By James Weir
MLaw
Members of the Michigan Law community came together recently for the third African American Alumni Reunion, gathering in a virtual format that included presentation of the law school's Distinguished Alumni Award, the Alden J. Butch Carpenter Scholarship Gala and other events in support of MLaw's Black students and alumni.
"Our reunion participants brought the energy we needed to create an inclusive community experience for the virtual setting, and proves we made the right decision to pivot to a remote event when COVID postponed last year's Reunion," said Elizabeth Campbell, who was an executive co-chair of the reunion, along with Marty Dunn, Michele Coleman Mayes and Khalilah Spencer.
The modified virtual format involved nine pre-recorded panels that were made available in advance of the weekend of virtual events.
Those discussions were continued live with Q&A sessions, during which the panelists took questions from the audience and joined breakout rooms to delve deeper into issues such as voting rights, reparations and alternative careers in the law.
Curtis L. Mack, a labor and employment attorney who is rarely seen without his Michigan hat, was honored as the recipient of the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award in a ceremony that was originally scheduled for last year's reunion in Ann Arbor.
David A. Breach Dean of Law Mark West and Michele Coleman Mayes gave remarks, and were joined by special guest U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath of Georgia's sixth congressional district, who spoke of Mack's extensive mentorship and support of Atlanta-area advancement programs for young African Americans.
Mack was instrumental in establishing Michigan Law's African American alumni reunions and is known as a tireless networker and advocate on behalf of the countless individuals he has mentored over the years.
"Curtis is a treasure that has been given to us," Michele Coleman Mayes said. "We are the witnesses, the ones who will pass down his passions, his legacy, to younger generations.
"Curtis has set standards for us to uphold, and this is now our job, our responsibility to deliver, because Curtis always delivers. Curtis's commitment to and support of African American students, prospective and current, is palpable."
Mack was among the founding donors of the Gabriel Hargo Scholarship Fund, named after the first African American to graduate from the law school.
In her remarks, Mayes issued a call for friends and fellow alumni to join her and fellow reunion executive co-chair Elizabeth Campbell in making a gift to the scholarship in honor of Curtis Mack.
Other Reunion events included a presentation by Clinical Professor of Law Dana Thompson and Ellisen Turner, co-chairs of Michigan Law's Advisory Board on Race and Racism. They gave an update on the board's progress, and confirmed that the group will continue to examine issues of racism and disparity and issues in the Law Quad and issue actionable recommendations as necessary.
In a separate discussion session, West shared information about life in the Quad during the pandemic and provided an update related to his ongoing conversations with the Black Law Students Association that began during last summer's nationwide racial justice protests.
He also announced formation of a new Institute for Racial Justice, Equality and Democracy at the law school to serve as a focus for scholarship, research and intellectual life.
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