28th President’s Message: Thank you for the Opportunity to Serve.
As my term as President comes to an end, I want to thank the members of the Association of Black Women Lawyers of New Jersey (ABWL-NJ) for the opportunity to serve in this capacity. It has been a great honor to lead the association during the 2019-2020 program year. As the first women’s bar association in New Jersey, ABWL-NJ is a well-respected and highly-regarded organization, and it has been such a privilege just to be a part of a leadership team that continues to strive to be on the cutting edge of the profession and social justice. ABWL-NJ’s reputation is enhanced by the many powerful and brilliant Black women attorneys, who contribute their time and expertise to advancing the association and the legal profession. I have been fortunate to have worked closely with such quality board and committee members and appreciate all they contributed during my term. My administration’s theme Poised to Lead was a huge success thanks to wonderful partnerships, amazing community outreach programs, impactful social justice initiatives and most importantly, our membership.
ABWL-NJ’s accomplishments over the past year are impressive, and it was truly a team effort. There were so many noteworthy moments, as I write this last message. As an illustration of this past year’s success; Our membership was increased by 30 percent. 5 ABWL-NJ members were appointed to the bench and history was made when the first Black woman was nominated to serve on the New Jersey Supreme Court. We partnered with a host of affinity bar associations, civic and social justice groups to decry the killing of George Floyd and many other Black men and women, who have lost their lives at the hands of law enforcement, who engage in brutally aggressive tactics when interacting with Black citizens. As the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted the Black community, we urged that the state’s actions include gathering and making public the data needed to allocate both protective and curative resources as needed to communities where disparities exist. I truly believe this is the result of listening to the members’ input and focusing on their needs and the needs of our community first.
There are so many more outstanding initiatives planned for 2020 and beyond. As the Immediate Past President, I will continue to serve on the Executive Board and support the ABWL-NJ leadership, in particular our incoming President Marsetta Lee, Esq., as she continues to chart the association’s future path. We could not be in more capable hands.
Again, thank you to the members of the Association of Black Women Lawyers of New Jersey for entrusting me with the leadership of this historic and essential sisterhood of women in the law.
Poised to Lead,
Norma R. Evans
Norma R. Evans, Esq., 28th President
Association of Black Women Lawyers of New Jersey
