The pandemic did not break our spirit…
Last year (2022) brought back in-person meetings and social events, new return to the office policies, and a new normal that no longer seems all that new. And as we wrap up the old and prepare for the new in 2023, I wanted to remind you all just how amazing and resilient you are.
Throughout this year, it could not be more apparent how dedicated our members and staff are to service and supporting our communities. On October 19, 2022, I participated in the kickoff event for our Lunch with a Lawyer program. Since 2006, thanks to the vision of MCB member Judge Albert Diaz, MCB members have mentored middle school students in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School system interested in the legal profession. The pandemic forced us to shut the program down for two years, and it was unclear if the program would regain its luster of pre-pandemic years. When the call went out to our members to sign up to be mentors for these students, the program had to confront an unexpected issue – we had more mentors than students. As a result, CMS invited additional students to the program, and we were able to reach more students than originally projected. How fantastic is that?!?
There wasn’t an empty seat in the room. Mentors, students, and parents filled the room with excitement and anticipation. The event hit a high note when keynote speaker Toussaint Romain, CEO of the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, shared his passion for justice and service, then literally dropped the mic and walked out, in true Toussaint fashion (IYKYK). The event also turned into a mini reunion of sorts as many were able to reconnect with faces they hadn’t seen since before the pandemic. It was clear that the Lunch with a Lawyer program never skipped a beat.
On October 21, 2022, I had the pleasure of sharing some words of wisdom with our newly admitted attorneys during the fall swearing-in ceremony. We had over 80 attorneys sworn in, many of whom were joined by a family member and/or sponsor. What I found most heart-warming, though, was the thoughtfulness of our members. Many new admittees did not have a sponsor or a family member to snap pictures and congratulate them, and that’s where our Young Lawyers Division members stepped in. They literally stood by them as their sponsor and ensured they had a meaningful swearing-in experience. Other MCB members planted network seeds for these newly minted attorneys by sharing their information and experiences. Thanks to the YLD, too-seasoned-to-qualify-for-YLD members, and MCB staff, these new attorneys began their journey knowing they were about to join a community that is supportive, kind and generous. And that community is the Mecklenburg County Bar.
These events are just two examples of why we don’t need Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” to signal the season of giving, because every…single…day…is the season of giving for the MCB. We absolutely rock!
And I apologize if you were expecting a New Year’s Resolution column. I am no longer about that resolution life. If we’ve learned anything from these pandemic years, it’s that it doesn’t matter what you plan, or resolve to do, life will inevitably find a way to remind us that many things are simply out of our control. So, instead of talking about “New Year, New You,” I simply want to take this moment to say THANK YOU. Thank you for being present; thank you for showing up; thank you for what you do for your clients and the community; thank you for your patience; thank you for making the MCB one of the most robust and generous organizations in the country. Thank you for doing these things despite life’s obstacles.
I look forward to seeing all the amazing things our MCB members and staff will do in 2023 and beyond. Cheers to the new year!