Towards a Culture of Inclusion continues in 2021 with our Second Conversation on Race: Race in the Legal Community. Joining us on January 19 from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. will be Michelle Silverthorn, who has traveled the country over the last six months talking about what it feels like to be a Lawyer of Color in a predominantly White legal world and what actions we can commit to as individuals to create a more inclusive work environment. Please bring your questions for an open and honest discussion of race in the legal community.

Silverthorn is the Founder and CEO of Inclusion Nation, and a graduate of Princeton and the University of Michigan Law School. She practiced in two large law firms in Chicago and New York before transitioning to her current work.

Introducing Silverthorn and joining her in the discussion portion of the program will be Jason Hazlewood, recently named Managing Partner of the Pittsburgh Reed Smith office. In addition to his role of office Managing Partner, Hazlewood is a partner in the firm's Global Commercial Disputes Group. He concentrates his practice on complex commercial and financial services litigation.

After looking at race in the wider Pittsburgh community last October and Race in the Legal Community this month, we will end the TACOI conversation series in June with our Third Conversation on Race: Where Do We Go From Here?

Creating an inclusive environment requires us to be open to the people around us and willing to engage with the diverse backgrounds, characteristics, and views each of us contributes to the workplace. Maybe you’re thinking: but that’s not as easy as it sounds!  For its first “Lightning Training” in the Towards a Culture of Inclusion series, the PLDIC presents a basic primer on the key terms swirling around the diversity and inclusion conversation.

This 30-minute session presented by PLDIC ED Susan Yohe lays down the first piece in the cultural competency puzzle leading to our May program with University of Pittsburgh linguistics professor Abdesalam Soudi and physician Jeannette South Paul, which will demonstrate the power of getting to know each other.

Upon registering for this February 24 program, you will be able to ask about particular terms you would like defined.

The Homer S. Brown Division of the Allegheny County Bar Association will present the 2021 Drum Major for Justice Award to Tracey McCants Lewis, Deputy General Counsel and Director of Human Resources for the Pittsburgh Penquins, at the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Prayer Breakfast and Program on January 18 at 9 a.m.

Martin Luther King Day is the only federal holiday that is celebrated as a day of service. Here are some ideas for what you might do to actively observe this unique holiday:

Seventeen of the 46 employers who will participate in the Allegheny County Bar Association's award-winning 1L Summer Clerkship Program in 2021 are PLDIC members. Special shout-out to first-time participant Wabtech and returning participants Strassburger McKenna, Koppers and PPG. Other Coalition member participants: Babst Calland, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney/PNC, Dickie McCamey, Eckert Seamans, Littler Mendelson, Meyer Unkovic & Scott, Schnader, Duquesne Light, Gateway Health, Highmark, US Steel, and UPMC.

Vibrant Pittsburgh will launch its Second Annual Vibrant Index Survey on January 18 with the diagnostic period ending March 19. Companies wishing to participate fill out a confidential, free survey which addresses how they have addressed diversity, equity, and inclusion in the past year. The Vibrant Pittsburgh Diversity Assessment Committee, along with other experts and researchers, evaluate the responses and provide participants with summary reports and recommendations in the spring.

It’s not surprising that Jay Evans signed up to participate in the PLDIC’s nine-month Ally-Ready Training Program. Volunteering to try to make things better is just something he does. A partner in Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis’ Pittsburgh office, he has been awarded the firm’s Earl G. Harrison Pro Bono Award. Pittsburgh Managing Partner and PLDIC Retention Committee Chair Keith Whitson said, “Jay’s contributions are extensive and varied … He’s a wonderful example for us all.”

[Un]Common Law’s five part “Black Lawyers Speak” series is a deep dive into why efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in large, elite law firms have failed to achieve the progress long hoped for. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.