Page 22 - Delaware Lawyer - Summer 2022

FEATURE | DIVERSITY AT DELAWARE LAW
As with any systems change within an organization, the burgeoning DEI program at Delaware Law will take time to develop and implement.
around educational disparities within our school systems, state and local com- munities, and legislative measures be- ing considered and debated; and high- lighted discussion topics included in the Choosing Equality book. Notably, one of the book’s co-authors, Professor Le- land Ware, was a panelist.
• Another program Delaware Law offered this past spring semester was a video viewing of the film Walk the Walk,16 followed by a facilitated breakout dis- cussion. Walk the Walk is a 30-minute video in which actors portray a diverse group of lawyers working at the same law firm. Many of the lawyers appear to be well-intended, but consciously or unconsciously, they say and do a lot of things that show a lack of sensitivity to their colleagues or reduce people to a stereotype. It is an engaging video that Delaware Law used to facilitate discus- sions on a range of DEI-relevant topics, including microaggressions, discrimina- tion in legal practice, sponsorship, lean- ing into discomfort while engaging in conversations on race, gender and LG- BTQ bias, and ways that law firms and law schools can create inclusive spaces, among other things. We had approxi- mately six to seven facilitated breakout sessions comprised of 10 to 15 students, faculty, staff and visiting attorneys per breakout.17 The DEI Committee and I received very positive feedback from students, faculty, staff, alumni and at- torneys as well as a request to continue this type of programming in the future.
Creating Learning Opportunities
There were a host of other internal programs and events throughout the year that brought awareness, engage- ment and challenge to Delaware Law, including Delaware Law’s participation in the 21-Day Racial Equity Habit- Building Challenge18 where all con- stituents were encouraged to “meet the challenge.”
In addition to the DEI Dean re-
content and present in three sessions for approximately 240 incoming 1Ls. I also participated in and helped facili- tate two sessions of a program called “Delaware Law Engages,” for which we used the book Choosing Equality: Essays and Narratives on the Desegrega- tion Experience by Professor Bob Hay- man of the Delaware Law School and Professor Leland Ware, Professor of African Studies and the Louis L. Redding Chair for the Study of Law and Public Policy at the University of Delaware.13 In those sessions, Professor Hayman presented a one-hour program with video segments by Professor Ware discussing equality issues, the impact of Brown v. Board of Education14 and the desegregation experience in Dela- ware — one of the four states whose segregated schools led to the famous Supreme Court opinion in 1954.
Beyond the 1L Orientation efforts, as a way to make DEI more visible around the law school campus, I launched a messag- ing campaign through email blasts, post- ers and bulletin boards that highlighted currentevents,scholarshipprograms,up- coming DEI-relevant holidays and aware- ness campaigns or days of observance, with links to resources. I believed doing so would increase awareness among Dela- ware Law constituents about certain cul- tures and issues among the minority and underrepresented groups in the commu- nity, foster a greater sense of inclusion and appreciation for diversity, and help create a higher sense of curiosity and openness to dialogue surrounding DEI.
Engaging Law Firms, Associations
Additionally, I actively sought out opportunities to partner with law firms, legal aid agencies and local bar associa- tions, including affinity bar associations. In doing so, I have begun to strengthen connections between Delaware Law and these organizations, as well as cre- ate greater interest and dialogue around ways we can support law students inter- ested in DEI and social justice work. I will share several examples of such en- gagement:
• At the Delaware Barristers As- sociation’s general body meeting in September 2021, the Barristers discussed initial plans for an upcom- ing public education seminar covering topics related to the re-segregation of Delaware public schools and disparate achievement gaps. This topic directly connected with the Choosing Equal- ity book and discussion selected for 1L Orientation and aligned with Delaware Law’s interest in sponsoring program- ming centered around the book and topic. Given that, I contacted the plan- ning chair, Emery Abel-Latif, about Delaware Law’s interest in supporting and sponsoring the program. After sev- eral meetings to coordinate planning and logistics, Delaware Law, in partner- ship with the Delaware Barristers and the Delaware chapter of the American Constitution Society, hosted the event locally.15 The event strengthened Dela- ware Law’s relationship with the two organizations; increased student and faculty awareness of the local issues
20 DELAWARE LAWYER SUMMER 2022