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PRBA wins
2022/2023 ISBA
Diversity Leadership Award
By Edwin Reyes (the following article was published in the June 2023 Diversity Matters Newsletter)
Editor’s Note: The Diversity Leadership Award recognizes long standing, continuing and exceptional commitment by an individual or an organization to the critical importance of diversity within the Illinois legal community, its judiciary, and within the Illinois State Bar Association. Congratulations to the 2022-23 winner, the Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois (PRBA).
The PRBA will be celebrating our 30th anniversary in 2024. We are a not-for-profit entity that was established in 1994 to address issues affecting Latino lawyers and the Latino community. https://www.prbalawil.com/about-us.html
We were formed in 1994 to address the issues unique to the Puerto Rican community. Puerto Ricans have historically had the lowest income levels of all Latinos, were the most poorly educated, had the highest high school drop-out rates, and had the highest unemployment rates among all Latinos. The group felt that as attorneys familiar with the community and with the issues, they could be a powerful voice for their community; they could serve as role models, advisors, speakers, and mentors.
For over 25 years we have been a pillar in the Puerto Rican and Latino community in Illinois. Although we are relatively small with approximately 50 members, we have shown our commitment by hosting and sponsoring hundreds of events over the years. We have been outspoken in the legal community about the need for Latino representation in the judiciary. We have hosted fundraisers to help our families and friends on the island during hurricanes Fiona and Maria. We have run successful yearly food drives, and an Adopt a Family Program. In addition to our community events, we have awarded tens of thousands of dollars in law school student scholarships over the years. The following are some of our highlights from the past year. (See also: https://www.facebook.com/prbalawil/.)
2022
In May, we sponsored the Vanguard Awards, held by the Chicago Bar Association, where former executive board member Jaime Santana received a Vanguard award for his contribution to the Latino community. In June, the PRBA participated in the Puerto Rican Parade, a yearly event held in Humboldt Park in Chicago. The group’s participation served to promote awareness of our organization. August saw the PRBA hosting our first Summer Fundraiser for our law student scholarship fund. Our event was called the “Boriken Barrister’s Bash” and was our most successful fundraiser to date.
In September, our long-time executive board member Judge Joanne Rosado was honored with the Hilda Frontany Community Care Award by Rincon Family Services for her dedication to the Latino community in Chicago. Rincon Family Services provides mental health services and community resources for the Latino community in Chicago https://www.rinconfamilyservices.org/ In conjunction with the PRBA, Judge Rosado has provided thousands of gifts for children in need during our annual Holiday Adopt a Family program. She also spearheaded our annual Thanksgiving food drive. She is a pillar in the Puerto Rican Community and has a long-standing connection with Rincon Family Services. https://www.facebook.com/Rinc.../photos/a.287557207942600/5655771784454422/?type=3
In October, we partnered with the Puerto Rican Police Association (PRPA), Vazquez Post # 939 and RadioRitmo Mix to fundraise for Disaster Relief for Puerto Rico. We raised over $5,000 and purchased batteries, solar lights, and water filters for Proyecto Nacer, a nonprofit organization that serves approximately 182 teenage parent families in Puerto Rico. Proyecto Nacer in turn will help distribute the items to families in need. Additionally, we donated some funds to at least two other nonprofit organizations. In addition, PRBA member Martha Soto participated in a panel discussion on Latino Voices Program on WTTW to discuss the need for increased Latino representation in the Illinois Judiciary. https://news.wttw.com/2022/10/22/advocates-push-more-latino-representation-politics
In November, we partnered with PRBA member David Herrera, the Latin American Police Association, and RadioRitmo Mix for our Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. We were able to stock the pantry to feed immigrant Latino families housed on the northwest side of Chicago. PRBA executive board member Judge Beatriz Santiago coordinated a joint effort with Mujeres Latinas en Accion to get members to donate new coats, mittens, socks, hats, and scarves for survivors of domestic violence.
December was a busy month. Long-time PRBA member Judge Gloria Chevere joined the program Political Forum to explain the lack of Latino representation in the Illinois judicial system. Political Forum is a Chicago Access Television Network (CAN TV) signature program. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCiGP5_8zfg. In addition, we partnered with Rincon Family Services to provide Christmas gifts to over 124 children and 40 Aldi gift cards to families in need in the Chicagoland area during our annual Adopt a Family Program. The PRBA was also a sponsor of the 42nd Annual Puerto Rican Police Association Christmas Banquet.
2023
In January, the PRBA hosted our annual Three Kings Gala, where we awarded over $15,000 in law student scholarships. https://www.prbalawil.com/scholarships.html. To view the program of the event and 2022 highlights https://www.flipsnack.com/.../prba-3-kings-gala-program.html.
The PRBA is a member of the Alliance of Bar Associations (comprised of several Bar Associations in Illinois) and in February we completed our judicial evaluations of Associate Judge candidates. As an Alliance member the PRBA investigates, interviews and issues recommendations regarding candidates for judicial office.
PRBA member Lucy Vazquez conducted an estate planning presentation for the Northern Chapter of Puerto Rican Women’s annual brunch on the Northwest Side of Chicago in March. We also donated funds to the women’s scholarship fund. PRBA President Patricia Cintron-Bastin and Joanne Rosado attended the annual Felisa Rincón de Gautier Distinguished Woman Award given by the Puerto Rican Art’s Alliance.
In April we partnered with PRBA member Joanne Rosado, David Herrera, the Latin American Police Association and RadioRitmo Mix for our first Spring Pack the Pantry Event. We raised funds to stock the pantry of Onward Neighborhood House, an immigrant welcoming center in the Belmont Craigin neighborhood of Chicago.
This month, we sponsored the annual Vanguard Awards where Judge Ramon Escapa received the Vanguard Award posthumously. Judge Escapa was the first Latino judge in the Eighth Judicial Circuit. PRBA executive board member Judge Beatriz Santiago received the 2023 Northwest Suburban Bar Association Public Service award for her years of service to the Latino community. The PRBA also participated in the Chicago Bar Foundation’s Community Legal Fair. We are co-sponsoring “A Salute to Veterans” event on May 24th with the Decalogue Society of Lawyers.
Future Events
June: We plan to march again in the annual Puerto Rican Parade held on Saturday, June 10 in Humboldt Park in Chicago.
August: We are making plans to host our annual Summer Fundraising Event on Friday, August 11, 2023, from 6 pm to 9 pm at the Mathew Bieszczat Volunteer Resource Center, 6100 N. Central Ave, Chicago to raise funds for our law student scholarship fund. https://www.prbalawil.com/events.html.
September: PRBA plans to host a CLE during Hispanic Heritage Month. Several PRBA members plan to join the Puerto Rican Bar Associations of Florida, New York, and the Colegio de Abogados de Puerto Rico at a national conference in Florida to discuss issues of Puerto Rico with an audience of leaders from around the country. We will be conducting judicial evaluations in the fall of 2023, as we are members of the Alliance of Bar Associations.
November: We plan to host another food drive to provide food for Latino families in need.
December: The PRBA plans to sponsor the Annual Puerto Rican Police Association Christmas Banquet. We plan to continue our yearly Adopt a Family program with Rincon Family Services to provide gifts to children in need.
January 2024: We plan to host our yearly Three Kings Gala and hope to award thousands in law school student scholarships.
It is through the PRBA’s continued dedication that I nominate the PRBA for the 2023 ISBA Diversity Award. I was a founding member and over the years I have seen this organization grow and thrive. I am proud and honored to continue to serve on the executive board. I am excited about what we have planned for the future under the leadership of newly elected President Patricia Cintron-Bastin, who encouraged me to submit this application. We are comprised of individuals who truly care about the Latino community in Chicago. We have served as mentors, leaders, and game changers in the legal community, and if we are honored to receive the Diversity Award from the ISBA we will be able to increase our awareness in the legal community across the state of Illinois. https://www.isba.org/committees/diversityleadershipcouncil/newsletter/2023/06
We will be formally receiving this Award from the ISBA in the next few months. We will update you once the date and time has been finalized.
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