MLAC Diversity Coalition
2011 Year in Review
Presented by
Joyce Allen-Beckford
Director Diversity Coalition
December 15, 2011
2011 Highlights
• Managed Retention Task Force project
• Co-facilitated SCCLS Merger & Priority
Setting retreat
• Hosted annual Attorneys of Color retreat
• Presented to PDs on cross cultural
mentoring
• DCSAC updates
• Other
Retention Task Force Project
November 2010 to June 2011
Goals:
▫ Determine the reasons for the disparate effects on
AOC’s during layoffs
▫ Propose a specific set of recommendations to
address findings
▫ Design an effective mechanism to ensure that
recommendations are implemented
Additional RTF goals
• Draft a guiding statement of principals
• Compile Legal Services Best Practices on
recruitment, hiring & retention of AOC’s
• Develop policy recommendations
• Utilize members to champion RTF principles
RTF goals continued
• Gather historical AOC hiring and attrition data
so that legal services can evaluate
recommendations in context
• Research relevant laws that could/would
affect how union contracts are worded
• Compile a report for MLAC that includes
policy and recommendations that would be
monitored by MLAC to ensure
accountability
Current status of RTF report
• Writing committee shared draft with all RTF
members, committee will soon meet to discuss
feedback
• Draft report will then go to stake holders for
their feedback
• RTF Final Recommendations will be presented
to MLAC Board in February
SCCLS Merger & Priority Setting
Retreat
Planned & co-facilitated a post merger retreat to
:
▫ Improve organizational effectiveness
▫ Improve team communication
▫ Build skills for navigating, managing and resolving
differences
▫ Increase cultural competence
▫ Create a more respectful, inclusive, collegial
environment
Retreat feedback
• Collaboration with colleagues; sense of
community unifying one common goal
• Hearing from and getting perspectives from staff
throughout program
• Getting to know the staff better – I am too
“absent” and or distant from too much of what
they all do!”
Hosted annual AOC Retreat
Morning: Guest Speaker Judge Richard J. Chin
▫ Associate Justice of the Mass Superior Court
▫ First Asian American judge in Massachusetts
courts.
▫ During law school he, together with three law
students, founded the Chinatown Outreach
Project
Afternoon: RTF update
.
Cross Cultural Mentoring
conversation with PD’s
• At the 2010 annual retreat AOC identified the need
for mentoring as one avenue to aid in retention
• Attended two PD meetings to present the idea, and
discuss how to best implement a mentoring program
• The decision was made - to postpone formalizing
plans for a mentoring program until, after the RTF
recommendations are final
Other DCSAC updates
• All five short goals were achieved within projected
time frame
• The DCSAC membership and focus has increased
dramatically
• The focus is now on the first of two long term
goals:
▫ Recruitment, hiring and retention of AOC
▫ The RTF recommendation will provide the framework to
focus on achieving this goal
Other
• Assisted with monitoring Statewide programs
• Member of panel to present Cultural Competence
Training for Pro Bono Advocates at Boston Bar
Association
• Member MLAC Strategic Plan taskforce:
Leadership Transition Task Force
• Member of Committee to draft MLAC ED
Transition Plan
Preview 2012
• Complete Retention Task Force project
• Support programs in adopting and
implementing RTF Recommendations e.g.
▫
▫
▫
assist programs with forming diversity
councils
assist programs with establishing mentoring
programs
assist MLAC with monitoring RTF
recommendations
• Attend MCAD Training for AAO’s
Preview 2012 continued
• Host retreat for AOC’s to meet with PD’s & Board
members: RTF recommendation
• Work closely with Program Director to design a
method of tracking programs’ progress in
implementing RTF Recommendations
Thank You!