DEI Committee
By Dear Section Members,
As you know, I’ve identified a major goal for my chair year as being the establishment of a DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) committee within the Family Law Section. I’ve spoken with Ebony Bryant, who is the director of DEI for the NCBA, and she is excited to partner with us in this endeavor.
Diversity can mean different things to different people, but for this memo, I’ve defined it to encompass a demographic mix of a specific collection of people, taking into account elements of human difference, but focusing particularly on: racial and ethnic groups (including Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, Hispanic and Latinx individuals, African Americans and Black Americans, and Native Americans), people with disabilities, and individuals who identify as LGBTQ+.
The mission of this committee will be to foster a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the family law community in North Carolina, and to ensure that all family law attorneys feel included, respected, and supported by the Family Law Section and the NCBA.
The work of this committee will be defined by the committee, but could include:
- Planning social events and networking opportunities for members of underrepresented groups to connect.
- Ensuring that Family Law Council membership and leadership reflect the diversity of our entire community of family law attorneys in North Carolina.
- Establishing scholarship programs for law students and attorneys who are members of underrepresented groups.
- Creating CLE programming materials and presentations that are conducted by a diverse group of speakers and that include important topics related to DEI.
- Liaising with DEI Committees within other sections and with committees within the NCBA such as the Minorities in the Profession Committee and the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Committee (SOGI) to implement best practices with regard to achieving DEI goals within the Family Law Section.
I’m honored to have appointed two esteemed chairpersons of the DEI Committee for this year. They are Elysia Prendergast-Jones and Madison Root. Elysia and Madison have some excellent ideas for the DEI Committee’s inaugural year and are excited to work with the members of the committee and the Family Law Section as a whole. If you are interested in joining the DEI Committee, please reach out to Elysia and Madison.
Thank you in advance for your willingness to do this important work.
Jennifer S. Tharrington is the 2024-2025 chair of the Family Law Section.