Johnita Due, Senior Counsel for CNN and Cynthia Everett, City Attorney for City of Fort Lauderdale are amoung some of the keynote speakers.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROLLING OUT

Staff Report

MANALAPAN, Fla. – Women who answer the call to serve in the legal profession accept that charge with eyes wide open. They understand that in times of peril and uncertainty, they are expected to lead, to aid, to guide and to care. Black women lawyers answer that call with passion and commitment despite the attendant challenges.

Recently, a group of black women lawyers began a listening tour, collecting stories and anecdotes from women lawyers across Florida. It quickly became clear that women who serve, also need support, guidance and encouragement. Importantly, they desire to be connected with other servant leaders for both professional and personal growth.

As a response to these conversations, the Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association (GSCBWLA) has joined with a number of associations to host the inaugural Florida Women Lawyers of Color Leadership Summit at the Eau Palm Beach Resort and Spa July 14-16.

During this leadership retreat, attendees hailing from the Panhandles to the Keys will broaden their network and contribute to critical conversations. The main thrust of the summit will be building an empowered statewide organization of black women lawyers.

In addition, the summit will also cover strategies for interrupting implicit bias and the confidence gap; effective use of networks to build business; eschewing the Superwoman Syndrome to improve work/life flow; as well as opportunities for women of color to successfully run for public office.

The keynote speaker, Johnita Due, Senior Counsel for CNN, will be joined by presenters: Cynthia Everett, City Attorney for City of Fort Lauderdale; Jocelyn Carter-Miller, President of Tech EdVentures; The Honorable Ilona Holmes; Johane Domersant, Assistant General Counsel at Ryder System; Juliet Roulhac, FPL Government Relations and Regional External Affairs Executive; Darlene Quashie Henry, Senior Attorney for United Technologies; Sen. Arthenia Joyner (retired); Melba Pearson, Deputy Director of ACLU of Florida and many others.

GSCBWLA’s mission is to address the legal, social, and economic concerns of women lawyers, the Black community, and the community-at-large.

For more information, visit gscbwla.org or the contact organizers at info@gscbwla.org.