Jul., 2011 - Mecklenburg County Bar

The MAP-Bar Celebrates Its First Year
By Mica L. Nguyen
“Welcome to the MAP-Bar!” This phrase
has been the resounding note from the
fledging organization in its first year of
inception. The Mecklenburg County Asian
Pacific American Bar (MAP-Bar) is a
networking resource for Asian Pacific
American (APA) lawyers in Mecklenburg
County and the surrounding areas. The MAP-
Bar welcomes attorneys with backgrounds
from Asia, Southeast Asia, India and the
Pacific Islands.
The MAP-Bar also has several law student
and affiliate members supportive of the
organization. Inclusive of its law student and
affiliate members, the MAP-Bar has more than
doubled its membership in its first year. The
MAP-Bar’s primary goal for its “early” years is
to formally establish the organization and
provide opportunities for APA lawyers to
connect with one another. In February 2011,
the MAP-Bar hosted a member social at Enso
Asian Bistro to celebrate the MAP-Bar’s first
year anniversary.
In its first year, the MAP-Bar has hosted
and co-sponsored several social events
including the Summer Associates Social in
July 2010 for law students spending their
summer in Charlotte. The MAP-Bar continues
to be supportive of the Charlotte Legal
Diversity Clerkship (CLDC) program that
welcomes minority students to premier law
firms and corporations in Charlotte for
summer associate positions.
Notably, the MAP-Bar has also partnered
with the Charlotte School of Law’s newlyformed
Asian Pacific American Law Student
Association (APALSA). Members of the MAP-
Bar participated in a Pro Bono Panel discussion
with the new APALSA members in October
2010. The MAP-Bar members are highly
supportive of the students’ organization.
In December 2010, the MAP-Bar members
also participated in a member survey to
address concerns and discuss ideas and
suggestions for the next year. The members
emphasized their desire for the MAP-Bar to
become a tool for the advancement of
diversity in the local legal community, as well
as to give back to the Asian community in
Mecklenburg and the surrounding areas. The
MAP-Bar endeavors to meet these goals and
assist in developing Mecklenburg (and the
surrounding counties) into an attractive
community for APA lawyers and residents.
To learn more about the MAP-Bar or to
request membership, please contact Mica L.
Nguyen at mnguyen@cshlaw.com or visit us at
www.map-bar.com.
The Bar Leadership Institute Committee
By Aretha V. Blake, Chair
This year has been a successful one for the
joint MCB/MBF Bar Leadership Institute
Committee. After a brief hiatus, the Bar
Leadership Institute (BLI) introduced a
reformatted program structure with an
increased focus on individual leadership
development and leadership opportunities
within the MCB and MBF. In addition, to
ensure that the BLI was accessible to all
members of the Bar, the program registration
fee was reduced by over 40%.
The BLI Class of 2011 is comprised of 20
dynamic and diverse participants who practice
in large, mid-sized and small firms, represent
government and municipal agencies, provide
public service through legal service
organizations, and practice in a corporate law
department. Over the past three months, the
BLI Class evaluated their personal leadership
styles, strengths and areas of development. In
addition, the BLI Class participated in a series
of sessions featuring leaders in the legal and
civic community, including Judge Rickye
McKoy-Mitchell, John Lassiter, Mark Merritt,
Jane McIntyre (United Way), Dr. Tom Hanchett
(Levine Museum), DeWitt F. McCarley, Robert
C. Dortch, Jr. and Debra Campbell (City of
Charlotte). In addition, for the first time, the
BLI curriculum included a session addressing
diversity, inclusion and equity, which was presented
by Octavia Seawell and Edna Norwood,
facilitators of the Community Building
Initiative’s Leadership Development Initiative.
The impact of the BLI is tremendous. The
program has graduated more than 160
members of the MCB, most of whom have
gone on to become involved in the many
committees and sections of the MCB and
many of whom have held leadership positions
within the MCB and MBF. The BLI Class of
2011 will, no doubt, be just as active and
involved as past program participants and
have already committed to plan and
implement a project during fiscal year 2012 to
increase the MCB’s involvement with
Mecklenburg’s Spanish-speaking community.
In the weeks to come, please join the BLI
Committee and the leadership of the MCB
and MBF in congratulating the newest
graduates of the BLI!
Michael Anderson, Johnston,
Allison & Hord, P.A.
Tania Archer, Moore & Van Allen, PLLC
John Bowers, Horack Talley Pharr
& Lowndes PA
Jon Carroll, James, McElroy & Diehl, P.A.
Joshua Davey, McGuireWoods LLP
Sarah DiFranco, Poyner Spruill, LLP
William Esser, Parker Poe Adams
& Bernstein LLP
Faith Fickling, Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc.
Rebecca Lindahl, Katten Muchin
Rosenman LLP
Hannah Little, Garfinkel Immigration
Law Firm
Brandon Lofton, Robinson, Bradshaw
& Hinson, P.A.
Michael Navarro, The Law Office of Michael
E. Navarro, PLLC
Gretchen Nelli, City of Charlotte
Andrew Nesbitt, Nesbitt Law PLLC
Kristen Northrup, Mecklenburg County
District Attorney's Office
Lindsay Peed, Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak
& Stewart, P.C.
Vaughn Reynolds, Hunton & Williams LLP
Sarah Stone, Womble Carlyle Sandridge
& Rice PLLC
Katherine Tenfelde, Robinson Elliott & Smith
Janice Tucker, Wells Fargo
www.MeckBar.org July 2011
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