By Shelley Jackson, Krieg DeVault LLP and Mike McBride, Cohen & Malad LLP
On Feb. 17, 2022, a historic networking event occurred among the Marion County Bar Association (MCBA), the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Indiana (APABA), Indianapolis Bar Association (IndyBar) and Indianapolis Bar Foundation (IndyBar Foundation). Leaders and members from all four groups came together to share missions, revisit legacies and forge a path forward rooted in community dialogue and collaboration. The collective wisdom encompassed by these organizations spans more than two centuries and the energy in the room was palpable. In our roles as vice president of IndyBar (Shelley) and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) accountability chair for the IndyBar Foundation (Mike) and as active supporters of all four organizations, this event offered an important opportunity for diverse members of our legal community to come together to continue to bring the best of all four organizations to fruition.
The IndyBar’s mission is to “serve our members, promote justice and enhance the legal profession.” The IndyBar Foundation mission is to “advance justice and lead positive change in Indianapolis through philanthropy, education and service.” As leaders in these organizations, we are drawn to the shared emphasis on service and relentless pursuit of justice in enhancing our profession. Our shared commitment to DEI is just one way the missions of the IndyBar and the IndyBar Foundation come to fruition each day.
On July 8, 2020, amid a renewed sense of urgency to pursue racial justice following the killings of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and others, the IndyBar held the inaugural meeting of its Commission on Racial Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Indianapolis Legal community (commission), led by the Hon. Carr Darden and past IndyBar president James Bell and comprised of 25 IndyBar members from all areas of our legal community. The commission’s statement of purpose articulates IndyBar’s vision:
We recognize that issues related to racial equality, diversity, and inclusion in the Indianapolis legal community is a historically large and complex issue that cannot be addressed by a single set of concrete action steps. Instead, we acknowledge that we must self-examine by empaneling a standing commission that is empowered to investigate and report on the state of equality, diversity, and inclusion within IndyBar, and build IndyBar’s capacity to serve as a leader and catalyst for change within the Indianapolis legal community as a whole.
Throughout the next several months, the commission worked to develop the IndyBar’s DEI plan, which IndyBar’s board of directors reviewed, discussed in detail and voted to approve. IndyBar’s DEI Plan is entering its second year of implementation with guidance and oversight from the commission. In 2021, the IndyBar focused primarily on looking inward as an organization by challenging IndyBar staff and leadership to identify ways to build a more racially inclusive experience for IndyBar members through partnering with diverse vendors, building more diverse and inclusive continuing education programming and fostering diverse perspectives within sections and committee leadership. This year, the IndyBar is expanding its focus in Phase 2 of the DEI Plan and will explore ways to support diversity, equity and inclusion principles within the broader legal communities we serve.
The IndyBar Foundation is also developing and implementing a similar plan in 2022. After a detailed discussion about DEI initiatives during the annual board retreat, the first phase of the IndyBar Foundation’s plan has already begun with a similar looking inward process as the IndyBar completed in 2021. Each of the IndyBar Foundation’s numerous committees tasked with organizing and holding events throughout the year have already met with the DEI accountability chair…
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