Diversity Summit 2020

Diversity Summit 2020: Setting the Vision for Diversity within the Legal Profession was a collaborative effort of members of the Tennessee legal community designed to bring attorneys together from across the state to set concrete goals and create actionable plans for increasing the number of diverse lawyers hired, retained and promoted across business types. The Summit focused on the importance of moving beyond achieving diversity in numbers toward the higher goal of inclusion and equity within the workplace.

The event featured a series of plenary sessions and panels addressing key topics such as diversity action plans, student expectations entering the workplace, in-house expectations of diversity, and setting and shifting business culture. Notable sessions included the Opening Plenary Session on "Diversity & Action Plans" by Janice Brown of Brown Law Group, and a corporate panel featuring Chris Javillonar from Permobil and Terrence Reed from FedEx discussing in-house expectations of diversity.

Attendees had the opportunity to engage in networking events, including a reception and dinner featuring Keynote Speaker Ronald Harris, Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. The Summit also offered 11 breakout sessions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, providing practical insights and strategies for legal professionals.

The Summit was particularly beneficial for hiring partners, managers, organizational diversity and inclusion officers, human resources officers, recruitment and retention professionals, and attorneys from across Tennessee and beyond. It provided a platform to learn best practices for diversity, equity, inclusion, and cultural competency within the workplace, as well as opportunities for mentorships, job opportunities, and other lifelong connections.