On November 16, the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association (BWBA) held its yearly Membership Party at the Brooklyn Bar Association facility.
It was a major BWBA tradition that provided a forum for networking and companionship among members. Interspersed with karaoke and socializing, the relaxed atmosphere featured a quick speech by BWBA President Jovia Radix.
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President Radix stressed in her remarks the value of membership that goes beyond monetary donations. She emphasized the significance of providing Marea Wachsman, the new president of the Women’s Bar Association for the State of New York (WBASNY), with strong support and emphasized the role of BWBA in representing the state bar association. Radix made it apparent what needed to be done to guarantee Wachsman had strong support in her new position.
Radix stated, “Membership is not just about money and how we run this organization.” She added, “What is really important is how we are represented in the state bar association (The Women’s Bar Association for the State of New York) and the delegates that we get towards the end of the year to make decisions.”
“This coming year, WBASNY will be led by our very own Marea Wachsman and we want to make sure that she walks in with a strong, strong bar association behind her,” Radix explained.
She noted, “You also get all of our CLEs that we provide, our regular Lunch with a Judge series that we host month after month, our annual Christmas party, our gala at the end of the year,” while further adding, “All of those things are based on our membership, which gives us the ability to do those things.
The celebration of Renee Turner Gregory, a veteran employee of the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, was the evening’s high point. Gregory, who will soon retire, has played a significant role in the legal community, especially as the Brooklyn DA’s Office’s chief diversity and inclusion officer. Her path from six years of teaching to her graduation from Brooklyn Law School as a lawyer demonstrates her commitment to resolving injustices in marginalized areas.
Gregory’s broad contributions were praised by Hon. Sylvia Hinds-Radix, NYC Corporation Counsel and former president of the BWBA. She praised Gregory as a role model and mentor for women in the legal field. Gregory’s community influence and unwavering efforts were recognized when the BWBA decided to award her.
President Radix describes Gregory as an “incredible woman”. She added, “She has been toiling for a long time. She is about to retire and that’s why the BWBA wanted to make sure that she gets the flowers for the work that she has been doing. She has been a mentor, she has been an example for other women to follow. We like to highlight women who do good work and you are a great worker.”
Gregory’s response focused on her work with the BWBA members and stressed the value of helping one another as well as the larger community. She highlighted her dedication to encouraging young women by sharing her delight in serving as a Girl Scout leader for 1.5 years.
“I’ve done work with many of you,” Gregory noted. “It is very important that we support each other and our communities so we don’t have to see young people faced with adversity coming through the court system. One of the things that I’m very proud of is that I’ve been a Girl Scout leader for the last five years. It’s important that we reach out to support young women.”
The BWBA will host its Holiday Party on December 12, as one of its two upcoming events in December. Visitors are asked to bring an unwrapped toy and children’s jackets to the event, which is scheduled to take place at Brooklyn Law School. The Department of Homeless Services and Safe Homes Project of Brooklyn will receive donations from the raffle held at the Christmas party.
Subsequently, on December 14, the BWBA will present its “Lunch with a Judge” event with Hon. Wavny Toussaint, the presiding justice of the 2nd, 11th, and 13th Judicial Districts of the Supreme Court’s Appellate Term. That virtual event begins at 1 p.m. on Zoom.
