Joint Board Retreat

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NBLSA BOARD MEMBERS ARE FIRED UP FOR THE 2012-2013 ACADEMIC YEAR July 20, 2012 DETROIT, MI - The newly elected and appointed officers of the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) gathered together in Detroit the weekend of June 22nd to get fired up for the exciting plans that the organization has for law students of color in the coming academic year at their annual Joint Board Retreat.

Detroit is “ground zero for social change,” said Peter Hammer, the director of the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights at the Wayne State Law School, the site of this year’s retreat.

Hammer’s description made it significantly appropriate for the retreat participants to meet in Detroit as they invoke the Dr. Martin Luther King-inspired theme of “Enhancing the Dream” for the 2012-2013 academic school year.

2012 marks the seventh year of the Joint Board Retreat --- a weekend of networking, leadership training, and organizational development. Retreat activities began on Friday, June 22nd with an in depth radio interview on Detroit’s top rated morning talk show, Inside Detroit with host Mildred Gaddis on AM 1200 WCHB. Gaddis interviewed NBLSA Chair Kendra Brown and Attorney General Yvesner Zamar where they discussed the NBLSA organization and current legal affairs.

Following the interview, retreat attendees traveled to the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History, which houses the world's largest permanent exhibit on African American culture. NBLSA board members were able to explore the extensive exhibits of the African contribution to humanity, from the beginning of civilization to the election of President Barack Obama.

That evening, NBLSA hosted the NBLSA Alumni Reception where they were joined by local attorneys, judges and professors, which included distinguished NBLSA alumni Congressman John Conyers (D-MI), Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Denise Langford Morris, NBA Regional Director Allen Venable, former NBA Presidents Harold Pope and Reginald Turner, and Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Terrence J.L. Thompson, who served as the keynote speaker. Thompson delivered an impassioned address highlighting the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead for the City of Detroit and its educational system.

Saturday’s events included interactive and informative workshops, leadership training sessions, team-building activities, and an overview of the programming for the upcoming NBLSA term. Former NBLSA Chairs Theresa Cropper and Melinda Hightower, as well as Tanya Johnson of Perkins Coie were workshop facilitators. Felicia Johnson of Wayne State Law School served as the school contact and went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure attendees and workshops were well accommodated.

______________________________________________________________________ A highlight of the weekend was the inspiring speech from Keynote Speaker Congressman Hansen Clarke (D-MI), who issued a challenge to law students to work to make a difference and not focus on wealth as attorneys. He also spoke at length on the Student Loan Forgiveness Act of 2012, legislation the NBLSA executive board strongly supports which seeks to allow students to pay 10% of discretionary income for 10 years and have their additional debts forgiven. For additional information on the bill visit here.

The retreat culminated with the official swearing-in of the officers by the Honorable Damon J. Keith, a civil rights pioneer who, among others, worked alongside the late Justice Thurgood Marshall. The Joint Board Retreat served as a launching pad for the year and the leadership. The attendees were provided tools to move forward in their programmatic efforts in line with the NBLSA 2012-2013 theme of “Enhancing the Dream.� ###

Press Contact: David Stephen, 313-595-3978 National Director of Public Relations The National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) publicrelations@nblsa.org About The National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA): Founded in 1968, the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) is a national, non-profit organization created and designed to articulate and promote the professional needs and goals of Black law students; foster and encourage professional competence; focus upon the relationship of the Black attorney to the American legal system; instill in the Black attorney and law student a greater awareness of and commitment to the needs of the Black community; utilize member expertise to initiate a change within the legal system that will make it more responsive to the needs and concerns of the Black community; and do any and all things necessary and lawful in order to accomplish these goals.

NBLSA is the largest student-run organization in America and has approximately 200 chapters at law schools throughout the country. This represents almost every ABA accredited law school, plus several non-accredited law schools. These chapters represent nearly 6,000 Black law students in six regions that encompass 48 states including Hawaii and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Recently, NBLSA has established an international connection with Black law students in Canada, England, South Africa, and the Bahamas who have decided to model their student organizations after NBLSA.