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.
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:
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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
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Public Servant of the Year: Camille Chin-Kee-Fatt
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Jurist of the Year: Hon. Tanya R. Kennedy, Associate Justice, Appellate Division, First Department
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Corporate Counsel of the Year: Conway Ekpo, Director & Associate General Counsel, Brex
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Private Practitioner of the Year: Nexus U. Sea, Partner, O’Melveny
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.
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.
