Dear PLDIC Members,
 
This week marks my two-year anniversary as Executive Director of the Pittsburgh Legal Diversity & Inclusion Coalition. Anniversaries are a time for celebration, but they also provide an opportunity for reflection and setting intentions.
 
There is a lot to celebrate! Building on the work of my predecessor, Susan Yohe, our Coalition has grown to over 60 members – law firms and in-house legal departments of all sizes, nonprofits, and government entities. Additionally, as a volunteer-run organization, with just me and our Communications Director, Megan Edwards, as staff, I am thrilled to see the leadership of our volunteers continue to grow. Between our Board, Committees, working groups, and other initiatives, we have over 50 consistent and committed volunteers.
 
Our programs are thriving and making a difference to our member organizations and their employees, as well as to our area law students. Here are some of the highlights:

  • Young Professionals Advisory Board: we recently announced the inaugural board and they held their first meeting and elected officers last week. These future leaders will help shape the direction of the PLDIC.
  • Corporate Roundtable: 14 of our in-house legal department members are meeting monthly to share best practices, learnings, successes, and challenges with DEI – both internally and with their outside law firms. Member representatives are bringing back what they learn and implementing real changes in their organizations.
  • Law Firm Roundtables: similarly, we have four cohorts representing over 20 law firm members of varying sizes meeting on a regular basis. The conversations in these cohorts have led to DEI programmatic and systematic changes in the participating firms.
  • 2L/3L Mentoring Program: in partnership with the ACBA’s Summer Clerkship Program, we successfully matched over 50 law students with mentors that will stay with them for the duration of law school.
  • Scholarships: we named inaugural TALI scholars and just announced the second cohort of Susan Yohe PLDIC scholars.
  • Member Survey: we successfully completed our second member survey with an 80% participation rate. The results were generally positive – the racial and ethnic diversity of our legal community improved by 3% from 2018.
 
Now for the reflection. This work is hard. It takes time, commitment, and resources. Often results are not immediate and change is incremental. Our efforts are under attack from the U.S. Supreme Court to the court of public opinion. But we can make our profession, our city, our region – a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive place – if we work together.
 
The PLDIC is here to help. We will continue to offer opportunities for collaboration, for training, for gathering in community, and for lifting our collective voices for change.
 
But YOU need to participate. Your organization is a member of the PLDIC because it has made a commitment to making our profession a place where everyone can thrive. As an employee of your organization, you have the power to make a difference – no matter your role. Join us – come to an event, a training, a roundtable; become an active member of a committee or working group; or take on a leadership position. There are many ways to get involved.
 
And to the leaders of our member organizations, I am grateful for your support and trust in the work we do. Now is the time for you to double-down on your commitment by encouraging your employees to spend the time and resources on DEI, inviting them to attend PLDIC events and trainings, and crediting them for the time they spend volunteering in our committees and working groups.
 
So, what’s next? How can you deepen your involvement in the PLDIC?
 
In so many ways! Here is just a taste of what’s coming up in the next few months….
 
Trainings:
  • August 23, 12-1:30 p.m., virtual: a free 1.5 hours of ethics CLE hosted by Affiliate Member, PA Legal Aid Network. This event is full and registration is closed.
  • October 19, 12-1 p.m., virtual: a fireside chat with Lily Zheng, globally recognized DEI expert and author of DEI Deconstructed. Registration is open.

Community Building:
  • August 16, 12-1 p.m., Eckert Seamans: join us for the first session in the Brave Space/Self-Care Series – a facilitator-led time to connect about the DEI issues affecting our lives. First topic: the Supreme Court Affirmative Action decision. RSVP by August 15.
  • August 26, 12-3 p.m., Forbes & Braddock Shelter: the first ever PLDIC Family Picnic. RSVP by August 11.

Collaboration:
  • October 26, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., in-person: Progress Pursuit: A DEI Accelerator – a pitch competition in which teams will put their heads together to brainstorm a solution to a DEI challenge faced by our member organizations. Sign up to participate.

Pipeline:
  • Legal Career Pathways Programming: we are hard at work planning programming for Pittsburgh teens to learn more about the legal profession and to encourage them to pursue opportunities in our legal community. We are always in need of volunteers to engage with these students. Email me if you are interested.
 
These events and programs are in addition to the above-mentioned on-going initiatives and there are even more ways we can use your input and support.
 
Two years ago, I made the leap from practicing lawyer to lawyer who practices what she preaches. There is no other community of legal professionals and no other city I would want to partner with on this critical work.
 
With thanks,
Ena