Waldrep Stewart & Kendrick Nominated for 2009 Diversity Leadership Award
Differences challenge assumptions
Birmingham law firm Waldrep Stewart & Kendrick LLC has been nominated for the American Bar Association's 2009 Diversity Leadership Award. The ABA presents this award to individuals and entities that promote full and equal participation in the legal profession through the encouragement and inclusion of women, minorities, persons with disabilities and/or persons of differing sexual orientations and gender identities.
"Waldrep Stewart & Kendrick believes that diversity is a people issue and although its work force is diverse, it prides itself on helping diverse communities as well," says Robin Burrell of the Najjar Denaburg firm who submitted the nomination. "Issues of difference are everywhere, but Waldrep Stewart & Kendrick turns those issues into assets."
Long history of diversity
Of WSK's 18 attorneys, five are women; four are African-American and others are of diverse backgrounds. The support staff is also evenly divided between Caucasians and African-Americans. The firm itself has been recognized for its efforts by the United Negro College Fund, the Sickle Cell Foundation, 100 Black Men of Birmingham, Alpha Kappa Alpha, the Legacy of Leadership Luncheon & Awards, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Miles College, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham–Minority Health Resource Center & Gala.
Lieutenant Governor James E. Folsom, Jr., whose father served as governor during the "Jim Crow" era, also submitted a letter of support in addition to City of Leeds Clerk Kevin Fouts and Alabama Circuit Judge Houston L. Brown.
The 2009 Diversity Leadership Award recipient will be invited by the Diversity Committee of the Council of the Section of Litigation to attend the award presentation during the Section's Annual Conference April 29-May 1 in Atlanta. See page 3 of this issue for more information about the meeting.
