Metropolitan Black Bar Association Celebrated 2023 Gala

MBBA Gala 2023
Credit: DosOjosMedia/Jay McClinton

The Metropolitan Black Bar Association hosted their 39th Anniversary Awards Gala, “Expanding Our Reach: Prominence. Presence. Professionalism”, on Friday, May 19th. The spring Gala was hosted by the award-winning WNBC anchor David Ushery at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City.



MBBA Gala 2023 guests
Credit: DosOjosMedia/Jay McClinton

The Association welcomed NYC Elected officials including Mayor Eric Adams and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. The Black-tie evening celebrated the 2023 stellar legal honorees including:

  • Trailblazer of the Year: Deborah N. Archer, President, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU); Professor of Clinical Law and Co-Faculty Director of the Center on Race, Inequality, and the Law at NYU School of Law

  • Public Servant of the Year: Camille Chin-Kee-Fatt

  • Jurist of the Year: Hon. Tanya R. Kennedy, Associate Justice, Appellate Division, First Department

  • Corporate Counsel of the Year: Conway Ekpo, Director & Associate General Counsel, Brex

  • Private Practitioner of the Year: Nexus U. Sea, Partner, O’Melveny

MBBA 39th Gala Awards Ceremony
Mayor Eric Adams. Credit: DosOjosMedia/Jay McClinton
MBBA 39th VIP Room
MBBA 39th VIP Room. Credit: DosOjosMedia/Jay McClinton

2023 MBBA Gala Highlights

The 2023 Gala included cocktail reception, seated dinner, awards presentation, dancing and music by DJ Niara Sterling with a live performance by Thurston O’Neal.

The 2023 Gala Chair is Nate Saint Victor, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, Engine No. 1.

Credit: DosOjosMedia/Jay McClinton

Metropolitan Black Bar Association Officers: Carl Forbes Jr., President; Nicole Lester Arrindell, President-Elect; Lauren Brown, Evette C. Ennis, Eric A. Love, Justina K. Rivera, Vice Presidents; Paula T. Edgar, Treasurer; Jennifer V. Abela, General Counsel

The 2023 Gala event was produced by Bee Season Events.

MBBA 39th Gala After Party DJ
Credit: DosOjosMedia/Jay McClinton
MBBA 39th Gala After Party
Credit: DosOjosMedia/Jay McClinton

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