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Welcome Home to the Minorities in the Profession Committee

Cherell, a Black woman with black hair, wears a red blouse and black blazer, and she is smiling.
Latisha, a Black woman with black hair, wears a light blue blouse and navy suit.
Cherell Harris & Latisha Newby

The Minorities in the Profession Committee (MIP) of the North Carolina Bar Association is pleased to welcome all members — returning and new — to an exciting new bar year. As we step into the 2026–2027 year, we are thrilled to introduce ourselves as co-chairs: Cherell Harris and Latisha Newby, two leaders who bring experience, vision and a deep commitment to advancing belonging for every attorney in this profession.

This year’s theme, Welcome Home, could not feel more fitting for the work ahead of us. Home isn’t just a place — it’s a feeling. It’s being known, being welcomed as your full authentic self and knowing there’s a seat waiting for you even when you’ve been away for a while. That is exactly the spirit we want every member, returning or brand new, to feel from MIP this year.

Meet Your Co-Chair: Cherell Harris

If you’ve spent any time around me, you already know that my story is a lesson in reinvention. Before I ever negotiated a contract as an attorney, I spent more than 25 years building a distinguished career in biotechnology and life sciences — leading complex initiatives across global companies and institutions like Merck, Bausch & Lomb, Hospira, and General Mills. That experience shaped the strategic, solutions-driven approach I now bring as Associate Counsel at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.

My path to the law was anything but traditional, and that’s exactly what makes it resonate. Driven by a long-held dream, I returned to law school as a working professional and a dedicated parent, earning my J.D. from North Carolina Central University School of Law’s evening program in 2019 — proof that purpose has no expiration date. My academic foundation runs deep: a Master’s in Chemical Engineering from North Carolina A&T, a B.S. in Chemistry from Spelman College, and credentials as both a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and a certified Project Management Professional.

Service has always been central to how I show up. Beyond my role with MIP, I hold leadership positions with the North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys, the Intellectual Property Committee, engage in pro bono work through the North Carolina Bar Foundation, serve in governance and board leadership with Fearless Brown Girls® and Telamon Corporation and serve as Treasurer of my local HOA. Originally from Brooklyn, New York, I’ve made the southeast home for most of my adult life, and I bring that same sense of home — of resilience, reinvention and leading by example — to everything I do for this committee.

This is my second year at the helm of MIP — co-chairs serve a two-year term — and as I stepped into this second year, I knew exactly who I wanted standing beside me. I asked my friend and colleague, Latisha Newby, to join me as co-chair, and I couldn’t be more excited that she said yes.

Meet Your Co-Chair: Latisha Newby

When Cherell asked me to step in as her co-chair, it was an easy yes. I’m Latisha Newby, an attorney, human resources executive, and founder of Cultivate HR Consulting, LLC. I currently serve as Chief People and Legal Officer for Girl Scouts — North Carolina Coastal Pines, where I provide strategic leadership across human resources, employment law, organizational risk and legal affairs. With more than 20 years of experience in human resources, I bring a unique perspective to the practice of law, shaped by years of working directly with leaders, employees and organizations to navigate complex workplace challenges.

I’m a proud graduate of North Carolina Central University School of Law, Villanova University and Walden University. Throughout my career, I’ve been committed to developing others and creating opportunities for professionals to grow and thrive — and that commitment is exactly what draws me to this work with MIP.

Serving this committee is especially meaningful to me because I believe strongly in the power of community and connection within the legal profession. As co-chair, I look forward to helping MIP continue to be a community where attorneys at every stage of their career can build genuine relationships, learn from one another, and feel welcomed, supported and engaged.

Together, Cherell and I could not be more excited to lead MIP into a new year of purpose.

Why This Year Matters

Over the past several years, we have watched too many talented attorneys of color quietly step away from the NCBA — not because they stopped caring about the profession, but because they didn’t always feel there was a place holding the door open for them. This year, our mission is simple, and it is personal: we want to bring those attorneys back into the fold, and we want to make sure that when they arrive, they find home waiting for them. Our Community Manager, Bianca Simmons, has been and will continue to be instrumental in how we manage our home.

MIP exists to be that home. We are building a committee that is a genuine source of support and a true safe space — first and foremost for attorneys of color navigating a profession that hasn’t always been built with them in mind, but ultimately for every attorney who is looking for community, mentorship and a place to belong within the NCBA. Whether you are a law student taking your first steps into the profession, a new attorney finding your footing, or a seasoned practitioner looking to give back, this is your community too. Welcome home.

Expanding How We Show Up for Our Members

This year, we are intentionally growing MIP’s programming so that membership means more than attending a meeting — it means real opportunities to grow, give back, and get involved. You can expect:

  • Leadership development opportunities designed to help our members build the skills and confidence to step into bigger roles — within their firms, within the NCBA and within their communities.
  • Pro bono opportunities that let our members put their legal skills to work in service of the communities that need them most.
  • New ways to get involved locally, so members can connect with MIP’s mission in the towns and cities where they live and practice — not just at statewide events.

We believe that when attorneys of color are supported, mentored and given real avenues to lead, the entire legal profession in North Carolina becomes stronger and more reflective of the communities it serves.

Join Us

This is your invitation to come home — whether you’re returning after time away or walking through MIP’s door for the first time. Stay tuned for details on our first committee meeting of the year, along with upcoming events and volunteer opportunities. Bring your ideas, bring your energy and help us shape a more inclusive legal profession in North Carolina.

Our first meeting will be a Homecoming Reception on September 18th at 4 p.m. at the Bar Center. We look forward to seeing your face in the place!