The Tax Section has launched two initiatives to advance diversity and inclusion in the tax bar and the Section. The Loretta Collins Argrett Fellowship will provide historically underrepresented individuals more equitable and inclusive pathways for participation in the Section. The Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (JDEI) Fund seeks to provide long-term funding for the Section’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, including the Argrett Fellowship.
Loretta Collins Argrett was the first Black staff member of the Joint Committee on Taxation, and was the first Black woman to hold a Justice Department position requiring Senate confirmation, serving as the Assistant Attorney General of the department’s Tax Division for six years. A longtime member of the Tax Section, Argrett was active in Section activities, including on committees and as a Council member. A more detailed biography is available on the Section website.
The Loretta Collins Argrett Fellowship is a three-year program open to any individual with a diverse background and/or a demonstrated commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the tax bar. The Section aspires to award up to five Fellowships each fiscal year. Applications for the inaugural class of Fellows are due by Sunday, April 3, 2022. Please help us by sharing information about the Fellowship with your networks and colleagues. Further details, including the application, are available on the Section website.
The JDEI Fund seeks to provide stable, long-term funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the Tax Section. Donations to the fund will provide financial support primarily for the new Fellowship program and will allow the Tax Section to provide more equitable access to the Tax Section and the tax profession. Donations are tax-deductible within the limits of the law. Further information is available on the Section website, and donations may be made at ambar.org/donatejdei.
“I am delighted to announce the launch of the Loretta Collins Argrett Fellowship and the creation of the JDEI Fund,” said Section chair Julie Divola. “I hope you will consider becoming one of the founding contributors of the fund, to help us fulfill our mission of creating a more diverse, accessible, and inclusive Tax Section and tax bar. And I hope you will spread the word about this initiative.” ■