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](https://eastendtastemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/MBBA-Gala-2023-09579-min-scaled-e1685399603898.jpg)
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
![MBBA 39th Gala Awards Ceremony](https://eastendtastemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/MBBA-39th-Gala-Awards-Ceremony-Camera-2-122-of-137-min-scaled-e1685399791229.jpg)
![MBBA 39th VIP Room](https://eastendtastemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/MBBA-39th-VIP-Room-Camera-1-99-of-99-min-scaled-e1685399651865.jpg)
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.
![MBBA 39th Gala After Party](https://eastendtastemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/MBBA-39th-Gala-After-Party-Camera-1-70-of-94-min-scaled-e1685399703588.jpg)
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.