Nearly 100 individuals attended the Coalition's 2021 Annual Members Meeting on November 18, both virtually and in-person at K&L Gates Center. Evan Parker of Parker Analytics presented some of his groundbreaking research and hosted a panel of some of our members with whom he has worked to make real change, including John Iino, Reed Smith Chief Diversity Officer; Sneha Desai, BASF Deputy General Counsel; Peter Cummins, Frost Brown Todd Litigator & Recruiting Committee Chair; and Ryan Goellner, Frost Brown Todd, Managing Associate (Cincinnati office). Members heard first-hand from Sneha and John on how data can be used as a tool to engage law firm leaders in objective and collaborative dialogue about diversity at their firm, establish priority action items and evaluate progress on an annual basis through Parker Analytics’ Diversity Scorecard. Members also learned how Frost Brown Todd uses empirical and quantitative evidence to advance equitable talent selection with Parker Analytics’ Talent Selection Algorithm and how the firms’ innovative “stay interviews” are improving diverse attorney retention.

The Pittsburgh Legal Diversity & Inclusion Coalition, in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and the Duquesne University School of Law, has created the Susan Yohe PLDIC Scholarship to honor Susan Yohe’s lifetime of service to championing and furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Pittsburgh legal community. Yohe is one of the PLDIC’s founders and served as its Executive Director from its inception in 2017 until her retirement in July 2021.

Beginning with the 2022-2023 academic year, there will be two Susan Yohe PLDIC scholars; one student from Pitt Law and one student from Duquesne University School of Law who will each receive a $10,000 annual tuition scholarship. PLDIC member Duquesne Light Company has committed to funding the Coalition’s portion of the scholarship, $10,000 annually – $5,000 per law school, for at least the first six years. In addition, each law school has committed to providing an additional $5,000 for each scholar in their first year and has committed to supporting the scholar at the same or a greater level in their second and third years of law school.

“On behalf of the Coalition, we are thrilled to be able to offer such a lasting tribute to Susan and to honor the strides that she has made in furthering the PLDIC’s mission,” said Ena Lebel, current PLDIC Executive Director. “We look forward to building a network of future lawyers who, like Susan, are passionate about improving diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession.”

At the Annual PLDIC Members Meeting, four individuals were elected to the Coalition's Board of Directors, with terms beginning in January 2022. Congratulations to Keith Whitson, Managing Partner at Schnader, who was elected to a first three-year term. Three existing Board members were also elected to a second three-year term: Don Bluedorn, Managing Shareholder at Babst Calland; Amy Wildermuth, Dean, University of Pittsburgh School of Law; and Tony Thompson, Counsel, Dollar Bank.

The Coalition is pleased to welcome its 41st member organization, Neighborhood Legal Services!

Founded in 1966, Neighborhood Legal Services secures justice and resolves fundamental civil legal problems for those who are low-income and vulnerable in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, and Lawrence Counties by providing high-quality legal services and community legal education. Civil legal aid provided by NLS attorneys and pro bono volunteers assures fairness for all in the justice system by providing access to legal help for people to protect their livelihoods, their health, and their families regardless of our clients’ ability to pay.

“Neighborhood Legal Services, the region’s largest provider of civil legal aid, is honored to join the Pittsburgh Legal Diversity & Inclusion Coalition. NLS is committed to advancing justice and overcoming systemic oppression for all economically vulnerable households. We cannot ignore how inextricably tied our work for economic justice is with our obligation to work for racial justice. Our advocacy depends on an effective, skilled workforce to carry out our mission. NLS’s commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, is critical to attracting and retaining talent with a mix of skills and expertise to maximize effectiveness. We welcome the exciting opportunity to join the Pittsburgh Legal Diversity & Inclusion Coalition in collective efforts to increase the hiring, retention and inclusion of legal professionals from a variety of diverse backgrounds.” – Christine Kirby, Director of Advancement

Welcome to the PLDIC's 42nd member, Dollar Bank!

Dollar Bank has assets of more than $11 billion. Today, Dollar Bank operates more than 90 locations throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Virginia and has over 1,400 employees. For more than 166 years, Dollar Bank has grown to become a large, full service, regional bank committed to providing the highest quality of banking services to individuals and businesses. Committed to aiding the communities it serves, Dollar Bank supports quality of life initiatives, financial literacy programs, and organizations dedicated to helping individuals and families in need. Dollar Bank is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. '

“At Dollar Bank, our core values associated with inclusion, equity, and diversity are 1. Be adaptive 2. Be intentional 3. Be responsive. We are excited about our new partnership with the Pittsburgh Legal Diversity and Inclusion Coalition because it embodies each of our core values while simultaneously meeting a primary goal of increasing representation of historically underrepresented people within mid-level and upper management. We are grateful for the mission that drives the work of the Pittsburgh Legal Diversity and Inclusion Coalition and are excited about the impact your intentional and responsive efforts will have on Dollar Bank and our customers.” – Dr. Paul Spradley – Vice President, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Coalition encourages all members to participate in one of our three committees (Recruitment, Retention, and Community Building), which advise on the direction and content of our programming and provide leadership opportunities. In 2022, the Recruitment Committee will continue to be led by Rosa Miller and Jessica Gangjee. The Retention Committee will be led by Krista Staley, and the Community Building Committee will be led by Aarthi Murty. Committee Chairs will be reaching out to current committee members in the coming months to start scheduling meetings for 2022. Learn more about what each committee does here. Interested in participating in a committee? Contact Ena Lebel.

Please take a moment to answer our "PLDIC Pulse" poll question. Your response will give us important feedback on topics relevant to future Coalition direction and programming.

Last month's question, "Are you comfortable attending in-person events?" yielded the following results: 53% responded "yes, with mask/vaccination requirements," 25% responded "yes," and 22% responded "no."

The PLDIC's resource guide, "Key Terms Used in the D&I Conversation (And What They Mean)" may be useful to help define terms commonly used in the D&I conversation. Any employee of a PLDIC member organization may access the Members Only page by filling out the “Members Only Access Request” on our website.

In Bias Interrupted, Joan C. Williams explains how leaders can use standard business tools—data, metrics, and persistence—to interrupt the bias that is continually transmitted through formal systems like performance appraisals, as well as the informal systems that control access to career-enhancing opportunities. The book presents fresh evidence, based on Williams's exhaustive research and work with companies, that interrupting bias helps every group—including white men. Comprehensive, though compact and straightforward, Bias Interrupted delivers real, practical value in an efficient and accessible manner to an audience that has never needed it more.

Duquesne University has appointed its first chief diversity officer and senior advisor to the president for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Crystal McCormick Ware will serve as the University’s first chief diversity officer and senior advisor to the president for diversity, equity and inclusion, effective Jan. 5, 2022.

“Duquesne was where I launched my professional career, and I am honored to come full circle and return to continue this important work as the University has committed itself to an action plan with broad reach for the benefit of all who are part of the Duquesne community,” McCormick Ware said.

Allegheny County Bar Association members are invited to celebrate and network with their fellow attorneys at several upcoming ACBA holiday events.