The first of its kind, the Black Women Lawyer’s Association of Los Angeles (BWLA) launched a mentorship program at Susan Miller Dorsey High School to bridge a gap between students and working professionals.
Earlier this month, more than a dozen lawyers with different specialties from criminal law to public sectors, gathered at the Los Angeles campus to share personal experiences and advice in hopes of positively impacting the youth.
During an early May morning, about 100 students received insight from the lawyers who discussed the drive, skills and passion necessary to succeed.
The event, the second installment of a three-part mentoring program, helps to connect and prepare students for the real world.
“When we asked (the students) how many of them had ever met a lawyer, only two hands went up,” said Camille Townsend, BWLA president. “Young people here haven’t had an interaction with female African-American lawyers or minority lawyers in general. We want the kids to have exposure which will allow them to have a goal.”
The BWLA member’s were paired off with students in the school’s law and public service magnet program and they have started to create a resourceful relationship. Future plans include a social gathering and a mock trial for the students.
Essentially, the BWLA want to motivate students and promote hard work and solid networking connections to propel them into a bright future.
source: loop21.com
