Calling for MCCA® Stories And Stars!
MCCA® was founded to advocate for the expanded hiring, retention, and promotion of minority attorneys in corporate law departments and the law firms they retain. As we approach our 10th anniversary in 2007, we would like to know more about how our organization has affected the lives of our members and stakeholders. We want to celebrate the individual triumphs of our members along with the success of our organization.
Please share some of your stories with us. We want to know the funny things that have happened to you as well as the inspiring ones—as we have all sought to work together to advance diversity. We plan to feature this individual side of MCCA at our 10th Anniversary Gala event.
So please tell us about any funny, exasperating, inspirational, touching, or otherwise emotionally meaningful things that have happened in connection with your membership in MCCA.
Feel free to express yourself in any form that feels right to you. We will happily accept stories, anecdotes, poems, songs, videotapes, drawings, and audio tapes…in whatever way you want to express how MCCA has impacted you or the profession over the last 10 years (or however long you have been participating). If your story is selected to be spotlighted but you would prefer to remain anonymous, just let us know when you send your reply. Your identity will remain confidential.
We're Also Looking For MCCA Stars Of Tomorrow
If your talents are in the performing arts area (singing, dancing, acting, or comedy), please inform us. MCCA hopes to draw on some of the talented folks in our network to be a part of a gala evening celebration of MCCA's 10th Anniversary! We know that finding frustrated performers in the ranks of practicing lawyers is virtually unheard of (not true!), so just in case there are a few of you, don't be shy about sharing your performing arts talents! It will be great fun and who knows—with the number of people in MCCA's network—you could be the next American Idol.
Please send responses, inquiries, and submissions in the following formats: JPEG, TIFF, PDF and Word to jenchen@mcca.com. Send audio and videotapes to MCCA, Attention: 10th Anniversary Committee, 1111 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, DC 20004.
PRLDEF HONORS "ACHIEVING THE DREAM" AWARDEES
The Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund (PRLDEF) hosted its annual awards gala last October honoring individuals who help Latinos "Achieve the Dream" through Latino-rights advocacy and education.
Elpidio "PD" Villarreal, vice-president and associate counsel, Schering-Plough was presented with the coveted
Lucero Award. Villarreal was honored for being a leading light in the legal community. "This event brings together the business, academic and civic communities to support the cause of equality and justice," says PRLDEF Chairman Ambassador Gabriel Guerra-Mondragón.
PRLDEF's inaugural Pro Bono Publico Award was presented to Dewey Ballantine LLP. Additionally, Richard L. Carrion, Popular, Inc. chairman, president and CEO, was honored with its Corporate Leadership Award.
The event raised funds in support of PRLDEF's mission of promoting equality and justice. Proceeds raised will fund legal aide programs and assist minority law students.
MCCA® ANNOUNCES THE 6TH ANNUAL CLE EXPO CONFERENCE
Save the date! Join MCCA® on March 21-23, 2007 at the Marriott Chicago Downtown hotel for one of its most important events—the 6th Annual CLE Expo.
The CLE Expo is a premier business development conference created to provide corporate counsel with top-notch CLE programming, as well as superb networking maximized by limiting registration with an equal balance of in-house to outside counsel participants. You will be sure to meet your CLE requirements with over 25 different sessions to choose from as a part of the program. The sessions are organized into five tracks: labor and employment, litigation, corporate, intellectual property, and value-added management.
MICROSOFT RECEIVES HISPANIC NATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION AWARD
Horacio Gutierrez
Microsoft Corporation was another proud supporter and honoree at a recent diversity event, the annual convention of the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA), held in San Francisco on August 30 through September 2, 2006.
The HNBA honored Microsoft by presenting it with the Corporate Partner of the Year Award, an honor that the HNBA committee has not presented to any company in several years. The award is not only in appreciation of Microsoft's continuing and growing involvement with the organization, but is also a recognition of Microsoft's willingness to go beyond typical sponsorships by giving its time and talents to promote diversity.
Specifically, the HNBA was impressed by the enthusiasm shown by all members of Microsoft's Legal and Corporate Affairs (LCA) department with whom the HNBA have interacted with on a continuous basis, from senior vice-president Brad Smith, at the mid-year conference on campus last spring, to David Rios and Mick Konowal, for their repeated investments in the organization for the past three years. Accord ing to Tanjia Coleman, Microsoft's diversity program manager, "We consistently look to build relationships with organizations like the HNBA to ensure that diversity and inclusion continue to be embedded processes within Microsoft."
The award was presented on September 2 at the HNBA's Annual Convention Gala Event, and was received by Horacio Gutierrez, deputy general counsel, on behalf of Microsoft. "At Microsoft, we are committed to the important work of expanding the pipeline of diverse talent for the legal profession," says Gutierrez. The Gala attracted over 1,000 attendees.
MCCA® ANNOUNCES ITS 2007 EVENT DATES
Save the date! In 2007, MCCA® will celebrate its 10th Anniversary in a region near you. We will be recognizing 10 years of diversity progress in the legal profession. Additional information will be posted at www.mcca.com. Stay tuned!
- February 22—Dallas, Texas—Westin Galleria
- March 21-23—Chicago, Ill.—Marriott Downtown
- June 21—Washington, DC—JW Marriott
- October 11—San Francisco, Calif.—TBD
- November 7-9—New York, N.Y.—Marriott Marquis
CMCP LAUNCHES MINORITY RECRUITMENT PROGRAM
The California Minority Counsel Program (CMCP) recently launched a new program to assist its members in recruiting diverse attorneys. When companies and law firms that belong to CMCP want to hire a lawyer, CMCP wants to make sure that they see a diverse slate of excellent candidates. Thus, CMCP searched the nation for minority-owned recruiting firms, and subsequently will recommend these recruiting firms to its member companies to interview as potential recruiters.
"CMCP's primary mission has been to expand business opportunities for minority lawyers and law firms by building pathways by which they can connect with corporate clients. It is a natural extension of that mission to help our corporate and law firm members recruit minority lawyers into their own ranks," says Tania Shah, CMCP's executive director.
"Many companies and law firms would like to increase the diversity of their legal staffs, and we felt we could help them. In our opinion, recruiting minority lawyers is most likely to be effective where the recruiter has strong connections into the minority community as well as a strong personal commitment to diversity. We wanted to help CMCP companies and law firms diversify by locating minority-owned recruiting firms that have these connections and commitments," says Mark Zemelman, vice president and assistant general counsel at Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc.
At CMCP's 17th Annual Business Development Conference, the selected recruiting firms will give a presentation about how they can assist CMCP members in their recruitment efforts. All of the recruiting companies are well-established businesses and are capable of performing national searches. Additionally, these companies are deeply committed to providing diverse slates of candidates and helping employers diversify their legal teams.
From the November/December 2006 issue of Diversity & The Bar®