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Alliance of Black Women Attorneys

History of the Alliance of Black Women Attorneys

The Alliance of Black Women Attorneys of Maryland, an affiliate of the National Bar Association and the American Bar Association, was established in 1979. As Maryland’s first bar association developed by and for black women, the primary purpose of the founders was the creation of a network to enhance the professional development of African-American women attorneys. Originally, the Alliance advanced three major goals: (1) promoting the interests of African-American women attorneys: (2) improving the skills for the efficient practice of the profession; and (3) increasing the viability and recognition of African-American women attorneys.

The Alliance has been blessed to have the following distinguished and accomplished past presidents whose visions have provided a formidable foundation and promising future.

Shortly after its founding, the Alliance broadened its focus to support and encourage women to seek judicial appointments. Soon after, Alliance member Mabel Houze Hubbard became the first African-American woman judge in Maryland History. Subsequently, Bonita J. Dancy, C. Yvonne Holt-Stone, Donna Hill Staton, Melanie Shaw, Michelle Hotten, Sheila Tillerson, Angela Eaves, Lynn Stewart, Stephanie Rawlings Blake, Alice P. Clark and more continue to be appointed to bench in Maryland.

The Alliance further expanded its goals to include providing community service activities. Over the years, the Alliance has sponsored numerous activities including continuing legal education seminars, programs for new minority bar admittees, scholarships to outstanding black law students, professional development luncheons with recognized legal and/or political figures and a conference on preventing violence among youth. The Alliance has been the co-sponsor of the National Bar Associations’ Annual Convention in Baltimore and was responsible for planning a retreat, scholarship breakfast, and a legal education seminar for members of the Women Lawyers Division.
The Alliance was recognized by the Maryland State Bar Association at MSBA's Bar President’s Conference on October 23, 2003 by winning a Best Service to the Public Project Award for its Law Related Education Program. The Daily Record sponsored this event. The Alliance of Black Women Attorneys of Maryland, Inc. was delighted to sponsor the nomination of Past President, Cheryl Haskins, who won an award for this project.
The Alliance has continued its public service in the community by sponsoring mentoring partnerships with the University of Baltimore and the University of Maryland; continuing its partnership with Lake Clifton/Eastern High School which was formed in 2003 and consists of hosting a half-day seminar for students in the Law-Related Education Program. In March and April of 2004, the Alliance hosted a two-part resume writing and interview seminar for the students in the Lake Clifton-Eastern Law-Related Education Program. In continuing our community service, the Alliance sponsored an essay contest for high school students in the law related program.

The Alliance joined in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Landmark Decision: Brown v. Board of Education. Alliance executive board members have participated in panel discussions on the landmark case. Alliance members have twice been guests on the George Collins radio program on WEAA once to speak on African American continued obligations to our community today and then to discuss the impact of the upcoming election on the African American community. We also arranged financial planning presentations for our members. The Alliance of Black Women Attorneys of Maryland continues to be dedicated to educating and empowering its membership and our community. In November, 2004, the Alliance celebrated its 25th Anniversary and Maryland Court of Appeals Chief Justice the Honorable Robert M. Bell presided over the swearing in ceremony.

In 2004 to 2005, the Alliance began the monthly Women of Distinction Lunch Series. These high powered lunches provide an intimate gathering featuring distinguished and successful women who have and are making a difference. We continued our annual tradition of the Alliance Tea which is held in December of every year. In celebration of Black History Month, we had dinner and a movie with the law students at University of Baltimore. We continued the Lake Clifton project. The members of the Alliance collected and donated several clothing items to Suited for Success. We also enjoyed a day of beauty fund-raiser where participants were pampered and beautified. The Alliance also joined with the Black Women’s Bar of Suburban Maryland in the first Annual Founder’s day Tea. We honored our founders Deputy Mayor Jeanne Hitchcock and the multi-talented Georgia Goslee. We all had a grand time at this event. The Alliance presented beautiful artwork from a local African American artist to our founders. We also reinstated the annual New Admittees reception where we honored Chief Judge Bell and Circuit Court Administrative Judge Marcella Holland for all of their support of the organization. There were several other esteemed members of the judiciary, law school administrators and other prominent members of the legal community in attendance. Later in the summer, the Alliance co-sponsored a networking event.

During 2005-2006, we held our 10th Annual Holiday Tea in conjunction with a toy drive for the House of Ruth. We continued the Brown Bag Lunch Series featuring some amazing and phenomenal women. The Alliance then teamed up with the House of Ruth and the Empowerment Temple AME church for an ice cream social. The women and children truly appreciated our time and efforts. In celebration of Black History Month, the Alliance co-sponsored the “Color at the Bar” discussion with the Monumental City Bar Association at the University of Baltimore. During Women’s History month in March, the Alliance profiled African-American women who made a substantial impact on Maryland and the nation. The Alliance and the Monumental joined for a night of Bowling and later a happy hour greet n’ meet with the University of Baltimore and the University of Maryland. The Alliance, supported by the Associated Black Charities’ African American Jurist Archive Fund, honored all of the past-presidents of the Alliance at the Celebration of Life Luncheon at the Harbor Court Hotel. We are extremely proud of our past-presidents as they include great female judges, politicians, attorneys, and legal & nonlegal professionals. Additionally, Lena K. Lee was honored at the luncheon as we celebrated her 100th birthday. Ms. Lee stood and spoke with purpose and grace during this momentous occasion. We also honored Judge Mabel Houze Hubbard for her tireless efforts to support and educate African-American female attorneys. The year ended in July with our tradition of the welcoming newly admitted attorneys at our annual reception.

During the 2007-2008 bar year, the ABWA focused on professional development and community service. Some highlights of the 2007-2008 bar year included the ABWA Golf Clinic, How To Make Your Net Work, Managing Your Legal Career, New Millennium Civil Rights Struggle: Your Role panel discussion (co-sponsored with MCBA and UM Law BLSA), a Judicial Reception (co-sponsored with the WBA), a Luncheon Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King (co-sponsored with MCBA and BCBA), Women of Color in the Legal Profession: Why it means success for everyone (co-sponsored with ABA’s Commission on Women in the Profession and other bar associations),the ABWA Annual Holiday Tea, and the ABWA Wine Tasting. In terms of community service, ABWA members volunteered to wrap Christmas presents with the Salvation Army’s Angel program, served as volunteers judges for the Urban Debate League, collected and donated school supplies for public school girls in Baltimore City, and participated in the Race for the Cure.  The ABWA scholarship program was brought back and a student from UB Law and UM Law each won a $500.00 scholarship for books etc. In addition, paid membership increased by 100%.

Although we are proud of our past, we look forward to continued years of successful and meaningful endeavors.  

Our history requires it our legacy demands it.