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Do you know an African American Lawyer, 40 or under, who is doing great things in the legal community? Share their story with the world by nominating this young lawyer for Nation’s Best Advocates: 40 Lawyers Under 40. This year, the National Bar Association and IMPACT will produce the third annual Nation’s Best Advocates (N.B.A.): 40 Lawyers Under 40 at the 87th Annual Convention in Las Vegas, NV. The purpose of this prestigious award is to recognize up and coming talented individuals (age 40 and under) within the African American legal community who have achieved prominence and distinction in their fields. Successful nominees will have demonstrated a strong commitment to empowering, uplifting, and advocating for the African American community. Nominees should represent a cross-section of legal professionals: solo practitioners, government lawyers, judges, academicians, corporate counsels, young elected officials, and others lawyers who are using their law degree in innovative ways. Winners are chosen based on: achievement, innovation, vision, leadership, and legal community involvement.Today is the last day for nominations with the Nations Best Advocates. Please make sure you are tapping your personal networks to get the word out about the contest and have people visit NationsBestAdvocates.com.

Why is this important?

There are a number of lawyers that do not receive recognition for their great work and therefore have to fight for promotion within their firms or work environment. By providing outside recognition to some of these up and coming lawyers we can help them continue to climb the ladders of their chosen profession and also expose those in their community to lawyers that are serving in their communities.

Who are some of the past nominees?

Since our first class was revealed in 2010 IMPACT and the National Bar has been proud to see the nominees continue their ascent from associates to Presidential Appointees, to judges, to partners and to other national figures. You may not know this but Attorney Ben Crump was in the 2010 class and has since gone on to help steer the legal team representing the family of Trayvon Martin. Many others, just like Attorney Crump, have continued serving their community in ways that are invaluable while also being supported by members of the National Bar Association. Please be sure to check out the video of last year’s event on NationsBestAdvocates.com

What is the benefit to being nominated?

Besides the recognition on NationsBestAdvocates.com and  at the program nominees are added to a unique network of lawyers and professionals around the world working to promote better communities. Additionally nominees are featured through the media partners of IMPACT and the National Bar Association for the subsequent twelve months.

When is the list revealed?

The full list of 40 nominees for this years class will be revealed in about a month at the end of May 2012 on NationsBestAdvocates.com. The nominees will also be featured at the Nations Best Advocates Gala on July 15, 2012 in Las Vegas, NV to kick off the National Bar Association annual meeting.

Thanks,

TEAM IMPACT

By Shanel Adams

In the last few years, professional development gurus have warned job seekers about the effects of social media accounts. Thus, people have become focused on cleaning their Facebook page of the slightest inappropriateness and blocking their tweets from being viewed publicly. However, your professional presence online is more than employers being unable to see what you do, but displaying all of your professional traits to attract them.

Job recruiters are relying heavily on the digital presence of individuals when seeking candidates of employment. From online resumes to portfolios, recruiters are becoming more and more attracted to people by how they look online. The key to maximizing your attractiveness to recruiters is to have an outstanding online presence.

When creating a digital presence, avoid creating accounts that have little information about yourself that stands out to recruiters. For example, do not simply create a Linkedin account, but maximize the features within the site to display all of your work and qualities. Include more details than your traditional resume displays. Show projects that you did while working at current and positions. Market yourself in a way that is attractive and creative.

Additionally, another great way to take control of your online presence professionally is
by creating an online portfolio, your own personal website, or simply a blog conveying your professional abilities. This gives you the creative control to display your work, interests, biography and more without recruiters having to assume.

In an ever-growing technological World, a digital presence is imperative when seeking professional opportunities. Use the web to your advantage by presenting your skills to attract recruiters, rather than only focusing on erasing the Facebook pictures that may ward them away.

On  February 26, 2012, 17 year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by self-appointed neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman as he  returned home from a trip to a local convenience store.  After 28 days, Zimmerman has yet to be charged in the case and is citing self-defense as his reason for the use of deadly force.

The circumstances of the case sent ripples of outrage across the nation. This week a petition demanding the arrest of Zimmerman reached over 1.5 million signatures on Change.org. Compelling pictures of ordinary citizens garbed in hoodies-black, white, young and old, from Muhammad Ali to former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm- appeared from rallies, on social media, websites and blogs, as well as on TV screens across our nation. This week, a movement was launched.

Today, IMPACT along with Congressional staffers from organizations spanning a kaleidoscope of races, cultures  and backgrounds came together to take their own stand for justice.

Dubbed ”Hoodies on the Hill,” the rally was a chance for the participating organizations to show their support for basic human rights and bring to the fore the  grave injustice dealt to Trayvon and his family. The message was clear; the demand for justice, poignant. In a particularly powerful moment, Brandon Andrews, a former resident of Florida and co-director of  African-American Men on the Hill,  said what was on the minds and hearts of so many in attendance: “It could have been me.”

Senate Chaplain Barry Black, a former U.S. Navy Commander, spoke of his experience with being racially profiled while he was stationed in San Diego, CA. Residents of the neighborhood he was in thought he looked “suspicious” and called the police to investigate. Once the police officers found his military ID, they let him go. But for him, the incident left its mark. Chaplain Black concluded his remarks by asking all of those in an attendance to pledge to pray for the healing of racial tension in America.

The rally ended with one staffer leading the crowd in singing ” A Change Gon’ Come” by Sam Cook and “We Shall Overcome.”  For those in attendance, it seemed even for just a few moments America stood one step closer to achieving the healing it so desperately needs.

Want to get involved? Sign the petition or attend one of the many events planned over the next few days:

Sanford Event:

• NAACP March in Sanford, FL on March 31st: The NAACP will be hosting a march in Sanford, FL on Saturday, March 31.  It will begin at 11am at a local church.  The crowd will march to the police station. Contact Rebecca Guerra at RGuerra@naacpnet.org or by phone at 410.580.5133 or at 443.540.1491.

Sign the Petition:

• Here is the link to the petition on  change.org: http://www.change.org/petitions/prosecute-the-killer-of-our-son-17-year-old-trayvon-martin.

Local Events:

• Join the NAACP Washington D.C. Branch and the National Black United Front (NBUF) as we join together in solidarity, Friday March 23, 2012 at 6:30 p.m., for a Prayer Vigil for Trayvon Martin & his family.  The prayer vigil will take place at The Big Chair located at 2100 MLK Avenue S.E., Washington D.C.  All are welcomed and encouraged to attend.
• Stand Up for Trayvon Justice Rally will be held at Freedom Plaza, located at 14^th and Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC on Saturday, March 24 at 2:00pm.  Attendees are asked to wear all black or a wear a hoodie.  For more info, contact: dctrayvonrally@gmail.com.
• Following the prayer vigil, on Monday, March 26, 2012 at 4:00 p.m., NBUF will hold a Solidarity Rally at the U.S. Department of Justice, 1425 New York Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C.  Participants are encouraged to wear black for unity.  Drummers are encouraged to attend.
• March for Justice on Monday, March 26, 2012 at 6:00pm.  This march will take place at the Campus Mall in front of Blue Ridge Hall at Bridgewater College in Virginia.  They would like to invite students, faculty, and staff member of neighboring colleges and universities to participate in the march. If you have any questions or would like to participate, please contact Nahshon Ford ’14 at 443-447-0093 or via e-mail nrf002@eagles.bridgewater.edu or Cornell Wade ‘13 at 301-520-8817 or via e-mail at cjw004@eagles.bridgewater.edu.

In addition to IMPACT, the follwing organizations participated in today’s rally: Congressional Black Associates (CBA) | Black Republican Congressional Staff Association (BRCSA) | Congressional Hispanic Staff Association (CHSA) | African American Men on the Hill (AAMH) | Greeks on the Hill | Congressional Asian Pacific American Staff Association (CAPASA) | Deltas on the Hill | AKAs on the Hill | Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Congressional Staff Association (LGBT-CSA)| Congressional African Staff Association (CASA) | Congressional Muslim Staff Association (CMSA)

Congressional Black Associates (CBA) | Black Republican Congressional Staff Association (BRCSA) | Congressional Hispanic Staff Association (CHSA) | African American Men on the Hill (AAMH) | Greeks on the Hill | Congressional Asian Pacific American Staff Association (CAPASA) | Deltas on the Hill | AKAs on the Hill | Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Congressional Staff Association (LGBT-CSA)| Congressional African Staff Association (CASA) | Congressional Muslim Staff Association (CMSA) | IMPACT
Cordially invite you to take part in
“Hoodies on the Hill”
~A Moment of Contemplation~

In Memory of Mr. Trayvon Martin, a 17-year old 

Florida teenager killed while walking home 

because someone decided he looked suspicious in a hoodie. Today we wear our hoodies. Today we are Trayvon Martin. 

Join Us Today, March 23, 2012 at 1:00pm! On the East Steps on the Capitol

Stand in Solidarity. Stand for Justice.

The RSVP for Preview: A Red Carpet Affair is now closed.