CCIE is  planning exciting new programs for the annual Rocky Mountain Legal Diversity Summit to be held on March 16, 2010 at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. We are pleased to feature a number of national and local speakers, including Dr. Arin Reeves, The Athens Group (Chicago), and speakers from Catalyst (New York).  This year's conference will feature three strands of workshops focused on: Diversity and Inclusiveness, Balanced Hours Programs, and Diversity Training.  To read more about the conference click here or to register click here.

CCIE recently received funding from Miller Coors and the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado.  The grants will help with the completion and launch of CCIE's innovative manual, Beyond Diversity: Inclusiveness in the Legal Workplace (forthcoming 2010).  The Gay & Lesbian Fund grant includes a matching component which will double donations to CCIE, as every dollar donated, up to $5,000, will be matched by the Gay & Lesbian Fund.  Please consider donating today and maximizing your 2010 contribution to CCIE.

 

The Colorado Hispanic Bar Association recently submitted a bid to host the 2011 National Hispanic Bar Association Conference in  Denver.  While the 2011 conference bid went to Dallas, the Colorado presentation was so impressive that the Board voted immediately to grant Denver the 2013 Annual Convention.  Congratulations to CHBA.  To download the  video, follow this link.

A group of local attorneys, state representatives, and advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality recently hosted a free CLE event about changes in Colorado law over the past few years that expand protections for LGBT Coloradans.  The CLE was focused on changes in employment law, housing and public accommodations laws, and hate crimes protections.  Panelists also discussed Colorado's recent passage of a designated beneficiary law, which allows any two unmarried individuals to create a relationship the state will recognize in regards to a number of interests, including estate planning.  Panelists for the CLE included the Hon. State Senator Pat Steadman, Steven Chavez, Director of the Colorado Civil Rights Division, Kim Willoughby, Willoughby & Eckelberry, LLP, Mindy Barton, Legal Director of the Colorado GLBT Community Center, and Katina Banks, Dorsey & Whitney, LLP.  Co-hosts for the event included: the Colorado Campaign for Inclusive Excellence, Sam Cary Bar Assocation, Colorado GLBT Bar Association, Colorado Hispanic Bar Association, Asian Pacific American Bar Association, and the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.  The event sponsors included Lambda Legal and the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado.  This  workshop will be repeated at the 2010 Rocky Mountain Legal Diversity Summit as part of the Diversity and Inclusiveness Strand of workshops.

An article in the latest Utah Bar Journal discusses the inability of the legal profession to grow into the 21st Century.  The author calls upon legal professionals to recognize the racial and gender disparity prevalent in legal organizations and to take action by instituting diversity and inclusiveness plans. 

 

The third session of CCIE's year-long Inclusive Excellence Leadership Series for DU law students is scheduled for January 12, 2010 and will focus on micro-inequities. Contact Patty Powell, CCIE Board Member and IELS Coordinator, for more information.

The Colorado Chapter of the Association for Corporate Counsel is hosting a diversity CLE program on January 20, 2010 at 12:00 pm at the Cool River Cafe in the Denver Tech Center. Contact Ileana Aquinis for more information. Click here for event flyer.

 

The Colorado Hispanic Bar Association is hosting its Annual Banquet & Membership Meeting on Saturday, January 30, 2010.  Click here for more information about tickets or contact Damian Arguello, President-Elect.

 

 

CCIE and Qwest Communications will be hosting an upcoming networking event to bring together the speciality bars and the local diverse chambers of commerce.  Please join us on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at Qwest (1801 California St, Floor 13) from 5 to 7 p.m.  For more information please contact Kathleen Nalty.  Click here for more information.

 

The Retention Working Group meets on January 12, 2010 at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck at 410 17th Street, Suite 2200 at 4 p.m.  New members are welcome to join.  Contact co-chair June Laird for more information.

 

The Recruiting Working Group will be meeting the following day, January 13th at Patton Boggs at 1801 California Street Suite 4900, at 4 p.m.  New members are also welcome to join the recruiting group.  Contact co-chair Carolyn McIntosh for more information. 

 

CCIE recently hired Meg Satrom as its Marketing Director to assist in development of marketing strategies and materials.  Meg received her B.A. from the University of Denver, her M.F.A. from the University of Iowa, and will receive her J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in May 2010.  Meg previously worked at the Gill Foundation, a nonprofit based in Denver, which is focused on improving the lives of LGBT people throughout the country.  In this position, Meg worked closely with the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado, a program of the Gill Foundation.  During her law school career, Meg was a research assistant to Professor Catherine Smith, working on issues dealing with critical race theory.