Why a program on covering in this series on creating cultures of inclusion in our firms and law departments? Because when every one of us sees the stake we all have in creating inclusive cultures, we can all move forward together. As Yoshino, the Coalition’s next TACOI speaker, explains, we may speak of diversity and inclusion, but often predicate inclusion on the surrender of the very diversity that people bring to the workplace, forcing our employees into a “tragic choice” between identity and inclusion. Yoshino’s research shows that covering often comes at a significant cost to our sense of self. And although, those struggling to find their place in the mainstream report higher instances of covering, a significant portion of straight white men also report covering, making it a topic of importance for all of us.

Yoshino is the Chief Justice Earl Warren Professor of Constitutional Law at NYU School of Law and the Director of the Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. A frequent interview subject on both radio and television, he literally wrote the book on covering. He’s a graduate of Harvard, Oxford, and Yale and a terrifically engaging speaker.

The 35 lawyers in Cozen O’Connor’s Pittsburgh office serve a diverse client list that includes Fortune 500 companies, healthcare providers, institutes of higher education, middle-market and emerging growth companies. The AmLaw100 firm has offices in 29 cities across two continents. Cozen O'Connor lawyer Bobbi Britton Tucker has been active in the Coalition’s Diversity Champions for several years and says:

"Cozen O’Connor is pleased to join with the other members of the Pittsburgh Legal Diversity & Inclusion Coalition to achieve a more diverse and inclusive legal community. We understand that by welcoming and valuing diverse perspectives and experiences, we can better serve our clients, help attorneys and staff members achieve their professional goals, and positively impact our communities."

Pittsburgh-headquartered Howmet Aerospace Inc. is a global leader in engineered metal products. Its engines, fasteners, structures, and wheels are transforming the aerospace and commercial transportation industries.

"At Howmet, we are committed to addressing inequality and other social injustices both at the systemic and interpersonal level; we believe that diversity and a culture of inclusion makes for a strong legal profession, strong businesses, and strong communities. We are proud to join the Pittsburgh Legal Diversity and Inclusion Coalition and excited to connect with likeminded legal professionals in the Pittsburgh area." - Els Baum – Associate Counsel & Howmet Legal D&I Lead

Leech Tishman Fuscaldo & Lampl is a full-service law firm dedicated to assisting individuals, businesses, and institutions. Offering a wide range of legal services. Leech Tishman is headquartered in Pittsburgh and also has offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Sarasota, State College, and Wilmington, DE.

“Leech Tishman is honored to join the Pittsburgh Legal Diversity & Inclusion Coalition and to have the opportunity to join our region’s most prominent law firms and law departments in fostering a culture of diversity and inclusivity in the legal profession. We believe that a commitment to diversity & inclusion within our firm and community will enrich our corporate culture and bring added value to our relationships with our clients, offering fresh perspectives and experiences in resolving their legal issues.” - Pete A. Fuscaldo – Managing Partner, Leech Tishman Fuscaldo & Lampl, LLC

The Coalition’s Lightning Trainings are programs no more than 30 minutes in length on a single topic. Next up: microaggressions and the serious consequences they can have for the people they most frequently target. The program will begin promptly at noon on March 19.

Each of the almost 100 people who registered to attend the Coalition’s first lightning training, The Words We Use in the D&I Conversation, had the opportunity to ask Coalition ED Susan Yohe and Eckert Seamans Employee Relations and Inclusion Manager Danielle Mundekis to define a term they were unsure about. All requested terms are defined in the glossary, now available on the Coalition’s website: Key Terms Used in the D&I Conversation and What They Mean. Over 60 terms are defined, some with additional resources provided.

Reminder: the video of Michelle Silverthorn's leading the Coalition's Second Conversation on Race: Race in the Legal Community, is still available to view on our Members Only Page - but only for one more day! Along with her presentation, you can also access the Q&A session afterward with Reed Smith Pittsburgh Managing Partner Jason Hazlewood.

Is there anything more fundamental to creating a culture of inclusion in our workplaces than the ability to talk to each other, to share our experiences and value the experiences of others — despite our differences. These 90-minute sessions will provide participants with the tools to build a greater understanding and appreciation of diversity, improve empathy, boost productivity, and teach methods for building greater and lasting cultural engagement across differences. This innovative diversity and inclusion training program was developed at the University of Pittsburgh by Dr. Abdesalam Soudi and Dr. Jeannette South Paul, who will be our facilitators for these highly interactive programs.

A startling rise in anti-Asian racism and Asian American hate crimes across the nation, including here in Pennsylvania, prompted the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs to issue a statement on February 22. The Coalition joins the Governor’s Commission in “condemn[ing] the recent attacks on Asian Pacific Americans across the nation and call[ing] for all Pennsylvanians to stand up against anti-Asian hate and racism in all forms.” From coast to coast, Asians and Asian Americans have been subjected to racist attacks, some leading to severe injuries and even death. Here in Pennsylvania, Asian American high school students have been the target of threats of bodily harm. The Advisory Commission statement provides guidance on where to report such incidents.

Judge Dumas, 18 years on the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, is one of five candidates running for a position on the Commonwealth Court in Pennsylvania's May 18 primary. Judge Dumas is recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association and is one of two candidates who would bring much needed racial diversity to the Commonwealth Court bench.

The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. on March 24, last 45 minutes, and you may join at any time. Join by clicking the link below, or by calling in: Dial: US: +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799. Meeting ID: 811 7974 2319

In a third change of leadership for a Coalition member this year, Jenn Betts has been promoted to Co-Managing Shareholder of Ogletree Deakins’ Pittsburgh office, temporarily sharing leadership with Michael Glass. Betts, a University of Pittsburgh School of Law graduate, will assume solo responsibility for the office this summer.  

University of Pittsburgh Associate Professor of Law Jerry Dickinson joined the panel last October for the Coalition’s First Conversation on Race: Race in Our Community, anchored by a presentation of the results of the 2019 Report on Pittsburgh’s Inequality Across Gender and Race by its lead author, Junia Howell, Assistant Professor in the University of Pittsburgh’s Sociology Department. Dickinson reminds us of the report in his commentary for Public Source entitled “Pittsburgh is America’s apartheid city.”