President's Message

Dear BWLA Family,

As the 2024–2025 Bar Year ends, this will be my final message as President of the Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago, Inc. (BWLA). Serving in this role has been one of the greatest honors of my professional life. It has been a true pleasure to lead an organization comprised of such kind, generous, and accomplished members.

At this moment, no task is more important than expressing my deepest gratitude. Thank you for entrusting me with the privilege of leading this powerful sisterhood—an organization that has been a beacon of strength and purpose since its founding in 1987. I am proud to be part of BWLA’s rich, 38-year legacy, and I am especially proud to have carried out our mission with the vision of our Founders as my guidepost.

The impact of our collective efforts this year—from the inspiring 2025 BWLA Spring Fundraiser Gala to the meaningful initiatives and scholarship opportunities we championed—reflects the strength we possess when we come together with intention and unity. Our accomplishments are a testament to the boundless potential of Black women in the legal profession when we support one another.

I am humbled to join the ranks of the esteemed BWLA Past Presidents who paved the way for me. To the 2024–2025 BWLA Board of Directors and Scholarship Fund Board: thank you for believing in my vision and working tirelessly to ensure BWLA remained a dynamic, relevant, and impactful force. We were innovative. We were collaborative. We were unwavering. And through it all, we honored BWLA’s mission in a BRIGHT. BOLD. BALANCED. way.

BWLA is stronger because of each and every one of you. As I transition into the role of Ex-Officio, I am excited to support our incoming President, Joan Akalaonu. I have no doubt that under her leadership—and with the continued dedication of the 2025–2026 BWLA Board of Directors and Scholarship Fund Board—BWLA will continue to rise to even greater heights.

With heartfelt thanks and continued commitment,

Weeya B. Young

2024–2025 BWLA President

2025–2026 Ex-Officio

#Bright.Bold.Balanced.

Upcoming Events

See you Thursday for the 2025-2026 BWLA Board Installation and President Awards Ceremony!

This Thursday, June 12, 2025, from 5:30pm to 8:00pm, BWLA will celebrate its  2025-2026 Board Installation and Awards Ceremony at Faegre Drinker Biddle and Reath, LLP, 320 South Canal Street, Chicago, IL 60606. Celebrate with us as we install the newly elected 2025-2026 BWLA Board of Directors and the 2025-2026 BWLA Scholarship Fund Board, and celebrate and recognize the contributions of this year’s President’s Awards recipients.

BWLA is honored and excited to have have as its honored guest speaker, Honorable Candace Jackson-Akiwumi, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, who will administer the oath to the incoming 2025-2026 Board. Judge Jackson-Akiwumi is a past BWLA Board Member and Scholarship Fund Board Member.

BWLA looks forward to seeing you there!

Sign up today for the

BWLA 2025-2026 Mentor Program!  

Following the record-breaking turnout and success of the 2025 BWLA Spring Mentoring Dinner, BWLA is relaunching its Mentoring Program starting this fall! BWLA is proud to be a sponsoring organization for the Illinois Supreme Court Commission of Professionalism’s Lawyer-to-Lawyer mentoring program. This year, we are also accepting law student mentees!

To register as a law-student mentee, you must:

• Be attending a Chicagoland area law school during the 2025-2026 school year.

To register as a lawyer mentee, you must:

• Be within your first 5 years of practice in Illinois.

• Be registered as active on the Illinois ARDC Master Roll.

To register as a mentor, you must:

• Have practiced law for 5 years or more,

• Be active and in good standing on the Illinois ARDC Master Roll, and

• Have never been suspended or disbarred in any jurisdiction.

If you are interested in being either a mentor or a mentee, please fill out one of the interest forms linked below. BWLA will match participants and the program will officially launch in Fall 2025. Mentoring matches will be made based on availability or mentors. Mentors and eligible mentees will receive CLE credit for completing the program.

Fill out an interest form today!

Get Involved: Join a BWLA Committee Today!

Past Events

Celebrating Our Bright Legal Future: BWLA Hosts Spring New Admittees Brunch

On May 10, 2025, the BWLA Young Lawyers Committee hosted a spring themed brunch at Chalet. The event celebrated newly admitted lawyers from Fall 2024 and Spring 2025, young lawyer members of BWLA, and law students.

BWLA President Weeya Young, BWLA Vice President Joan Akalaonu, BWLA Scholarship Fund Board Chair Demitrus Evans, BWLA Past President and Scholarship Fund Board Member Elsa Andrianifahanana, and BWLA Member Harriet Parker gave remarks, advice, and words of encouragement to the new admittees. BWLA Board Members at Large Natanya Pope-Sohel and Shannon Stokes also attended.

Special thanks to BWLA Board Member At Large Alichia McIntosh, Young Lawyers Committee Chair Cyerra McGowan, and committee members Milea Moye and Kyle Palmore for making this a fun and successful event!

Highlighting the Bold Bar Year: BWLA Hosts 2025 Spring Member Meeting and Board Elections

On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, BWLA hosted the 2025 Spring Member Meeting and Board of Directors Elections at Barnes and Thornburg.

BWLA member and Chicago Bar Association President-Elect, the Honorable Nichole C. Patton, Circuit Court of Cook County, was our guest speaker. During the meeting, BWLA President Weeya Young gave an overview of the achievements of the 2024-2025 bar year, and the BWLA membership elected the new Board of Directors.

BWLA Vice President Joan Akalaonu, BWLA Parliamentarian Kina Arnold, BWLA Treasurer Alexandra Rogers, BWLA Board Member at Large Natanya Pope-Sohel, BWLA Scholarship Fund Board Member Jade Peeples, and BWLA Member Kameelah Pointer also attended. Congratulations to the BWLA 2025-2026 incoming Board of Directors!

Honoring the Legacy: BWLA's Annual Founders and Past Presidents' Gathering

On Sunday, June 8, 2025, BWLA President Weeya Young hosted the BWLA Annual Founders and Past Presidents' Gathering at Avli on The Park in Chicago to honor and celebrate the rich and enduring legacy of Black female excellence provided by BWLA's Founders and Past Presidents, welcome incoming BWLA President Joan Akalaonu, and to connect and celebrate BWLA’s legacy, progress, and sisterhood. This year, those present included:

• Cecilia Mowatt, Founder
• W. Muzette Hill Stallings, Founder and Past President, 1988-1989
• Veda Britt-Handy, Founder and Past President, 1993-1995
• Honorable, Sybil C. Thomas, Circuit Court of Cook County, Past President, 2001-2003
• Nathalina Hudson, Past President, 2006-2007
• Mary Melchor, Past President, 2008-2009
• Honorable LaShonda A. Hunt, Northern District of Illinois, Past President, 2015-2016
• Honorable Kenya A. Jenkins-Wright, Circuity Court of Cook County, Past President, 2016-2017
• Erica Kirkwood, Past President, 2017-2018
• Kalia Coleman, Past President, 2019-2020
• Elsa Andrianifahanana, Past President, 2022-2023
• Renai Rodney, Past President, 2023-2024
• Weeya Young, Past President, 2024-2025
• Joan Akalaonu, President, 2025-2026

BWLA at the ISBA Board Installation

On June 3, 2025, BWLA President Weeya Young attended the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) Board Installation. The Honorable Bridget C. Duignan was installed as the 149th President. Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis administered the oath of office. Justices Joy V. Cunningham and Elizabeth M. Rochford also attended.

BWLA Attends the BMLA Global Summit

From June 5-7, 2025, BWLA members attended events related to the Black Men Lawyers' Association (BMLA) 2025 Global Summit hosted at Chapman and Culter, LLP. BWLA Corresponding Secretary Le'Loni English, BWLA Board Member at Large Natanya Pope-Sohel, and BWLA Member Kameelah Pointer attended the Summit Kick-Off event.

BWLA Member Natalie Ellis participated as a panelist discussing the importance of mentors and sponsors in our careers and BWLA Scholarship Fund Board Chair Demitrus Evans was among BWLA members who attended the golf outing.

Events Around Town

Purchase Tickets to join BMLA for their Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration

Purchase Tickets to attend the Women's Bar Association of Illinois' 111th Installation Dinner

Purchase Tickets to attend the 2025 Chicago Bar Association Annual Meeting for the Swearing-In Ceremony for Incoming CBA President Judge Nichole C. Patton

Purchase Tickets to Attend the Cook County Bar Association 111th Installation

and Awards Banquet

Purchase Tickets for the Haitian-American Lawyers Association of Illinois' First Father's Day Luncheon and Officer Installation

Register today to attend the Haitian-American Lawyers Association of Illinois ("HALA of Illinois") for their first Father's Day Luncheon and Officer Installation on Saturday, June 28, 2025, from 1:30-5:30 pm. The event will be held at Aviana Banquets, 11142 SW Hwy, Palos Hills, 60465. Tickets are $100 for adults and $50 for kids 10 and under. RSVP by June 20, 2025 by Zelle to Hala.Illinois@gmail.com and send RSVP and names of guests to Hala.Illinois@gmail.com.

HALA Officers to be installed:

• Ms. Yolaine Dauphin, Esq. - President 
• Ms. Judie Smith, Esq. - Vice President/Secretary 
• Mr. Tchedly "Teddy" Desire, Esq. - Treasurer 

The Father's Day Honoree is Dr. Dougé Barthélemy. RSVPs with guest(s) names due June 20th.

Register for the National Bar Association 100th Annual Convention and Exhibits in Chicago

Purchase Tickets Today for the National Bar Association Women Lawyers Division Fellowship and Wellness Retreat

The National Bar Association Women Lawyers Division invites you to its Fellowship & Wellness Retreat on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at the Langham Hotel, 330 N. Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, for an enriching day dedicated to relaxation, connection, and rejuvenation.

Highlights Include:

• Spa Treatment and Lunch Combo:
• Enjoy a 30-minute spa treatment, access to the sauna, relaxation room, and indoor pool, followed by a delicious lunch.
• Member Rate: $150
• Non-Member Rate: $185
• Lunch Only Option:
• Perfect for those with limited time. Join us for lunch from 12 PM to 1:30 PM.
• Price: $50

Tickets are limited! Click on the link below to register.

Register for the National Bar Association 17th Annual Corporate Counsel Leadership Summit

Submit Nominations and Purchase Tickets Today for the National Bar Association Women Lawyers Division Annual Achievement Awards

The National Bar Association Women Lawyers Division is proud to announce the Annual Achievement Awards celebrating the remarkable accomplishments of women lawyers making an impact in the legal profession. Click the link below to purchase tickets to the awards breakfast!

Apply Today for the National Bar Association Women Lawyers Division Centennial Scholarship or Support the Giving Society

Register Today for

Chicago Committee's Partner Dinner

BWLA Member Achievements

Congratulations to BWLA Past President Kenyatta Beverly on her promotion to Senior Counsel, Labor and Employment at The Davey Tree Expert Company.

Congratulations to BWLA Scholarship Fund Board Member Amber Carpenter and her team at Ferrara Candy Company on winning Food and Beverage Team of the Year at the 2025 World Trademark Review Industry Awards on May 21!

Congratulations to BWLA Member and Past BWLA Scholarship Award winner Nneka Jones on being selected to give the student commencement address at her graduation from Creighton University School of Law on May 15, 2025!

Congratulations to BWLA Past President Era Patterson on her new role as Executive Director of the Office of Public Safety Administration for the City of Chicago.

Congratulations to BWLA Board Member At Large Shannon Stokes on receiving the Excellence in Public Service Award from the I Am Abel Law Foundation!

Do you or someone you know have an achievement that you'd like us to highlight in our monthly newsletter? We want to celebrate our members! Send your latest achievement addressed to administrator@bwla.org.

Employment Opportunities

BWLA constantly receives new employment opportunities that our members may be interested in. The ever expanding list has become too lengthy to share here, so please be sure to visit the BWLA Job Board to view all current employment opportunities!

Sponsors

Black Women Lawyers' Association of Greater Chicago, Inc. | www.bwla.org