Happy Spring! It’s hard to believe we are heading into the second quarter of 2025 and that I’m coming up on the halfway point of my year as Section Chair. Traveling to various Midwinter Meetings has been incredibly rewarding. Each Committee has a unique culture, and it has been wonderful to meet so many members and get their input on the Section and their ideas for other Section initiatives.
One other commendable activity I wanted to highlight was the support our committees provided to the communities where our Midwinter Meetings were held:
The Employment Rights and Responsibilities Committee and Technology in the Practice and Workplace Committee members generously participated in the 2025 ERR Gives Back! campaign in support of Pasitos de Luz, which raised $18,625. The organization’s director, Arturo Ayala, shared these thoughts on the impact of the donations:
In Mexico, we have a program called “Dona por Amor” which consists of recurring monthly donations, mostly supported by the Mexican community. What you and your group accomplished in just 5 days exceeds what we typically raise in a full year through that program. It is incredibly encouraging to now count on this valuable support. It is one of the miracles we needed this year at Pasitos de Luz.
The Employee Benefits Committee raised $21,500 for the Southern Poverty Law Center during their meeting in Savannah, Georgia.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Committee raised awareness of and encouraged their conference attendees to volunteer for Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), the preeminent international nongovernmental organization devoted to the protection of unaccompanied and separated children. KIND envisions a world in which every unaccompanied child on the move has access to legal representation and has their rights and well-being protected as they migrate alone in search of safety.
The DLL and P&P Committees raised money for Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, a non-profit organization that collects, stores and distributes products to hundreds of feeding partners in the area, including food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters.
We applaud the outstanding charitable work of these Section Standing Committees!
One of the things I mentioned at the meetings I attended was all the great Section activities available for those looking to get more involved. Before we get swept into the busy summer months, this is a great time to consider whether there is an existing Section activity you might be interested in pursuing. Whether it’s writing articles, social media, podcasts, pro bono, or community service, there are many ways to get more involved, expand your professional network, and help us recruit the next generation of Section members. Please reach out if you’d like more information on how to get involved.
I also urge you to consider applying for one of the Section’s Fellowship Programs, Leadership Development Program or the Trial Institute. Details and application forms are available on the Section’s new website, which includes a ton of useful information and resources. I am hopeful that the improved format will help you navigate the content in a more productive manner.
I know these are uncertain times on a variety of fronts. And while uncertainty can be distracting, hopefully we can all find some support and forward-looking opportunities in our labor and employment law community. As we continue planning for our 19th Annual Section Conference in Denver (November 12–15, 2025), I look forward to connecting with more of you and learning about how the Section can be of service.
