Neurodiversity & the Law, addressed the tools that listeners can use to work alongside neurodiverse people, and the important legal components involved, including ADA accommodations. Neurodiversity, is a concept about differences in the brain, that cause people to interact with the world around them in a variety of ways including in the ways people socialize, learn, and perform various mental tasks. Speakers were Gary Lesser, President, Florida Bar; Michael Alessandri, Ph.D., Executive Director of the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities; Gary A. Costales, Costales Law, Labor and Employment Attorney; Raquel Regalado, Commissioner, Miami-Dade County District 7, and William E. Pelham, Jr., Ph.D., Director of the Center for Children and Families at Florida International University. From GT, GT Real Estate and Land Use Shareholder Iris Escarra and GT Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Debra Sydnor.

How Equal Justice Works Fellows Transform the Legal System for Marginalized Communities – Part one. Attendees were invited to hear from former and current EJW Fellows about how they have turned their passion for community change and empowerment into successful careers advocating for the marginalized and underserved. Program one focused on the laws meant to educate and protect students with disabilities; how and why some states and localities at times fail to comply with these laws; and how non-profit lawyers advocate for this vulnerable population. Speakers were Matthew Lenaghan Deputy Director, Advocates for Children of New York; former EJW Fellow; Ericka Sanchez Executive Director, Foundation for Those with Special Needs, former EJW Fellow; and Claire Nilsen Blumenson Executive Director & Co-Founder, School Justice Project, former EJW Fellow. From GT, Pro Bono Chair Caroline J. Heller provided introductions and Global Pro Bono Program Manager Elba B. Gutiérrez, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Manager Rita M. Treadwell co-moderated.

June 2, 2021

A “Look Back”: A Year Since George Floyd with keynote speaker Juliette Pryor, Executive Vice President, Corporate Secretary and General Counsel, Albertsons Companies, talked about her experiences individually and as a leader in the past year since George Floyd’s death in the midst of a pandemic, where we “go” from here to achieve equity, and discuss what challenges might lay ahead. 

May 27, 2021

The Rise of Anti-Asian Sentiment and How to Impact Change, an Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month Conversation with special guests Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY 6th District); and A.B. Cruz, III, President of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA); and GT attorneys Chinh H. Pham, Shareholder and Co-Chair, Asian American Affinity Group; and Sandy Chiu, Law Clerk/JD Intellectual Property & Technology, addressed the rise of Anti-Asian sentiment, how to impact change, and the importance of participation from Asian Americans in government.

March 3, 2021

How Inclusion Powers the Economy with Raphael Bostic, President & CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta shared how organizations and their leaders can participate in the betterment of communities and businesses through the promotion of equality and opportunity. Attendees gained a deeper understanding of how inclusion impacts the economy and why it is good for business. 

Feb. 10, 2021

Allyship in Black and White moderated by Charlton Copeland, Professor of Law & Dean's Distinguished Scholar at the University of Miami School of Law, with GT attorneys, Laurie Gildan, Shareholder Real Estate; Glenn Meier, Of Counsel Litigation; and Michael Nicodema, Shareholder Litigation, shared personal experiences of allyship and discussed how individuals from majority groups can be allies for marginalized or underrepresented persons. 

Jan. 14, 2021

Taking Action on Criminal Justice Reform was a follow up to GT’s earlier program in which GT attorney, Karen Kennard, courageously shared the personal story of her family’s experience with the criminal justice system when her oldest brother, Tim Cole was wrongly convicted of a crime. Bobby Harris, President/CEO Unincarcerated Minds Inc.; and Caroline Heller, Shareholder and Global Pro Bono Program Chair Litigation, joined Karen for a roundtable discussion on criminal justice reform and actions anyone can take to create lasting impact, regardless of their background. 

Oct. 27, 2020

GT attorney Karen Kennard, Shareholder Governmental Law & Policy, discussed Criminal Justice reform and the profound impact it has had on her and her family. Her oldest brother, Tim Cole, was the first person in Texas to receive a posthumous exoneration and posthumous pardon. The Texas exoneration compensation system and the Texas Innocence Commission are named in his honor.