About BWLA

Our History

Founded in 1987, the Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago, Inc. (“BWLA”) is one of the fastest growing bar associations in Illinois. BWLA is representative of African-American female attorneys, judges, law professors and law students in the Chicago metropolitan area and across the Midwest. BWLA is committed to serving our membership, the greater legal community and the general public through educational programs, mentoring/networking opportunities, community outreach, scholarship awards to law students and various educational pipeline programs and initiatives. BWLA has recognized and rewarded notable African-American women attorneys and other civic leaders for their achievements and contributions to the legal community and society.
Despite the hard-won achievements of some, barriers still exist for African-American women lawyers. African-American female lawyers still face the challenges brought on by the intersection of race and gender, including professional isolation, pay inequities, sexual harassment, and the glass ceiling. BWLA has been diligent and uncompromising in its commitment to addressing important issues that affect the lives of minority practitioners in the profession.

BWLA is committed to promoting excellence in the profession and encouraging the inclusion of African-American attorneys in law firms, the judiciary, governmental agencies and corporations. BWLA recognizes that we live in an America that does not always embrace our differences. It is with this recognition that BWLA has committed its time and resources to encourage programming that supports diversity.

Drawing upon the expertise and backgrounds of its membership, BWLA has developed programs and workshops to advance and assist African-American female lawyers in public and private practice, the judiciary and academia. Through building coalitions with other organizations, BWLA not only aims to address and combat the challenges that African-American female lawyers face in the profession, but through its programming and diversity initiatives, BWLA also brings about positive change in the legal workplace.

Our Motto

Since its inception in 1987, BWLA’s mission has been clear:

  • To identify and address issues unique to African-American women lawyers, judges and those in academia.
  • To improve the administration of justice by increasing the participation of African-American women and other minorities throughout the legal system.
  • To advance civil and human rights.

Officers & Committees

President

Era Laudermilk

Chief of Staff
Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender

Vice President

Renai Rodney

Counsel
Ropes & Gray LLP

Parliamentarian

Maggie Mendenhall Casey

General Counsel
City of Chicago Community Commission for Public Safety & Accountability

Treasurer

Alichia McIntosh

Associate
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Recording Secretary

Jeneé Gaskin

Associate
Littler

Corresponding Secretary

Joan A. Akalaonu

Associate
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

Board Member
at Large

S. Mayumi "Umi" Grigsby

Chief of Policy
City of Chicago

Board Member
at Large

Kina Arnold

Attorney and Assistant Public Guardian
Cook County Public Guardian

Board Member
at Large

Shannon Stokes

State of IL Deputy General Counsel/Ethics Officers
Illinois Healthcare & Family Services

Board Member
at Large

Weeya Young

Assistant General Counsel, Procurement and Medical Delivery Systems
Illinois Healthcare & Family Services


Ex-Officio

Elsa Andrianifahanana

Partner
Jones Day

Annual Spring Fundraiser Committee

Co Chair Amanda Brown
Co Chair Jenee’ Gaskin
Co Chair Weeya Young

Community Service & Outreach Committee

Tameshia Martin
 Co Chair/Board Member Liaison (Ashley Varnado)

Corporate Counsel Committee

Daynor Carman
Lora Whitticker
Board Member Liaison (Kenyatta Beverly)

Firm Life

Elsa Andrianifahanana

Government Services Committee

Natalie Howse
Natasha Jenkins
Board Member Liaison (Kina Arnold)

Judicial Evaluation Committee

Demitrus Evans
Natalie Ellis
La Rufus Mitchell
 Board Member Liaison (Weeya Young)

Law Student Outreach Committee

Board Member Liaison (Shannon Stokes)

Member Services Committee

Kina Arnold
Christian Conway
Board Member Liaison (Ashley Varnado)

Roundtable Committee 

Jordan Matthews
Ashley Starks
Board Member Liaison (Ashley Varnado)

Social Media Committee

Samya Abdela
Board Member Liaison (Carrera Thibodeaux)

Social Networking Committee

Weeya Young

Solo/Small Firms Committee

Ashanti Rice Akiwowo
Ava George Stewart
 Board Member Liaison (Arielle Williams)

Street Law Committee

Kina Arnold
Tondalaya Lloyd
Board Member Liaison (Arielle Williams)

Young Lawyers Subcommittee

Jasmine Fannell
Alexis Slaughter
C. Padilla
Board Member Liaison (Kenyatta Beverly)

Annual Fundraiser Committee

Co Chair Amanda Brown Co Chair Jenee’ Gaskin Co Chair Weeya Young

Awards & Nominations Committee 

Mary Melchor
Ngozi Okorafor
 Board Member Liaison (Kina Arnold)

Career Services Committee

Maggie Mendenhall Casey
Leonore Carlson
Board Member Liaison (Weeya Young)

Civil Rights Action Committee

Alice Brathwaite
Co Chair/Board Member Liaison (Shannon Stokes)

Community Service & Outreach Committee

Tameshia Martin
 Co Chair/Board Member Liaison (Ashley Varnado)

Corporate Counsel Committee

Daynor Carman
Lora Whitticker
Board Member Liaison (Kenyatta Beverly)

Expungement & Sealing Committee

Michelle Glenn-Sieger
Co Chair/Board Member Liaison (Kenyatta Beverly)

Governance & Bylaws Committee

Board Member Liaison (Christian Conway)

Government Services Committee

Natalie Howse
Natasha Jenkins
Board Member Liaison (Kina Arnold)

Health and Wellness Committee

Jordan Matthews
Simone Randolph
Board Member Liaison (Kenyatta Beverly)

Judicial Evaluation Committee

Demitrus Evans
Natalie Ellis
La Rufus Mitchell
 Board Member Liaison (Weeya Young)

Judicial Reception Committee

Nakhia Crossley
Co Chair/Board Member Liaison (Elsa Andrianifahanana)

Law Student Outreach Committee

Board Member Liaison (Shannon Stokes)

Legislative and Advocacy Committee

Era Laudermilk
Board Member Liaison (Kalia Coleman)

Marketing & Communications Committee

Samya Abdela
Board Member Liaison (Era Laudermilk)

Member Services Committee

Kina Arnold
Christian Conway
Board Member Liaison (Ashley Varnado)

Mentoring Dinner Series Committee

Jasmine Fanell
Simone Jones
Merili Seale
Michelle Speller-Thurman
 Board Member Liaison (Shannon Stokes)

Progressives Committee

Mary Melchor
Judy Smith
Board Member Liaison (Kalia Coleman)

Roundtable Committee 

Jordan Matthews
Ashley Starks
Board Member Liaison (Ashley Varnado)

Social Media Committee

Samya Abdela
Board Member Liaison (Carrera Thibodeaux)

Solo/Small Firms Committee

Ashanti Rice Akiwowo
Ava George Stewart
 Board Member Liaison (Arielle Williams)

Street Law Committee

Kina Arnold
Tondalaya Lloyd
Board Member Liaison (Arielle Williams)

TEA Committee

Erica Kirkwood
Board Member Liaison (Elsa Andrianifahanana)

Young Lawyers Subcommittee

Jasmine Fannell
Alexis Slaughter
C. Padilla
Board Member Liaison (Kenyatta Beverly)

Past Presidents

NCrossley-Headshot-small-web

Nakhia C. Crossley

2021-2022

KBeverly-PastPres

Kenyatta Beverly

2020-2021

kalia-pastpres-small

Kalia Coleman

2019-2020

c-burns

Chastidy Burns

2018-2019

e-kirkwood

Erica Kirkwood

2017-2018

k-wright

Kenya Jenkins Wright

2016-2017

l-hunt

Hon. LaShonda A. Hunt

2015-2016

c-boyce

Chasity Boyce

2014-2015

t-harper-new

Tiffany Harper

2013-2014

n-okorafor-new2

Ngozi Okorafor

2012-2013

t-campbell

Tracy Ann Campbell

2011-2012

t-wilkes

Tonya Wilkes-Moore

2010-2011

s-blackwell

Ashanta A. Blackwell-Evans

2009-2010

mm

Mary Melchor

2008-2009

d-capers

Dorothy G. Capers

2007-2008

n-hudson-new

Nathalina A. Hudson

2006-2007

LELA-D-JOHNSON

Lela D. Johnson

2005-2006

s-jones-new

Sharon Jones

2004-2005

z-scott-new

Zaldwaynaka L. Scott

2003-2004

HON-SYBIL-C-THOMAS

Hon. Sybil C. Thomas

2001-2003

p-reed

Hon. Patrice Ball-Reed

1999-2001

m-kerman

Marsha Moseley-Kerman

1998-1999

p-holmes

Hon. Patricia Brown Holmes

1997-1998

YVONNE-OWENS

Yvonne Owens

1996-1997

r-shoffner

Hon. Robin Shoffner

1995-1996

VEDA-BRITT-HANDY

Veda Britt-Handy

1993-1995

MERCEDES-A-LAING

Mercedes A. Laing

1990-1993

O-Scott

Obyrietta Gammet Scott

1989-1990

W-MUZETTE-HILL

W. Muzette Hill Stallings

1988-1989

ErtharinCousin

Ertharin Cousin

1987-1988

Founders

ErtharinCousin

Ertharin Cousin

VEDA-BRITT-HANDY

Veda Britt-Handy

p-holmes

Hon. Patricia Brown Holmes

s-jones-new

Sharon Jones

Cecilia_Mowatt

Cecilia Mowatt

p-reed

Hon. Patrice Ball-Reed

O-Scott

Obyrietta Gammet Scott

W-MUZETTE-HILL

W. Muzette Hill Stallings

a-williams

Judge Ann Claire Williams (Retired)

Lifetime Members

F.ALLGAIER

Fraline Allgaier

no-pic

Valerie Bomar

c-boyce

Chasity Boyce

campbell

LaQuietta Hardy-Campbell

d-capers

Dorothy G. Capers

clark

Violet M. Clark

no-pic

Tiffany Ferguson

p-holmes

Hon. Patricia Brown Holmes (Retired)

t-harper-new

Tiffany Harper

Hubbard

Hon. Arnette Hubbard

LELA-D-JOHNSON

Lela D. Johnson

no-pic

Johnette Simone Jones

logan

Amanda Toney Logan

mm

Mary Melchor

Moseley

Marsha Moseley

AnnePhillip

Danielle Anne Phillip

p-reed

Hon. Patrice Ball-Reed

robinson

Lauren Robinson

z-scott-new

Zaldwaynaka L. Scott

senat

Anastasie Senat

stein

Sylvia Stein

Weathersby

Vanessa Weathersby

Hon. Andrea R. Wood

yellen

Leslie Richards-Yellen

zopp

Andrea Zopp