusion
—
Finally!
Coalition Members’ Leaders to be Canvassed for Input Before Final Program Launch
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Everything has changed.
The work of the Coalition has never been more crucial and
Towards a Culture of Inclusion never more important. Over the next several weeks, we will be reaching out to each of our 33 members to gather the information we need to put the final touches on this series of programs — so that
Towards a Culture of Inclusion responds to the needs of our members, as well as the needs of this moment.
Executive Director Susan Yohe will soon contact our member’s leaders to get their input and ask for their support. With that crucial information in hand and final tweaks made, it will be time to launch! Watch for information coming your way in August on how you can participate in this exciting and we hope transformative initiative. By then, its success will be in your hands.
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Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival Invites PLDIC to the Theatre!
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57 films from 17 countries available for screening throughout August
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The Los Angeles Film Festival
provides filmmakers, actors, and storytellers of diverse backgrounds with a place to showcase their voices, creating a true multicultural experience as presented by the world’s independent film community. Sadly, the Festival cannot be live this year, but Los Angeles’ loss is the Coalition’s gain. In an effort to expand the impact of the Festival, Director Sonja Mereu has offered the following discount code for members to use to stream films throughout the August 4-30 festival:
DISCOUNT CODE
(active August 4-30):
pghlegaldiversity
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Yohe and Keating Urge Bar to Avoid Negative Impact on Diversity Experienced in 2008 Recession
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The July 3 issue of the Lawyers Journal features an article (page seven) by Coalition Executive Director
Susan Yohe and ACBA Director of Diversity & Gender Equality
Alysia Keating, entitled “
Backslide Warning: Pittsburgh legal employers urged to monitor, push ahead on diversity and inclusion during recession.” In the same issue (page four), Mark A. Nordenburg and Frederick W. Thieman reflect on “Extending the Legacy of George Floyd.”
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P
itt Announces Two Key D&I Appointments
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Pitt Law Associate Dean of Equity and Inclusive Excellence
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Pitt's School of Law named its first Associate Dean of Equity and Inclusive Excellence,
Tomar Pierson-Brown
, a Clinical Assistant Professor of Law and Director of Pitt Law's Health Law Clinic. According to Pierson-Brown: “My goals for this position are to develop a law school culture in which all learners feel that their lived experiences are central to the process of knowledge construction and acquisition, and to promote the incorporation of practices which foster understanding and respect across embodied and ideological difference."
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New Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion
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Clyde Wilson Pickett, a leading expert in higher education diversity and inclusion strategy, has been named the University of Pittsburgh’s vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion. Pickett said: “I am appreciative for the opportunity and am committed to working hard to establish strong relationships built on trust, integrity, authenticity, visibility and transparency.”
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New Vibrant Pittsburgh AVP to Focus on the Retention of Black Talent
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"It's Time to Start Crossing Bridges," said Gina Winstead.
"We keep losing our Black middle class to other cities doing better at inclusion,” said the new Assistant Vice President of Vibrant Pittsburgh. Between 2014 and 2018, about 7,000 Black residents left Pittsburgh, an increase over previous decades.
Read more
www.bizjournals.com
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Coalition Members Help Found Law Firm Antiracism Alliance
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More than 125 Law Firms seek to make change to the benefit of communities of color
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Three Coalition members —
Littler Mendelson
,
McGuire Woods
and
Reed Smith
—
are among the over 125 law firms nationwide who have signed up to be part of the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance. The purpose of the Alliance, as set forth in its charter, is to “leverage the resources of the private bar to amplify the voices of communities and individuals oppressed by racism, to better use the law as a vehicle for change that benefits communities of color and to promote racial equity in the law and in government institutions.” The Alliance will coordinate its efforts with a variety of social and racial justice organizations.
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PLDIC To Compile List of Diverse-Owned or Supportive Businesses
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The PLDIC seeks to compile a list of businesses that are either owned by or particularly supportive of the various communities we seek to serve — for example, Black, Asian, LGBTQ, or Latino-owned businesses or a business owned by a disabled individual, and businesses which welcome and support these groups. We will feature these businesses on our website and social media and keep a running list for two purposes: to drive customers to their doors and to allow diverse people not from Pittsburgh to see that they can find a community to support here.
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The Retention/Promotion Committee Wants to Highlight Your Organization
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The PLDIC Retention/Promotion Committee is planning to publish a series of articles describing how firms or organizations are implementing innovative programs or ideas.
Do you have an initiative of which you are particularly proud, or that you believe may benefit other member organizations? We would be pleased to highlight your initiative, giving you full credit, on our website and in other media. Please share with us by emailing
Keith Whitson or
Susan Yohe, and a member of our committee will be in touch with you.
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If you haven't already, don't forget to request access to our
Members Only section of the website. The page is filled with resources including our Best Practices Recruitment Guide, slides and video presentations from previous events; and more.
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Pittsburgh Legal Diversity & Inclusion Coalition
Two Gateway Center, 603 Stanwix Street, 6th floor
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