Affinity Bars Bring GROWTH & POSITIVE CHANGE

The U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, released an advisory warning last month of a new public health crisis in the United States: loneliness, isolation and a lack of connection. Citing recent research, the report states that about half of adults in the U. S. experience daily loneliness, even before the pandemic. A lack of connection can lead to increased health risks like heart disease, stroke, anxiety, depression and dementia.

This advisory warning is a wake-up call for most of us. It is easy to fall into the routine of our daily lives, assuming it’s too late to change our path. And while you may not be able to get away to a bar where everyone knows your name, there are “bars” where you can find support from like-minded individuals.

Simply put, affinity bars are a group of people with similar characteristics, an innate kinship and empathy for one another. Besides being attorneys or working in the legal profession, members typically have comparable backgrounds and stories, and often face similar challenges in their professional and personal lives.

One such affinity bar in the Southwest Florida area is the Lee County Association for Women Lawyers, which actively promotes and supports the advancement of women within the Lee County legal community by promoting opportunities and uplifting their accomplishments. Another is the Naples/Fort Myers Chapter of the National Italian American Bar Association, whose members are uniquely connected to their cultural history and look to advance the talents of the Italian-American legal community. And, not too long ago, the Miguel C. Fernandez, III Hispanic Bar Association was established to empower members of the Hispanic legal community and advocate for the broader Hispanic community.

Most affinity bars are focused on diversity, equity and inclusion, with groups forming around race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender. However, there are affinity bars for parents, veterans, communities where individuals live, and the field of practice. Whether you are just starting your career, looking for advancement, or want to give back to your profession, membership in an affinity bar offers opportunities to grow and thrive. Through networking, mentorship, education, community engagement and support, affinity bars create an environment where attorneys and others can feel included, empowered and safe to express themselves while making an impact and forming authentic, meaningful relationships.

If you cannot find an affinity bar that embodies who you are, many national affinity bars offer opportunities to create local affiliate chapters. By increasing diversity, eliminating bias and advancing equality in the legal profession, we ensure that we reflect the people and communities we represent.

National Affinity Bars:

• Deaf and Hard of Hearing Bar Association

• Disability Rights Bar Association

• Haitian Lawyers Association

• Hispanic National Bar Association

• Japanese American Bar Association

• National Asian Pacific Bar Association

• National Association of Muslim Lawyers

• National Association of Women Lawyers

• National Bar Association

• National Conference of Vietnamese Attorneys

• National Filipino Lawyers Association

• National LGBT Bar Association

• National Native American Bar Association

• National South Asian Bar Association

• Thai American Bar Association

Over the past 30 years, Quality Life Center (QLC) of Southwest Florida in Dunbar has helped to serve thousands of children and families within a growing community. Its mission is to strengthen and instill pride in family and community through programs and services that cultivate self-development, teach self-discipline, build confidence and promote cultural awareness, health and one’s highest human potential.

After all, when a child is taught values and is exposed to role models providing guidance, they can develop a winning spirit and a positive attitude. With this in mind, the Quality Life Center is on a mission of personal and community transformation.

• Academics

• Mental Health & Wellness

• Mentoring and Enrichment

• Leadership and Life Skills

Quality Life Center operates from the premise that if a child and community receives love, develops a healthy respect for the Creator and forms a positive self-image, then they will be best prepared to meet life’s challenges. The center does this by demystifying the world for young people and underserved communities through evidence-based tutoring, visual and performing arts, character development, and cultural awareness.

A Tangible Impact

In the 2021-2022 school year, 70 percent of QLC students made gains in reading, math and/or science, or maintained an A-B average. Meanwhile, 90% demonstrated increases in positive behavior, teamwork and social skills. And in 2017, Quality Life Center’s Arts, Character & Education (A.C.E.) Program was named a 2017 National Arts & Humanities Youth Program Finalist by the National Endowment for the Arts & the National Endowment for the Humanities.