10th Annual CELA/FAIR Virtual Diversity Leadership Summit

Empowering Attorneys to Fight Against Hate: A Two-Part Roundtable Discussion Addressing the Rising Tide of Hate and Violence Against AAPIs and What We Can Do as Employment Attorneys to Combat Racism 

Summary: As coronavirus cases began to climb in the spring of 2020, so did incidents of anti-Asian harassment and violence.  As employment attorneys, we play a special role in shaping the dialogue on race and the laws that are used to combat systemic racism. Part 1 of the virtual roundtable discussion will include a panel of academics and activists discussing the complications giving rise to AAPI hate incidents, including the so-called model minority myth, which has been used as a racial wedge to deflect attention away from institutional racism, and the treatment of Asian Americans as perpetual foreigners. Part 2 of the virtual discussion will focus on solutions and ways to implement change through the practice of law and legislation, featuring employment attorneys from both sides of the bar and other experts in the field.  The event will follow with an interactive networking session, featuring plaintiff’s and defense attorneys discussing their career paths and activism.  

Date and time: June 3, 2021 between 1 to 4 p.m. 

Registration: FREE, but RSVP required. Click on blue Register Now button.

Schedule:
1:00-1:05pm: Intro to CELA & Summit
1:05-2:00pm: Panel 1 (55 min)
2:00-2:10pm: Break
2:10-3:05pm: Panel 2 (55 min)
3:05-3:15pm: Break
3:15-4:00pm: Networking Session (45 min)

Panel 1 - The Issues: Examining Anti-Asian Hate   
Part 1 of the roundtable discussion will include a panel of academics and activists discussing the complications giving rise to AAPI hate incidents, including the so-called model minority myth, which has been used as a racial wedge to deflect attention from away from institutional racism, and the treatment of Asian Americans as perpetual foreigners.

Moderator:
Lisa Mak, Attorney, Minami Tamaki LLP

Speakers:
Professor Russell Jeung, Co-Founder of Stop AAPI Hate, Professor of Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University
Angela Oh, Mediator
Michael Thomas, Principal, Jackson Lewis

Panel 2 – The Solutions: Overcoming Racism and Hate  
Part 2 of the discussion will focus on solutions and ways to implement change through the practice of law and legislation, featuring employment attorneys from both sides of the bar and other experts in the field.  

Moderator:
Lisa Mak, Attorney, Minami Tamaki LLP

Speakers:
Beatrice Nunez Bellamy, Attorney, Davis Wright Tremaine
Sandy Roxas, Attorney, Roxas Law 
Mariko Yoshihara, Legislative Counsel & Policy Director, CELA

ABOUT:
The California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA) and the Foundation for Advocacy Inclusion & Resources (FAIR) are pleased to present this year's Diversity Leadership Summit. This annual Summit is geared towards diverse law students and attorneys in the employment space who want to develop their leadership skills, increase diversity in the profession, and make a difference through their work. The event is open to and includes both plaintiff and defense bar attorneys, government and public interest attorneys, and law students. The Summit is free of charge and includes MCLE credit (pending) and written materials.