Welcome

BWL Foundation, President Alma Howard Graham

On behalf of the Board of Directors, it is my pleasure to extend heartfelt greetings to all the attendees of the Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles Foundation (Foundation) 47th Annual Scholarship Luncheon & Fundraiser. As we turn the page on another year and leave the world pandemic behind us, we are yet again facing a unique time of social uncertainty and challenge in America. But we are delighted to have you here today to celebrate our mission to promote equity and inclusion in the legal profession. During our time together, our goal is to uplift, witness and celebrate the outstanding achievements of our scholarship recipients who are the reason for this event. We will also honor outstanding individuals and take pride in their stellar accomplishments.

For more than four decades, the Foundation has been dedicated to cultivating the next generation of diverse attorneys by providing law student scholarships and investing in programs promoting equity and inclusion and overall community wellbeing. This year’s theme “Rooted in the Community: Empowering the Collective” uniquely communicates the mission and commitment to support and encourage our communities and provide the highest levels of service to others.

We are pleased to recognize the Foundation’s 2023 scholarship recipients and the Change Lawyers Diversity scholarship recipients. They represent the next generation of talented Black lawyers poised to “Empower the Collective.” We are also pleased to congratulate our honorees: Tabitha Brown, America’s “Mom,” author, entrepreneur, and actor; Crystal Crawford, Executive Director of the Western Center on Law and Poverty; Amber Finch, Managing Partner, Reed Smith LLP; and the Social Justice Learning Institute. They represent Black voices who are exemplifying empowerment on behalf of our communities with their accomplishments and dedication.

On behalf of the Foundation board, I want to express our deepest and sincere gratitude to our sponsors who make our scholarships possible. We are especially grateful to the Scholarship Luncheon Committee Chair Crystal Hayes Fields for her tireless work to make this event a spectacular success with the support of our event coordinator Terrina Scott. I am also thankful for Scholarship Committee co-chairs Britany M. Engelman and Kathiana Aurelian for their outstanding work in the selection of our scholarship recipients. Finally, I applaud the Foundation Board members for their investment of resources and unwavering dedication and support of the Foundation’s mission.

With sincere and warm regards,

Alma Howard Graham, President, Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles Foundation