Diversity Resources
In tandem with the National ALA, the mission of the Maryland Chapter ALA Diversity Committee is to encourage all members of the Chapter to increase awareness of, and sensitivity to, diversity within our Association and the local legal community. We welcome your thoughts, comments and suggestions to help us attain our goal of greater diversity in our Chapter.
DIVERSITY RESOURCES
1. American Bar Association Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession
American Bar Association
321 N. Clark Street
Chicago, Illinois 60610
Phone: 312-988-5638
Category: Future Development of Diverse Candidates
Type of Resource: Attorneys
Purpose: The ABA Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession is a diverse group of committed lawyers that, through its work and programs, is the catalyst for creating leadership and economic opportunities for racial and ethnically diverse lawyers within the ABA and the legal profession. The Commission provides a voice to surface and tackle issues of discrimination, racism and bigotry, and to inspire the ABA and the profession to value differences, to be sensitive to prejudice, and to reflect the society they serve.
2. American Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession
American Bar Association
321 N. Clark Street, 18th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60610
Phone: 312-988-5715
Category: Future Development of Diverse Candidates
Type of Resource: Attorneys
Purpose: The ABA Commission on Women in the Profession was created in 1987 to assess the status of women in the legal profession, identify barriers to advancement, and recommend to the ABA actions to address problems identified.
3. Catalyst
120 Wall Street
New York, NY 10005
212-514-7600
Category: Diversity Awareness and Education
Type of Resource: Attorneys/Non-Attorneys
Purpose: Catalyst is the leading research and advisory organization working with businesses and the professions to build inclusive environments and expand opportunities for women at work. As an independent, nonprofit membership organization, Catalyst conducts research on all aspects of women’s career advancement and provides strategic and web-based consulting services globally.
4. Chesapeake Human Resources Association (CHRA)
720 Light Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21230
Category: Diversity Awareness and Education
Type of Resource: Attorneys/Non-Attorneys
Purpose: The Diversity and Inclusion Committee was established to oversee the management of the annual James W. Rouse Excellence in Diversity Awards Program, which awards member organizations on an annual basis who exemplify world-class leadership in their efforts to promote diversity through programs and initiatives. The Diversity and Inclusion Committee has broadened the scope of its mission to promote diversity by acting as a resource to share information, resources, and opportunities.
5. Diversity Central
The GilDeane Group, Inc.
13751 Lake City Way NE Suite 210
Seattle, WA 98125-8612
206-363-0336
info@gildeane.com
Category: Diversity Awareness and Education
Type of Resource: Attorneys/Non-Attorneys
Purpose: The GilDeane Group, Inc. is a consulting and training firm that helps people and their organizations work effectively across cultural borders. GDG is also the founder and publisher of Cultural Diversity at Work. The entire collection of more than one thousand high quality, how-to articles and resources is available in the Cultural Diversity at Work archive.
6. Diversity World
849 Almar Avenue
Suite C, #206
Santa Cruz, California 95060-5856
(204) 487-0307
Category: Diversity Awareness and Education
Type of Resource: Attorneys/Non-Attorneys
Purpose: Diversity World’s website provides a comprehensive directory of websites (U.S. and Canada) for enhancing the effective participation of people with employment barriers in the workplace. Diversity World also offers a variety of proprietary and auxiliary training seminars that can be adapted and customized to customer needs.
7. Hispanic National Bar Association
Hispanic National Bar Association
815 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 500
Washington, D. C. 20006
Phone: 202-223-4777
Category: Diversity Awareness and Education
Type of Resource: Attorneys
Purpose: HNBA's primary objective is to increase professional opportunities for Hispanics in the legal profession and address issues of concern to the national Hispanic community. Legal education and civil rights have been fundamental concerns of the HNBA from the beginning. Judicial appointments and education on issues of important to members are also priorities of the HNBA.
8. Maryland State Bar Association Special Committee on Asian American Bar
Honorable Brian G.H. Kim
27 Courthouse Square
Rockville, Maryland 20850-2308
Phone: 301-587-9626
Category: Diversity Awareness and Education
Type of Resource: Attorneys
Purpose: The Asian American Bar Committee desires to raise the standard of legal services provided to Maryland's Asian American Community.
9. Maryland State Bar Association Special Committee on Minorities in the Legal Profession
Anthony I. Butler, Chair
Butler & Associates
Court Square Building
200 E. Lexington Street
Suite 1414
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Phone: 443-851-9625
Category: Future Development of Diverse Candidates
Type of Resource: Attorneys
Purpose: The Maryland State Bar Association Special Commission on Minorities in the Legal Profession was created in 1987. The Committee's mission is to identify and to confront barriers to the advancement of minority attorneys in the State of Maryland. The Committee is also dedicated to encouraging the active participation of minority attorneys in leadership positions within the Maryland State Bar Association.
10. Minority Corporate Counsel Association
MCCA
1111 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D. C. 20004
Phone: 202-739-5901
Category: Recruitment of Diverse Candidates / Future Development of Diverse Candidates
Type of Resource: Attorneys
Purpose: The MCCA was founded in 1997 to advocate for the expanded hiring, retention, and promotion of minority attorneys in corporate law departments and the law firms that serve them. MCCA accomplishes its mission through the collection and dissemination of information about diversity in the legal profession.
11. National Association for Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
4805 Mt. Hope Drive
Baltimore, Maryland 21215
410-580-5777
Category: Future Development of Diverse Candidates
Type of Resource: Attorneys/Non-Attorneys
Purpose: The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is the oldest, largest and strongest Civil Rights Organization in the United States. The principal objective of the NAACP is to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of minority group citizens of the United States.
12. National Association of Women Lawyers
National Association of Women Lawyers
American Bar Center, MS 15.2
321 North Clark Street
Chicago, Illinois 60610
Phone: 312-988-6186
Category: Diversity Awareness and Education
Type of Resource: Attorneys
Purpose: NAWL supports and advance the interests of women in and under the law and works towards the social, political, and professional empowerment of women. NAWL members work to end discrimination and violence against women and to prevent the erosion of hard fought gains.
13. National Lesbian and Gay Law Association
National Lesbian and Gay Law Association
601 Thirteenth Street, .W., Suite 1170 South
Washington, D. C. 20005
Phone: 202-637-6384
Category: Diversity Awareness and Education
Type of Resource: Attorneys/Non Attorneys
Purpose: NLGLA is a national association which promotes justice in and through the legal profession for the lesbian and gay community in all its diversity.
14. National Native American Bar Association
Honorable Joseph Martin
Chief Judge, Saginaw Chippewa Courthouse
6954 E. Broadway
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858
Phone: 989-775-4800
Category: Diversity Awareness and Education
Type of Resource: Attorneys
Purpose: NNABA works to promote issues important to the Native American community and works to improve professional opportunities for Native American lawyers. NNABA strives to be a leader on social, cultural, political and legal issues affecting American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians.
15. Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
1800 Duke Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
(800) 283-SHRM
Category: Diversity Awareness and Education
Type of Resource: Attorneys/Non-Attorneys
Purpose: SHRM’s Diversity Focus Area provides feature articles and whitepapers on diversity, as well as diversity-related toolkits and news.
Journals and books which reference diversity awareness:
2. Diversity & the Bar Magazine, published by MCCA (see #4)
3. National Association for Law Placement (NALP) Diversity Best Practices Guide, www.nalp.org