Washington Lawyer - May/June 2024 - 7

FROM OUR PRESIDENT
white neighborhood near Cleveland, attending
college with few Black professors, and finding
myself in the minority of law school students,
I deeply understand the importance of inclusivity.
As Bar president, I am proud of our commitment
to stand firm on DEI by establishing the
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
(DEIA) Task Force, which worked to identify areas
of improvement in recruitment and pipeline
building, equitable advancement, and
inclusive culture and transparency, among others.
The task force aims to submit its recommendations
to the D.C. Bar Board of Governors
in June, and I look forward to seeing those put
into action.
* * *
Although I had the pleasure of serving as your
president, none of our successes in the past
year would have been possible without the
support of so many hardworking people at the
Bar. I am incredibly grateful to CEO Bob Spagnoletti,
Immediate Past President Ellen Jakovic,
President-Elect Shaun Snyder, my fellow Board
of Governors members, and so many others
ing our members, from answering inquiries and
connecting attorneys to the right resources to
coordinating events and managing benefits.
Their efforts have been instrumental in helping
the Bar carry out its mission.
Also, the Bar's editors, Fleur Harris and Susannah
Buell, deserve a shout-out for helping me
communicate my message to members.
Meeting with students at the Youth Law Fair.
who guided and supported me during my year
in office. There are not enough words to convey
how much I valued their insights and encouragement.
I
would also like give a heartfelt thank you to
the D.C. Bar staff. The Bar's effectiveness in supporting
attorneys is the result of the dedication
and hard work of its staff. I have deep respect
for their expertise and professionalism in servFinally,
I would like to express my deepest gratitude
to my fellow Bar members for giving me
the opportunity to serve as your 52nd president.
It is my hope that with your trust and
confidence, my service has made a small contribution
to the future of the Bar.
While I am turning over the reins of leadership,
this is not goodbye but a see you around. I remain
in service of the Bar and the law.
Connect with Charles at clowery@dcbar.org.
DMV BAR PRESIDENTS' PANEL
In this groundbreaking event, the presidents of the
bar associations of the District of Columbia,
Maryland, and Virginia will share their insights,
experiences, and vision for the future of the legal
profession, emphasizing the strength and unity of
the DMV legal community.
TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2024 | 6:00 - 8:00 P.M.
D.C. Bar
901 4th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
Don't miss this historic event! Admission is free, but space is limited.
JASON D LOACH
E
dcbar.org/presidentspanel
Maryland State Bar Association
President
MODERATOR
LISA HELEM
Executive Director for Strategic
Initiatives, Bloomberg Industry
Group
SPEAKERS
CHARLES LOWERY JR.
D.C. Bar President
CHIDI JAMES
Virginia State Bar President
MAY/JUNE 2024 * WASHINGTON LAWYER 7
Patrice Gilbert Photography
http://www.dcbar.org/presidentspanel
Washington Lawyer - May/June 2024

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