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Metropolitan Black Bar Association installs new officers and directors

October 26, 2017 By Rob Abruzzese, Legal Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

The Metropolitan Black Bar Association President Paula Edgar (center in red) was sworn in last Tuesday. Pictured from left: Zalika Pierre, Shantal Sparks, Darryl Gibbs, Nadine Etienne-Bazile, Patrick Michel, Tyear Middleton, Carl Forbes Jr., Jason Clark, Paula Edgar, Jenesha Tai, Turquoise Haskin, Alison Moore, Dionne Gill, Areal Allen-Stewart, Luwick Francois, Wayne McKenzie, Dawn Reid-Green and Karume James. Photos courtesy of MBBA

The Metropolitan Black Bar Association President Paula Edgar (center in red) was sworn in last Tuesday. Pictured from left: Zalika Pierre, Shantal Sparks, Darryl Gibbs, Nadine Etienne-Bazile, Patrick Michel, Tyear Middleton, Carl Forbes Jr., Jason Clark, Paula Edgar, Jenesha Tai, Turquoise Haskin, Alison Moore, Dionne Gill, Areal Allen-Stewart, Luwick Francois, Wayne McKenzie, Dawn Reid-Green and Karume James. Photos courtesy of MBBA

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The Metropolitan Black Bar Association (MBBA) held its annual induction ceremony at Proskauer Rose LLP in Manhattan last Tuesday where they re-installed President Paula Edgar and the rest of the officers and board of directors.

Edgar is back for the second year of a two-year term. She was sworn in alongside new board members including Jason M. Clark as the president-elect; Anta Cisse-Green, vice president of programming; Nadine Etienne-Basile, vice president of membership; Tyear Middleton, vice president of finance; Luwick Francois, treasurer; Areal Allen-Stewart, secretary; and Roy Locke, general counsel.

Judge William Kuntz, of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, was on hand for the ceremony to swear in the new officers and directors.

During her speech, Edgar took a look back at her “Four Ps” initiative and introduced one for the new year: IMPACT, which stands for innovation, mentoring, partnerships, advocacy, community and training.

“For the second year of my presidency, IMPACT is our theme,” Edgar said. “We will focus on how the MBBA will have a greater influence on the legal community as well as the broader communities we serve.”

The difference in the two plans is subtle (the four Ps stand for professional development, pipeline, partnership and presence). The difference is an emphasis on innovation and advocacy.

It is no coincidence that these have been added as a large portion of MBBA’s members are immigrants or come from immigrant families, and with President Donald Trump trying to enact three different versions of a travel ban, Edgar feels that more needs to be done to protect members and the community.

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