Diversity and Inclusion.

• Author: Simon, Nikki Lewis
• Position: Annual Reports of Committees of the Florida Bar: 2018-2019

This year, the committee on Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) continued to develop and implement a multitude of projects and programs to further its mission to increase diversity and inclusion in the Bar so that the Bar will reflect the demographics of the state, to develop opportunities for community involvement, and to make leadership roles within the profession and the Bar accessible to all attorneys.

The CDI administers the Diversity Leadership Grant Program, which provides funding to local and specialty bar associations for conferences, initiatives, and programs that encourage diversity, provide diversity training, and provide the opportunity for dialogue about diversity and inclusion issues in Florida. Vice Chair John Schifino led the team in partnership with more than 283 local and specialty bar associations, wherein all Bar funds budgeted for this program year were allocated and used to fund 24 diversity and inclusion programs around the state.

The Get Involved Subcommittee focused on building bridges and deepening connections with our colleagues. Vice Chair Katherine Scott directed this team and in doing so, established valuable partnerships with Florida Bar sections, divisions, and committees. Each of these groups appointed liaisons to serve on CDI to ensure we have an open, continuous, and consistent line of communication regarding issues of diversity and inclusion. CDI represented its mission and purpose by supporting and attending the Broward County Bar Association's South Florida Mentoring Picnic at C.B. Smith Park; the inaugural Palm Beach County Legal Diversity and Inclusion Summit; and the Central Florida Diversity and Inclusion Picnic held at Barry Law School in Orlando. Each of these opportunities represented cross-cultural collaborative efforts of dozens of voluntary bar associations and related organizations across the state.

The CDI's Law Pipeline School Subcommittee, under the leadership of Vice Chair Robert Saunooke, strategized to balance short- and long-term goals to impact younger students, including those in high school, as well as future and current law students. We expect the subcommittee to bring forward a plan by the end of the Bar year that will map out next year's goals.

This year the Multicultural Program Development Subcommittee, under Vice Chair Julian Jackson-Fannin, was tasked with revisiting and finalizing the "Bias-Motivated Took Kit," which was previously reviewed by the Bar's general counsel for...