2022 CRSJ Spring Council Meeting

Overview

The Section hosted its 2022 Spring Council Meeting both virtually and in-person.  Breaking away from our typical format, the Section hosted a day of virtual meeting events on April 13 and met in-person in San Pedro, CA, on April 26-29.

Virtual | April 13, 2022

Development and Fundraising Council Committee Meeting

Half of the Section's Council serves on the Development and Fundraising Council Committee. Members discussed the status of fundraising efforts for the 2022 Thurgood Marshall Award Celebration and the Section's Program Support Fund.

Publications Board Meeting

The Section launched its new Publishing Initiative earlier this Bar Year. The Publications Board met to review proposals for monographs, books, and other publications on the COVID-19 pandemic, critical race theory, environmental justice, voting rights, and additional hot topics in civil rights and social justice. 

Membership, Diversity and Inclusion Council Committee Meeting

Half of the Council serves on the Membership, Diversity and Inclusion Council Committee. Members discussed membership recruitment and retention efforts, in addition to updates to the Section's diversity plan.

Section Council Meeting - Day 1

During the virtual meeting of the Section Council, Section Chair Beth K. Whittenbury reported on the Section's accomplishments for the 2021-22 Bar Year. In addition, Section Chair-Elect Juan R. Thomas reported on the progress of the Policy Implementation Initiative. Committee leaders provided reports on their progress for the 2021-22 Bar Year and liaisons reports on the work of their respective entities. Section members participated in breakout sessions to collaborate with Section Delegates on resolutions and future resolution development; discuss the Policy Implementation Initiative; answer remaining student questions for the Civil Rights Civics Institute; and discuss joint Committee projects. In addition, the Council voted on resolutions to be presented during the 2022 ABA Annual Meeting. As part of Section Chair Whittenbury's four-part Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Series, University of New Hampshire School of Law Professor Emerita Sarah Redfield led a training focused on eliminating implicit bias. We thank our partner, Walmart, for sponsoring this series.

In-Person | April 26-29 | San Pedro, CA

In-Person Meet & Greet

Following check-in at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Pedro - Port of Los Angeles, Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice, Commission on Homelessness and Poverty, and Senior Lawyers Division members and staff gathered for a meet & greet at the hotel bar.

Museum Day & Reception at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes

Members kicked off the first day of the in-person meeting with a day full of museum visits, featuring the California African American Museum, Japanese National Museum, Chinese American Museum and the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles. Members were joined by 20 seniors from the Toberman Neighborhood Center. The day also featured lunch on Olvera Street and an opportunity to engage with and learn from service providers serving individuals living on Skid Row. At the end of the day, members gathered at a reception sponsored by McGuireWoods LLP and Oppenheimer Investigations Group at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes to share their experiences from the day.

Law and Policy Youth Hack-a-thon

The second day of the in-person meeting began with the Law and Policy Youth Hack-a-thon. With input from youth who have experienced housing insecurity, our partners–LA County's Youth Commission and CASA of Los Angeles–identified a series of legal barriers preventing youth from accessing housing, services, benefits, and more. Alongside those partners and youth, the Commission on Homelessness and Poverty and the Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice came together to identify and advance solutions to these issues in interactive working groups.

Joint Lunch and California CLE Presentation by David Mann

Members came together for lunch and had the opportunity to hear from David Mann as part of a CLE presentation on competency and his personal experiences with homelessness. 

Section Council Meeting - Day 2

The Section Council resumed their meeting in-person at the Toberman Neighborhood Center. Section Chair Beth K. Whittenbury reported on the progress of her initiatives for the 2021-22 Bar Year, including: the Civil Rights Civics Institute; Critical Race Theory Webinar Series; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Series; Policy Implementation Initiative; .and the Publications Board. Section Chair-Elect Juan R. Thomas previewed plans for the 2022-23 Bar Year. Finally, the Council also voted on resolutions to be presented during the 2022 ABA Annual Meeting. 

Outreach with Toberman Afterschool Program

Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice and Senior Lawyers Division members met with Toberman youth to present a Law Day activity and discussion, provided by the Division for Public Education.

Collaborative Harbor Dinner Cruise

Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice, Commission on Homelessness and Poverty, and Senior Lawyers Division members came together for a dinner cruise and tour of the Port of Long Beach.

CHP & CRSJ Joint Collaboration Meeting

On the third day of the in-person meeting, the Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice and the Commission on Homelessness and Poverty met for a conversation on future ABA efforts and collaboration to address homelessness and poverty.

CRSJ Community Give Back

Section members served the local community by participating in a variety of service projects organized by Toberman Neighborhood Center, including: preparing grab and go meals; distributing food in the food pantry; restocking the thrift store; and helping students in the classroom and the college/career center.

American Bar Foundation Reception at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

To end a wonderful week, the Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice, Commission on Homelessness and Poverty, and Senior Lawyers Division came together for a farewell reception, sponsored by the American Bar Foundation and featuring remarks by Secretary of the Fellows and Patron Fellow, Laura Farber.