MLAC Diversity Coalition 2011 Year in Review

1. MLAC Diversity Coalition2011 Year in Review Presented by Joyce Allen-Beckford Director Diversity Coalition December 15, 2011

2. 2011 Highlights • Managed Retention Task Force project • Co-facilitated SCCLS Merger & Priority Setting retreat • Hosted annual Attorneys of Color retreat • Presented to PDs on cross cultural mentoring • DCSAC updates • Other

3. Retention Task Force ProjectNovember 2010 to June 2011 Goals: • Determine the reasons for the disparate effects on AOC’s during layoffs • Propose a specific set of recommendations to address findings • Design an effective mechanism to ensure that recommendations are implemented

4. Additional RTF goals • Draft a guiding statement of principals • Compile Legal Services Best Practices on recruitment, hiring & retention of AOC’s • Develop policy recommendations • Utilize members to champion RTF principles

5. RTF goals continued • Gather historical AOC hiring and attrition data so that legal services can evaluate recommendations in context • Research relevant laws that could/would affect how union contracts are worded • Compile a report for MLAC that includes policy and recommendations that would be monitored by MLAC to ensure accountability

6. Current status of RTF report • Writing committee shared draft with all RTF members, committee will soon meet to discuss feedback • Draft report will then go to stake holders for their feedback • RTF Final Recommendations will be presented to MLAC Board in February

7. SCCLS Merger & Priority Setting Retreat Planned & co-facilitated a post merger retreat to: • Improve organizational effectiveness • Improve team communication • Build skills for navigating, managing and resolving differences • Increase cultural competence • Create a more respectful, inclusive, collegial environment

8. Retreat feedback • Collaboration with colleagues; sense of community unifying one common goal • Hearing from and getting perspectives from staff throughout program • Getting to know the staff better – I am too “absent” and or distant from too much of what they all do!”

9. Hosted annual AOC Retreat Morning: Guest Speaker Judge Richard J. Chin • Associate Justice of the Mass Superior Court. • First Asian American judge in Massachusetts courts. • During law school he, together with three law students, founded the Chinatown Outreach Project Afternoon: RTF update

10. Cross Cultural Mentoring conversation with PD’s • At the 2010 annual retreat AOC identified the need for mentoring as one avenue to aid in retention • Attended two PD meetings to present the idea, and discuss how to best implement a mentoring program • The decision was made - to postpone formalizing plans for a mentoring program until, after the RTF recommendations are final

11. Other DCSAC updates • All five short goals were achieved within projected time frame • The DCSAC membership and focus has increased dramatically • The focus is now on the first of two long term goals: • Recruitment, hiring and retention of AOC • The RTF recommendation will provide the framework to focus on achieving this goal

12. Other • Assisted with monitoring Statewide programs • Member of panel to present Cultural Competence Training for Pro Bono Advocates at Boston Bar Association • Member MLAC Strategic Plan taskforce: Leadership Transition Task Force • Member of Committee to draft MLAC ED Transition Plan

13. Preview 2012 • Complete Retention Task Force project • Support programs in adopting and implementing RTF Recommendations e.g. • assist programs with forming diversity councils • assist programs with establishing mentoring programs • assist MLAC with monitoring RTF recommendations • Attend MCAD Training for AAO’s

14. Preview 2012 continued • Host retreat for AOC’s to meet with PD’s & Board members: RTF recommendation • Work closely with Program Director to design a method of tracking programs’ progress in implementing RTF Recommendations

15. Thank You!