In light of the recent surge in anti-Asian violence across the country, a group of Fortune 1000 General Counsel and over 40 law firms announced the creation of The Alliance for Asian American Justice ("The Alliance"), a national pro bono initiative committed to standing up for victims, and preventing future acts, of anti-Asian hate. The Alliance will coordinate and drive law firm pro bono resources on behalf of victims to assist and support them in obtaining legal remedies, including bringing lawsuits to seek compensatory and other civil remedies, or working with law enforcement to ensure perpetuators are held accountable, when appropriate.

NAPABA, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, and other frontline legal and community organizations will perform the initial intake with victims and refer them to the Alliance. MNAPABA member Don H. Liu (Executive Vice President and Chief Legal & Risk Officer of Target) will serve on The Alliance's Board of Directors, as Founding Advisory Board Member. Congratulations, Don!

For more information about The Alliance, please click here.

NAPABA has engaged with the White House and the U.S. Department of Justice to help combat the rise in anti-Asian bigotry currently plaguing the country. To that end, NAPABA President A.B. Cruz III will present at this May 4 event hosted by the Attorney General Alliance and led by the Honorable William Tong (Attorney General of Connecticut) and the Honorable Karl Racine (Attorney General of the District of Columbia). Topics will include creating a skillset toolbox to empower participants to stand up to hate with the goal of empowering policymakers, advocacy, business, and legal communities in the identification and circumscription of AAPI hate. For more information, please click here. No registration is necessary; the virtual broadcast link is available here.

Twin Cities Diversity in Practice (TCDIP)'s Wanton Injustice Legal Detail (WILD) is seeking volunteers from TCDIP member organizations to assist the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR) Investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department. The MDHR launched its investigation on June 1, 2020 following the death of George Floyd.

Volunteers are needed to: (1) conduct outreach about the project, and (2) interview individual participants about their experience with the Minneapolis Police Department. Interviews will be conducted from May 1 to May 31 (training is available for those conducting interviews). For more information or to serve as a volunteer for either initiative, please click here. 

TCDIP and WILD will be hosting a kickoff meeting about this project on April 20, at 9:00 am. Please contact events@diversityinpractice.org with any questions.

The Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA)'s Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is facilitating an open listening/support session for legal professionals adversely affected by the ongoing Derek Chauvin trial and the recent Daunte Wright killing. This support session is intended to be a safe and open space where members can share, listen, support, and acknowledge those experiencing trauma, pain, fatigue, and emotional distress, especially members of color. This event is co-sponsored by Twin Cities Diversity in Practice and Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, and conducted in partnership with the Hennepin County Bar Association and the Ramsey County Bar Association.

The April 15 event is open to all, while the April 16 event is specifically for BIPOC professionals.

No registration is necessary; simply join this Zoom link.

CAPI USA (formerly known as The Centre for Asian and Pacific Islanders) is organizing with the Cross of Glory Lutheran Church to distribute food and supply for residents in Brooklyn Center. Items needed include: toilet paper, laundry detergent, diapers, wipes, baby formula, feminine hygiene products, bath soap, canned goods, rice, pasta, and beans. For more information, please click here. 

The Leadership Institute for Women of Color Attorneys (LIWOCA) is hosting its 16h annual conference virtually in a series of webinars beginning April 15, with roundtable and panel discussions and a virtual networking event with various general counsels. Topics include implicit bias, career counseling and coaching, imposter syndrome, young professionals, and breaking the glass ceiling. For more information or to register, please click here.

LIWOCA is a national organization dedicated to providing a community within the practice of law for women of color attorneys through educational and networking opportunities.

The Binger Center for New Americans, the Coalition of Asian American Leaders, and the Asian Pacific American Law Students Associations at the University of Minnesota, St. Thomas, and Mitchell-Hamline are hosting an open-forum session to allow space for healing and reflection in the wake of anti-Asian hate crimes. Panelists include acclaimed poet Sun Yung Shin (Author of Unbearable Splendor); gender, sexuality, and Asian-American history scholar Professor Jigna Desai (University of Minnesota); and MJ Carpio (Coalition of Asian American Leaders).  For more information or to register, please click here.

Together, TEKsystems, Best Buy and the NAAAP Minnesota Chapter are proud to host the virtual Asian American Leadership Summit (AALS). AALS aspires to build the next generation of leaders through authentic relationships, focused leadership development and a space to share knowledge and talent.

Join us through a series of four sessions to meet and learn from diverse leaders and hear a range of perspectives, ideas and conversations focused on Asian experiences, stories and career paths. Together, we’ll create meaningful dialogue that explores how to thoughtfully progress toward a more included and empowered culture for our Asian professional community and beyond."

Registration link: http://go.teksystems.com/aals2021

The Minnesota State Bar Association's (MSBA) Bench & Bar publication is seeking submission of ideas around practicing and forging careers in law. One of Bench & Bar's top goals for 2021 is to bring a more diverse group of authors to the magazine to make equity a focus. Please contact Steve Perry (sperry@mnbars.org) if you have ideas or questions, or would like to arrange a time to talk.

The Hennepin County Bar Association (HCBA) is seeking applications for several leadership opportunities for its various committees, with the goal of seeing increased representation from historically marginalized communities in these roles. For more information or to apply, please click here.