The Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Summit: The Collaborative Blueprint is an innovative and collaborative professional development experience designed to empower leaders in the legal profession to act toward making Connecticut a more diverse and inclusive bench and bar. Through collaborative workshops and panel discussions, you will gain knowledge and inspiration to help you lead your organization into a revolutionary transformation that will make a positive effect in the realm of diversity and inclusion in the state of Connecticut.

The 2023 Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Summit

Past Diversity and Inclusion Summits

  • Oct 20
    2023 Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Summit: The Collaborative Blueprint (CDC231020)
    UConn School of Law, Starr Reading Room
    55 Elizabeth Street
    Hartford

    9:00 AM to 2:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)

    The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Summit: The Collaborative Blueprint is an innovative and collaborative professional development experience designed to empower leaders in the legal profession to take action toward making Connecticut a more diverse and inclusive bench and bar. Through interactive workshops and discussions, you will gain knowledge and learn strategies to help create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment in your organization and in the State of Connecticut.

    Register
  • Oct 19
    Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Summit: The Collaborative Blueprint (CDC221019)
    Virtual Conference
    9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)
    Register
  • Oct 20
    Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Summit: The Collaborative Blueprint (CDC211020)
    Virtual Conference
    9:00 AM to 2:30 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)

    The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Summit: The Collaborative Blueprint is an innovative and collaborative professional development experience designed to empower leaders in the legal profession to take action toward making Connecticut a more diverse and inclusive bench and bar. Through interactive workshops and discussions, you will gain knowledge and learn strategies to help create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment in your organization and in the State of Connecticut.

    Register
  • Oct 21
    Diversity & Inclusion Summit (CDC201021)
    Zoom Video Conference
    9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)
    Access Recording

    This summit focused on issues regarding retention of diverse attorneys in organizations. Specifically, the summit featured presentations emphasizing the business case for diversity and the need for organizational changes to promote an inclusive environment, as well as strategies to build and foster meaningful mentor-mentee relationships. The summit also provided the statistics of the CBA Pledge and Plan signatory organizations.

  • Oct 23
    Connecticut's Diversity & Inclusion Summit: The Collaborative Blueprint* (CDC191023)
    Quinnipiac University School of Law
    370 Bassett Road
    North Haven, Connecticut
    United States
    8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)
    Access Recording

    This summit provided a snapshot of the data collected from the CBA Pledge and Plan Signatories, with a specific focus on the Year Three focus of the Pledge and Plan: Hiring and Pipeline Initiatives. The summit featured consultants from Veritas Culture, who spoke with attendees about the systematic and internal dynamics that negatively impact the ability to recruit, retain, and promote diverse talent. The summit also featured conversations regarding the role of law firms in mentoring diverse attorneys and narratives from diverse legal professionals regarding their experiences of being an underrepresented minority in the legal profession.

  • Oct 24
    Connecticut's Diversity & Inclusion Summit: The Collaborative Blueprint* (CDC181024)
    Quinnipiac University School of Law
    370 Bassett Road
    North Haven, Connecticut
    United States
    10:30 AM to 6:30 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)
    Access Recording

    This summit provided a snapshot of the data collected from the CBA Pledge and Plan Signatories, which highlights initial statistics on the diversity within the Connecticut legal profession. The summit also covered the importance of pipeline initiatives as well as tools for creating a more inclusive environment to retain diverse talent.


Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Summit Committee Members

Hon. Cecil J. Thomas
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Summit Committee Chair; Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee Co-Chair; Past President, Connecticut Bar Association; Judge of the Connecticut Superior Court

Hon. Tejas Bhatt
Connecticut Bar Association Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee Co-Chair; Judge of the Connecticut Superior Court

Margaret I. Castinado
Connecticut Bar Association Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee Co-Chair; President, Connecticut Bar Association; Office of the Public Defender

Hon. Karen L. DeMeola
Past President, Connecticut Bar Association; Judge of the Connecticut Superior Court

Michelle Duprey
City of New Haven - Office of Corporation Counsel

Ronald J. Houde, Jr.
Connecticut Bar Association Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee Co-Chair; Bartlett & Grippe LLC

Stephen B. Reynolds
Cigna

Alix Simonetti
Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities

Kean A. Zimmerman
Tokio Marine HCC - D&O Group

Keith J. Soressi
Executive Director, Connecticut Bar Association

Rachel J. Tischler
Director of Diversity & Human Resources, Connecticut Bar Association