2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing and protecting women’s constitutional right to vote. The passage marked the largest expansion of democracy in the history of our country. This panel will explore the history of the civil rights campaign for women’s suffrage and the passage of the 19th Amendment, as well as its relevance to modern voting rights, equal protection, and gender and AAPI equality issues. This panel will also educate our audience about current voter protection efforts to promote the full and equal exercise of the right to vote and to participate in our democracy.

This plenary session was presented at the 2020 NAPABA Convention | Virtual Experience, Nov. 4-7, 2020.

The killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless other Black victims have laid bare the culture of systemic racism, which is supported by a persistent and sizeable percent of our nation harboring bigoted and intolerant views. Consequently, past wrongs and inequalities have entered the mainstream consciousness and there is heightened public awareness and activism to create an opportunity for social change not seen since the days of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. As the nation addresses the historic injustices against communities of color—particularly against Black communities— AAPIs can play an important role in allyship with the Black community in changing hearts and minds to address systemic racism.

This plenary session was presented at the 2020 NAPABA Convention | Virtual Experience, Nov. 4-7, 2020.

Diversity and inclusion has been a focus of the legal profession for decades and while there has been some progress, there is still so much more we must do. As law firms and corporate law departments have gained a deeper understanding about the value of diversity and inclusion, they have implemented a range of initiatives and efforts to increase accountability. The ABA Model Diversity Survey, the creation of the Mansfield Rule, and individual and collective efforts from in-house leaders such as the open letter signed by 170 general counsel in January 2019 have been significant developments. 2020 has been an unprecedented year in so many ways, including the impact on diversity and inclusion. The movement for Black Lives Matter has created a unique moment that calls for meaningful change to advance racial justice and diversity and inclusion across the country and around the world. In addition to catastrophic loss of life and severe economic hardship for so many, COVID-19 has also spawned a rise in anti-Asian sentiment. We must heed the call for action and the urgency of now. In this panel, we have assembled some of the country’s top leaders from corporate law departments and law firms to talk about taking brave and bold steps to accelerate progress. By joining forces corporate law departments and law firms can show the power of partnership to drive meaningful change and results.

This plenary session was presented at the 2020 NAPABA Convention | Virtual Experience, Nov. 4-7, 2020.