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The Taste of Diversity dinner is a biannual event created to promote diversity in the legal profession. This very important event will be held on Thursday, October 19, 2017, at The Bird and The Bread located in Birmingham and a highlight of dinner is the presentation of the Leon Hubbard Community Service Award and the Michael K. Lee Memorial Award both recognizing diversity.  Nominations for both awards are due by Wednesday, September 13th (please send to Katie Tillenger at: ktillinger@ocba.org).   The Diversity in the Legal Profession committee will meet to review the nominations and select the award recipient.

1) To celebrate diversity and to promote an awareness of the need for increased diversity in the legal profession by honoring an individual, law firm, legal service, or other law-related organization (“award recipient”) that has a demonstrated record of promoting cultural diversity in the legal community through its participation in pipeline programs and through their commitment to the tenets set forth in the mission1 statement of the Diversity in the Legal Profession Committee.
2) To recognize attorney Michael K. Lee’s commitment to the Diversity in the Legal Profession Committee’s mission statement as well as its commitment to promoting participation in the activities and governance of the OCBA of lawyers representing the full array of diversity. Specifically, this award recognizes an award recipient who not only expresses a desire to achieve diversity in the legal profession but also actively works in various pipeline programs committed to introducing individuals with diverse backgrounds to the legal profession.

Awarded:
 The award will be presented at the biennial Diversity in the Legal Profession Dinner.
 The award recipient will be subsequently recognized at the OCBA Annual Meeting along with the other award recipients.

Criteria:
 The award recipient actively participates in one or more pipeline programs and that participation exists for a minimum of three years.

 Award recipient provides mentorship to an individual with a diverse background and encourages that individual’s participation in a pipeline program and pursuit of a career in the legal profession.

 The award recipient takes a leadership role in the implementation and development of pipeline (or similar) programs that provide equal opportunity for all individuals seeking a career in the legal profession to gain exposure to the same.
 The award recipient actively works with other legal organizations to promote participation in pipeline programs that support all facets of diversity in the legal profession.

How to Nominate:
Letter of Nomination includes a description of nominee’s community service supporting diversity and pipeline programming.

Selection Process:
The Oakland County Bar Association’s Diversity in the Legal Profession Committee or its designee selects the awardee.

Purpose:
To celebrate and promote an awareness of the rich cultural diversity of Oakland County by recognizing and honoring an individual or law firm, legal services or other law-related organization that has a record of community service, has promoted cultural diversity, advanced social equality, and worked to enhance the quality of life for all people.

Awarded:
Diversity in the Legal Profession Dinner

Criteria:
 An attorney or law firm with a minimum of five years of community service experience. The five years may be inclusive of time spent in community service as a law student.
 Qualifying community service experience is defined as service rendered on an independent and individual basis, membership in and/or support of an organization whose mission is to promote diversity in economic advancement opportunities and/or social equality.
 Economic advancement opportunities include promotion of diversity in the areas of the legal profession, mentoring, career counseling, and small business development. It also includes philanthropy.
 Social equality includes promotion of improvement in the quality of life to indigent individuals and/or advancing the concept of open housing for all people.

How to Nominate:
Letter of Nomination including description of nominee’s community service

Selection Process:
The Oakland County Bar Association’s Diversity Committee selects the awardee.