December 2021 President's Letter

November was a busy month for NAWJ. We aired three amazing webinars:

• “Supporting Children and Strengthening Families” produced by our Ensuring Racial Equity Committee and Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Committee which was supported by the State Justice Institute which aired on November 9.
   
• “Chilling Access to Justice? Examining Disproportionate Impact on Women of Color and Proposed Change in the Law of Consent in Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Cases” produced by our Domestic Violence Committee which aired on November 16.
   
• Part 2 of “Disrupting the School to Prison Pipeline” produced by our Ensuring Racial Equity Committee and Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Committee which aired on November 18.

If you missed them, you may access them on our website. Future webinars will be announced on our website and by email so stay tuned.

Theresponse to my inquiry regarding committee assignments was overwhelmingly positive. Many of you asked to be included on more than one committee. This is a testament to your desire to not only work towards insuring access to justice but to foster diversity and inclusion in the justice system. Assignments, including the naming of chairs and co-chairs will be out before the first of next year. I look forward to seeing the results of your hard work. By the way, when I say hard work, the work comes with the added benefit of lasting friendships with your NAWJ sisters.

We likewise had an overwhelming response to our recent member survey.Your input will help to guide us in the next year and help us fulfill your expectations of this amazing organization. After all, NAWJ is a sisterhood and our combined efforts bring us closer together.

Plans are underway for a spectacular mid-year meeting at The Renaissance Hotel in Crystal City, Virginia March 10-12, 2022.  The mid-year will feature a keynote speaker addressing climate change and its effect on women around the world, and a discussion with Jennifer Klein, the Executive Director of the White House Gender Council, on efforts to improve the lives of women and children under the Biden administration. Other topics are in the offing so stay tuned.  There will be plenty of opportunity for networking at the opening reception and a dine around with friends Friday night.  NAWJ has arranged for the group rate to apply not only for March 10 and 11 but also for March 12 for those who want to visit the sights in Washington DC on Sunday March 13.

I am looking forward to NAWJ’s continued success and to being together both virtually and in person with you my NAWJ sisters.

Hon. Elizabeth A. White (ret.)
President, NAWJ