HCBA Lawyer Magazine Vol. 29, No. 1 | Page 43

HoW do i get inVolVed? Join tHe HCBA diVersitY CoMMittee! Diversity committee Chairs: Marsha M. Moses – Law Offices of Kubicki Draper and Abraham Shakfeh – Shakfeh Law, LLC I f you are looking to become involved in the HCBA, but you don’t have a ton of extra time to commit, the HCBA Diversity Committee is the spot for you! Marsha Moses and Abraham Shakfeh are the incoming chairs for the 2018-2019 year and they need your help. The Diversity Committee helps organize key signature events for the HCBA, including the Diversity and Inclusion Membership Luncheon, the Annual Diversity Networking Social, and a Diversity Lunch and Learn (CLE). Maybe event planning is not your strong suit, but you enjoy writing. Well, the Diversity Committee needs volunteers to pen articles for the Committee in the magazine. No matter your strengths or the amount of time you have to give, the Diversity Committee welcomes you. So how can you help? The Diversity Committee typically meets once per month for lunch at the HCBA building, where we plan the events and seek input from committee members. The first signature event is the Diversity and Inclusion Membership Luncheon that will take place on January 9, 2019. The Diversity Committee has been honored to host Urszula Szczepinska from the Florida Holocaust Museum; Susana Mapu, FBI Special Agent from the Tampa Field Office; The Honorable SEPT - OCT 2018 | HCBA LAWYER the diversity Committee helps organize key signature events for the HCBA, including the diversity and inclusion Membership luncheon, the Annual diversity networking social, and a diversity lunch and learn (Cle). Bernice Donald from the U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit; and retired General Ann E. Dunwoody in the past. The Committee is already working hard to ensure this event will measure up to our past guests. You don’t want to miss it! Another signature event of the Diversity Committee is the Annual Diversity Networking Social on February 9, 2019. This event is your opportunity to showcase your firm and the Tampa Bay area to talented law students from across the state. The Committee was honored to host Justice C. Alan Lawson at last year’s event. Whether you would like to help organize or simply sponsor this unique event, mark your calendars and plan to join us. The Diversity Committee also organizes an Annual Diversity Lunch and Learn (CLE) that will be held in April 2019. We were privileged to host Devona Pierre, Ed.D. and Camille Blake, J.D. from the University of South Florida’s Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Equal Opportunity this past April. Their discussion about diversity and inclusion, how far we have come, and how far we have to go, was inspirational. And you get CLE credits? Yes! Let’s make this coming Bar year the best yet to come. Any and all HCBA members who are interested in participating in the Diversity Committee and helping plan our events may contact the committee chairs, Marsha Moses and Abraham Shakfeh, or Angie Harris, Programs Director, at the HCBA. Lastly, we would like to offer a special thanks to Timothy C. Martin and Victoria Oguntoye for their time, dedication, and leadership as outgoing chairs. We hope to carry on in the spirit of their example. Authors: Marsha M. Moses – Law Offices of Kubicki Draper and Abraham Shakfeh – Shakfeh Law, LLC 41