Mindful Mondays: City Bar Series on Well-Being and Mindfulness

(Webcast) Mindfulness Tools to Support a More Inclusive Legal Environment

Monday, August 3, 2020 | 11:00 am – 12:15 pm

Program Co-Instructors:

Cecilia B. Loving
Deputy Commissioner and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer (“CDIO”) at the Fire Department of New York City

Dena Samuels, PhD,
Author, Speaker, Leadership Trainer, and Consultant

  • With the death of George Floyd, many leaders and organizations are even more open and receptive to bringing about change and are actively engaged in creating a more diverse and inclusive work environment. Join Deputy Commissioner and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Cecilia B. Loving and Mindfulness and Social Justice Expert Dena Samuels as they share tools about how to create a more inclusive work environment through mindfulness and other restorative practices. Through Commissioner Loving’s work in moving beyond compliance with compassion, connection and commitment for racial healing and Dr. Samuel’s research on the “Mindfulness Effect” and social justice, they will share tools for how legal practitioners and administrators can be more proactive in supporting a more inclusive work environment. Together, they will teach how we can lean into our discomfort to be more accountable to the necessary work of inclusion; how we can learn to connect with everyone regardless of their differences; how we can ‘hold space’ to embrace the stories of everyone; how we can reduce implicit bias and develop better judgment; and how we can employ mindfulness tools to enhance our emotional intelligence and thus our ability to be appreciative leaders.

    Program Fee: Free for Members | $50 for Nonmembers

  • Cecilia B. Loving provides leadership for developing and maintaining a positive and holistic work environment for over 17,000 members.  She oversees a number of diversity and inclusion initiatives, including but not limited the Fire Commissioner’s Taskforce on Racial Inclusion & Equity, and the Fire Commissioner’s Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, FDNY Courageous Conversations on Racial Inclusion, Bravest Women Talks, Diversity and Inclusion Innovation Labs, Inclusion Strategy Videos, Inclusive Leadership Training, and similar initiatives. She is founder of the Mindfulness Group at FDNY and is Chair of the NYC Bar Association’s first Mindfulness and Well-Being in the Law Committee. She has written nine books, including God is a Lawyer Too and Unbroken Circles: Holding Space, Healing Harm and Transcending Edges, as well as numerous articles and blogs, including “Some Ways to Help Racial Healing”; “Setting the Tone Right Through Inclusive Leadership”; “The Power of Inclusion: Treating Others Well is Essential to Our Well-Being”; “More Support for Mindfulness: Reduction of Implicit Bias”; and “Restorative Circles: Finding Solutions from Ancient Traditions.”

    Dena Samuels, PhD serves as a mindfulness-based diversity, equity, and inclusion author, speaker, leadership trainer, and consultant. As an award-winning tenured professor, Dr. Samuels taught at the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs for 20 years while consulting nationally and internationally. She now consults full-time on mindful, inclusive leadership development, and remains on faculty at the University.  Dr. Samuels is author of The Mindfulness Effect: An Unexpected Journey to Healing, Connection, and Social Justice; The Culturally Inclusive Educator: Preparing for a Multicultural World; and The Matrix Reader: Examining the Dynamics of Oppression and Privilege. She is an expert in mindfulness and social justice. Her passions include inspiring people to raise their personal and social awareness to live more fulfilling, connected, and meaningful lives; and assisting organizations, campuses, and corporations in building more diverse, equitable, and inclusive cultures.  For more, go to https://www.denasamuels.com/

  • 11:00 am – 11:15 am
    LISTEN COURAGEOUSLY AT WORK

    • By leaning into our discomfort, we are fully present
    • By learning about race as a construct, we connect with everyone
    • By holding space, we embrace the stories of everyone, regardless of differences with humility

    11:15 am – 11:30 am
    CENTERING BENEFITS COLLEAGUES AND CLIENTS

    • By consistently meditating, we improve the practice of law
    • By taking power pauses, we are more resilient to serve
    • By focusing our attention, we reduce implicit bias and develop better judgment as counsel
    • By using inclusion meditations, we become necessary change

    11:30 am – 11:45 am
    INTENTIONALLY INCLUDE

    • By sponsoring and mentoring those who are different, we increase belonging by actively including
    • By noticing our biases and behaviors, we do not exclude
    • By making sure everyone has the same tools and opportunities, we give all a chance to succeed
    • By inviting, encouraging, and welcoming, we develop the skills to serve everyone with respect and appreciation

    11:45 am – 12:00 pm
    APPRECIATE DIFFERENCES

    • By being more diverse, we aid legal innovation
    • By appreciating others, we enhance our productivity
    • By realizing no one is superior, we honor everyone

    12:00 pm – 12:15 pm
    QUESTIONS

  • New York: 1.0 Diversity, Inclusion and Elimination of Bias
    New Jersey: 1.0 General
    California: 1.0 Diversity, Inclusion and Elimination of Bias
    Pennsylvania: 0.5 General
    Connecticut: Available to Licensed Attorneys

  • Sponsoring Association Committee:
    Mindfulness and Well-Being in Law, Cecilia B. Loving, Chair

    Co-Sponsoring Association Committees:
    Alternative Dispute Resolution, Charles M. Newman, Chair
    Government Ethics & State Affairs, Jennifer G. Rodgers, Chair
    Mental Health Law, Karen P. Simmons, Chair

    Co-Sponsored By:
    Lawyer Assistance Program, Eileen Travis, Director
    Office of Diversity & Inclusion, Deborah Martin Owens, Executive Director

    Sponsorship Opportunities are Available! Please Contact:
    Angie Avila, Manager, Membership Outreach and Sponsorships | (212) 382-6608 | aavila@nycbar.org

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