EVENTS
Unity Bar of Sacramento Hosts Its Annual Dinner
Patricia Tsubokawa Reeves is a Unity Bar leader. She may be contacted at ptreeves@sbcglobal.net.
by Patricia Tsubokawa Reeves
T
he Unity Bar of Sacramento’s 27th Annual Dinner was Lawyers of Sacramento. The affiliates awarded nine scholarheld on October 9, 2014. The year 2014 marked the 50th ships to deserving law students. The Unity Bar contributed Anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, $1,000 to add to the affiliates’ scholarship(s). The scholarand the Wiley W. Manuel Bar Association took the lead for ship winners are Tiangay Kemokai, and Jamal Harenstein, this year’s program. The evening began with registration both from Pacific McGeorge (WMBA); Marc Perel, Pacific and lively conversations between old and new acquaintancMcGeorge, and Sophia Tornatore, U.C. Davis (LMFBA); es. The diverse attendees, including attorneys, judges, law Elaine Won, U.C. Davis (ABAS); Josh Bohannan, Pacific school educators, law students McGeorge (SacLEGAL); Roxanne and community members, were Strohmeier, U.C. Davis (WLS); then entertained by the African David Canela, U.C. Davis (La Queens Dance Company accomRaza); and Gagandeep B. Kaur, panied only by African drums. U.C. Davis (SABA). Mistress of ceremonies The Unity affiliates awarded Windie O. Scott presided over the following seven Communithe evening’s program. The keyty Service Awards: Daniel Hahn note address was delivered by Dr. (WMBA), Betty Reuben (LMFClarence B. Jones, who served BA), Locke Foundation (ABAS), as Martin Luther King, Jr.’s lawyer Tina Reynolds (SacLEGAL), and speechwriter, and who was Working Women Internationwith Dr. King when he wrote his al (WLS), Elisabet Medina (La famous “I have a dream” speech. Raza), and Jaya Badiga (SABA). Jones stated, “Winter time All winners received a plaque soldiers or lions and lionesses commemorating this special recenabled the passage of the 1964 ognition of their work in their Civil Rights Act and the 1965 communities. Voters Rights Acts. Today, the new Mistress of Ceremonies Windie O. Scott and This year’s Unity Dinner challenge to the blood, sweat, and keynote speaker Dr. Clarence B. Jones Committee affiliate representatears of the struggle of hundreds tives were Dianne Dobbs, lead of thousands of these winter time soldiers and lions and liaffiliate representative (WMBA), Michael Wang (ABAS), Mionesses is ‘voter suppression.’ The new assault on our civchael Terhorst, (La Raza), Hollis Kulwin (LMFBA), Hayley il and voting rights is conducted under the ruse and guise Dewey (SacLEGAL), Rebecca Dietzen (WLS), Gagan Kaur, of ‘preventing voter fraud’ and assuring ‘voter security.’” He Robin Basra, and Brad Coutinho (SABA), and Amilia Glikreminded the lawyers present of their oath to protect and man and Patty Reeves (Unity Bar). In a very collaborative enforce the Constitution. He called the Constitution a sacred manner, the committee met regularly throughout the year to document and asked those present if they were fulfilling plan the Unity Dinner. th their duties as they reflected on the 50 Anniversary of the The 2014 Unity Dinner was a wonderful success. The 1964 Civil Rights Act. attendees were enriched by the words and experiences of The Unity Bar of Sacramento is comprised of the SCBA’s a true civil rights foot soldier. The dinner provided particiseven minority affiliates: the Asian/Pacific American Bar Aspants with a time for professional fun and re-awakening, and sociation of Sacramento, the La Raza Lawyers Association an opportunity to learn about community service champiof Sacramento, the Leonard M. Friedman Bar Association, ons and up and coming legal talent. The Unity Dinner again the Sacramento Lawyers for the Equality of Gays and Lesbiproved that diversity is a wonderful and rich experience that ans, the Wiley W. Manuel Bar Association, and the Women enhances this legal community.
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SACRAMENTO LAWYER | January/February 2015 | www.sacbar.org