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PURPOSE
The National Bar Association, Women Lawyers Division,
Philadelphia Chapter (WLD) was formed to address the
challenges to advancement in the legal profession faced by
women of color in the Philadelphia area, including minimized
opportunities to form networks and find mentors with similar
interests and backgrounds. While strides have been
made since 1927 when Sadie T. M. Alexander
became the first black woman to become a member of the
Pennsylvania Bar, the organization continues to be relevant
as women of color still find themselves facing unique
obstacles to career advancement in the legal profession.
The WLD continues its efforts in advancing diversity in the
city’s law schools, law firms and corporations through its
scholarship programs, continuing legal education seminars,
community service projects and networking opportunities.
MISSION STATEMENT
Recognizing that throughout
history, African-American women lawyers have made
substantial contributions to the legal profession, and that,
as African-American women lawyers, we have a special concern
for African-American women generally, the National Bar
Association, Women Lawyers Division, Philadelphia Chapter,
dedicates itself to continuing this tradition by creating an
environment which maintains professional competence and
integrity, providing a vehicle for increasing the number of
African American women lawyers, fostering personal and
business support networks, promoting entrepreneurial
ventures, and elevating African-American women lawyers into
strategic positions of power.
HISTORY
The National Bar Association
(NBA) was organized in 1925 to advance the science of
jurisprudence, to uphold the honor of the legal profession,
and to protect the civil and political rights of United
States citizens. The NBA is the oldest and largest
association of African-American attorneys and encompasses a
vast network of lawyers, jurists, scholars, and students.
The Women Lawyers Division
was formed as part of the NBA in 1972 and operates on a
national level with officers and a board of directors
representing African-American female attorneys across the
nation and on a local level through local affiliates.
The Philadelphia Chapter of the Women Lawyers Division was
formed in 1981 through the organizing efforts of Lydia Y.
Kirkland, Angela E. Nolan, and Beverly Williams.
African-American lawyers were “summoned” to appear at the
group’s first organizational meeting held on July 1, 1981,
at Temple University School of Law.
As an outgrowth of this effort the Program Planning
Committee was formed and charged with the responsibility of
formulating the structure and goals for the organization.
The members of the Program Planning Committee were
Jacqueline Allen, Joan Brown, Lydia Kirkland, Shawn Lacey,
Angela Nolan, Jean Purnell, Covette Rooney, Beverly
Williams, and Diane Wilson. On October 8, 1981, the Program
Planning Committee hosted the group’s first reception at the
University of Pennsylvania Law School as an effort to make
the local bar associations in general, and the
African-American legal community in particular, aware of its
organizing efforts and its proposed agenda.
The objectives of the WLD are:
· to assist in fostering and sustaining a viable presence
for African-American women attorneys throughout the
Philadelphia area;
· to provide aid to women of color in their efforts to
obtain legal education, bar admission and employment; and
· to foster interaction with other bar associations and to
recognize the efforts and achievements of members of the
legal community.
Since its founding, the WLD has been actively accomplishing
its objectives. One of our most important projects is the
Annual Scholarship Luncheon where Sadie T.M. Alexander Book
Fund Scholarships are awarded to law students from area law
schools. The annual banquet also affords us the opportunity
to publicly recognize a distinguished member of the bar
through presentation of the Doris May Harris Image Award.
We envision in the years ahead a continuing effort to make a
difference to our membership, our profession and our
community.
______________________________________
“Our chief want is someone who
will inspire us to be what we know we could be”
-- Marian Anderson
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1982-1984
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Beverly Townes
Williams, Esq.
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1984-1985
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Honorable Jacqueline
F. Allen
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1985-1986
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Tanya V. Deyo, Esq.
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1986-1987
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Sydney M. Avent, Esq.
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1987-1988
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Zenola Harper, Esq.
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1988-1989
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Honorable Renee
Cardwell Hughes
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1989-1990
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Sandra E. Brown, Esq.
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1990-1991
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Pamela Estwick, Esq.
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1991-1992
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Donna Campbell, Esq.
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1992-1993
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Cheryl Gaston, Esq.
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1993-1994
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Rhonda Hill Wilson,
Esq.
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1994-1995
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Priscilla Pearson,
Esq.
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1995-1996
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Claire Lomax, Esq.
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1996-1997
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Beverly Muldrow, Esq.
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1997-1998
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Lisa Evans, Esq.
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1998-1999
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Deborah Carroll, Esq.
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1999-2000
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Joyce Webb-Eubanks,
Esq.
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2000-2001
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Lynda Henry, Esq.
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2001-2002
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Wanda Flowers, Esq.
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2002-2003
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Zanetta Moore-Driggers,
Esq.
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2003-2004
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Angela Haynes, Esq.
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2004-2005
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Lucretia C. Clemons,
Esq.
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2005-2006
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Khadijah Scott, Esq.
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2006-2007
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Barbara Simmons, Esq.
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2007-2008
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Adiah Ferron, Esq.
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“Leadership should be born out of
the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by
it.”
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
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