Women Corporate Directors’ Post

Meet Terrance J. Evans, CABL Vice President - North! What inspired you to pursue a career in law? To uplift my community and provide for my family, goals I'm blessed to achieve. Where do you work and what is your role? Partner at Duane Morris LLP in SF/LA, I co-lead banking and financial services. National Bar Association - Region IX Director, and first person of color as Chair-Elect of California Lawyers Association, the largest voluntary state bar association. What do you like most about being an attorney? Advocating for those without resources, from civil rights cases to pro bono work for minority-owned businesses and individuals denied essential services. What inspired you to join the CABL? My love for the Black Community. CABL advocates for our people unapologetically. What is your favorite thing about being a CABL Board member? CABL epitomizes Black Excellence and champions Black lawyers, judges, and communities. What is something about you that fellow CABL members? Physical fitness is my passion; personal best squat is 780 lbs for 5 reps. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? I'm deeply interested in Black history. What advice would you give to the next generation of lawyers? Stay rooted, embrace your history, and mentor to create a lasting impact.

I was asked to delve deeper into the black leadership void and what could be done ! Well, the “Black Clergy” has been looked at as ineffective, and now they’ve been rejected. It does not diminish their contribution but acknowledges a shift in how leadership is perceived and accepted. We are at a point where it will take a concerted effort from Black professionals across various fields-people who possess both the intellectual rigor and cultural understanding of our community- to guide us through this crisis. These individuals, whether in education, healthcare, law, business, or urban planning, have the potential to inspire hope and empowerment. They have the knowledge and experience to develop actionable strategies that address issues while restoring confidence in leadership.   The solutions we need are not just spiritual; they are structural and require a deep understanding of policy, economics, and social frameworks. These leaders are not far removed—already embedded within our communities. They are the educators who understand the impact of underfunded schools, the doctors and mental health professionals who see the disparities in care, the lawyers working within the justice system, and the entrepreneurs building businesses despite barriers. Black professionals must step up to fill the leadership void in ways that reflect our people's modern needs. Only then will we be equipped to address the crisis by responding to its symptoms and dismantling the root causes with strategic, community-centered action. This is a call to action and a necessity for our community’s future.

This Black History Month, I’m celebrating not only the legacy of Black leaders but also the power of resolving disputes through collaboration. Recently, I used my R.E.S.O.L.V.E. framework to help two parties resolve a property dispute without the need for lengthy, expensive legal proceedings. Mediation allows people to avoid the financial and emotional strain of court battles while finding fair solutions. If you’re facing a property dispute, reach out to explore how mediation could be the right solution for you. Who inspires you in the fight for fairness and collaboration? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. #BlackHistoryMonth #MediationSuccess #DisputeResolution #R.E.S.O.L.V.E #PropertyConsultant.

L.V. Browne, CPA Celebrates Black History Month As a woman-owned, African American business, L.V. Browne CPA, understands the unique history, triumphs, and challenges this community faces. In honor of this commemorative month, we would like to showcase three books by African American authors who share their stories of success and instructions on how to build a stronger and more promising economic future. The first is... Your First Million: Why You Don’t Have to Be Born into a Legacy of Wealth to Leave One Behind This inspiring story of how Arlan Hamiliton went from rags to riches, outlines how you too can make your dream of success a reality. Readers will learn how to: recognize unrealized potential, increase funds, select the best collaborators, discover diverse income streams and much more. She stresses how anyone from any background can find the tools and resources necessary to not only survive in this changing world but to also thrive and live in abundance. Check out her book today on Amazon.com.

**THE AUDACITY OF GREATNESS** Completely co-sign and deeply appreciate Lee Jasper's words here. For context: I have maintained involvement in EYLA for twenty years. I served as a trustee for nine years until 2013; since then I have worked with Ray on EYLA's ongoing evolution and strategic development. Most recently (like this calendar year) this involved exploring with Ray and the EYLA board how to build on the lessons from the COVID pandemic to make online education a more significant element of EYLA's delivery. So I know EYLA well. I last saw Ray on Saturday 23rd March at a pre-retirement gathering of Young Leaders and parents. None of us knew that he would not survive another weekend. I got the news of his passing last Saturday whilst abroad. With travelling back and then moving house I have barely had time to process it all. So I will save lengthier thoughts for another time. To echo Lee: EYLA has had unparalled reach and impact over its lifetime. I have seen an evolution from a supplementary-school operation, to partnering with schools on classroom delivery, to brokering scholarships to elite boarding schools for young people with the talent to benefit. Hundreds have now been through the Scholars programme. An example of promise fulfilled: one of the earliest graduates from the Scholars programme is now the Chair of EYLA's Board of Trustees. This and so much more has happened because Ray had the audacity to be great. He had the audacity to expect greatness from the first group of black boys EYLA worked with at the beginning and from all the boys (and now girls) who have followed them since. He held them and himself to high standards, in ways that many had never encountered before. That challenges them; it challenges some of us too. He had the audacity to convey that greatness to people who ordinarily would be nowhere near supporting the cause of black boys' education - politicians, high net worth individuals, corporate hot-shots. As many have commented, the politics have been 'interesting', but not (IMO) for the reasons that many might think. Now is not the time for that. Alongside all of that, just one personal reflection I will offer: when I came out of hospital following a heart attack ten years ago, the people waiting for me to take me home were Ray and EYLA's co-founder Anne Collard. That is just one measure of who Ray was (and is) to me. To echo Garvey's words, we should not fear death, it is but a change as we are still in the universe. Ray has left his indelible mark. I am honoured to call him colleague, friend, and brother, and will mourn his loss like few I have known. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife and immediate family, the EYLA community of Young Leaders, parents, staff, and supporters, and the wider fraternity of Young Leaders Academies who have taken their inspiration from EYLA and from Ray. We have lost a public figure, a private man, and a giant who walked among us. We are blessed with his memory.

We invited Joseph Cephas from Novità Communications to shared some thoughts and his own experience as a Black leader in the Design industry. ⚪ How do you see the influence of Black creatives in shaping the future of the built environment? The influence of Black creatives is omnipresent. There are so many direct lines from our ancestors to how spaces are created today. Whether it is through cultural influences or direct building, the impact of Black people on the built environment is going to continue to grow moving into the future. It is our responsibility to ensure that the Black leaders that are building our future are recognized for their contributions and not overlooked like they’ve been in the past. ⚪ What is an urgent change in the architecture and design professions that would benefit Black creatives? More opportunities. During Black History Month there is often a common theme of those we recognize - they are pioneers. This extends beyond getting more Black people into the architecture and design field, it includes Black people advancing to leadership positions within a firm. Black people often have to blaze their own trail through treacherous terrain. I’m looking forward to the day when Black creatives don’t have to carry the burden of being a pioneer and can just focus on perfecting their craft.

In a time when leadership integrity seems to be in short supply, it's refreshing to think about those in positions of power who truly listen to their constituents. We need more leaders who prioritize the genuine needs of their communities over the influences of lobbyists, bureaucrats, and profit-driven corporations. Unfortunately, there's a critical conversation to be had about the role of black elected officials and government bureaucrats. While holding positions of power, they continue to face criticism for not effectively advocating for and advancing the communities they represent. This issue isn't new; nearly two decades ago, analyses were already pointing out the shortcomings in the political efficacy of black leaders in government. The lack of progress in black communities has often been laid at the feet of the Democratic Party. However, a closer examination suggests that the real issue may be with black officials who have not leveraged their power to prioritize and uplift their own people and neighborhoods. Other ethnic groups have demonstrated that when they come into power, their communities benefit as they put their interests at the forefront. It's time to reevaluate and reinvigorate the mission of our black elected officials. It's essential that they reconnect with their roots, listen intently to the voices of their constituents, and wield their power in a way that brings tangible, positive change to the communities that have entrusted them with their votes and their hopes.

There is another way to executive transitions, a way that doesn't put undue burden on Black leaders to justify their existence or prove their worth and capability to funders. I'm really proud of the way Shari Silberstein and I partnered on our transition, and we wrote about it so others might learn. Check out our blog article here: https://lnkd.in/eNX66i7N Equal Justice USA Leading Forward

It is very important for white leaders to understand this and take the lead. Thank you, Jamila and Shari, for this article, which provides an excellent grounding point for leaders who want to do it right. We address these issues and more in our Racial Equity Guide, and at BoardSource, we also are on a similar journey by hiring Monika Kalra Varma, our first BIPOC leader. We also support BIPOC leaders through our BIPOC Leadership Initiative, the Glass Cliff Initiative. https://lnkd.in/eacKX4BE

In honor of #BlackHistoryMonth, we’d like to highlight the first black woman to become a CPA, Mary Thelma Washington, for her accomplishments and contributions to the accounting industry. To learn more about Black History in accounting, click the link below. buff.ly/3HTbRv3