CHICAGO (August 25, 2016) – Barnes & Thornburg LLP held its Seventh Annual Celebration of Diversity dinner on Aug. 24 at the University Club of Chicago. The Honorable Robin L. Kelly, U.S. House of Representatives representing Illinois’ 2nd District, delivered the keynote address.
"We were honored to have Rep. Kelly as our keynote speaker at the Seventh Annual Celebration of Diversity dinner and awards ceremony,” said Richard Boykin, partner in the Chicago and Washington, D.C., offices of Barnes & Thornburg and a member of the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee. “Rep. Kelly’s speech highlighted the importance of continual improvement toward full inclusion of women and minorities in all aspects of employment. Her own personal career as a public servant is a testament to the progress of diversity in the workplace.”
The awards dinner recognized these Chicago business and legal leaders who have exhibited a personal and professional commitment to diversity, justice and civil rights: Janice Block, chief administrative and legal officer, Kaplan Inc.; Jodi Caro, general counsel and corporate secretary, ULTA Beauty; the Honorable Joy Cunningham, Illinois Appellate Court, First Division; and M. Faiyaz Hussain, senior counsel, global law department, Baxter Healthcare Corporation.
Barnes & Thornburg’s Celebration of Diversity also united more than 150 leaders in the legal and business communities, including Cook County judges, businessmen and women from a variety of corporations and non-profit organizations.
“Barnes & Thornburg recognizes that a commitment to diversity requires action and that diversity makes us all stronger,” said Mark Rust, managing partner of the Chicago office of Barnes & Thornburg. “While the Chicago business community has taken important steps to incorporate diversity initiatives within places of work, we believe we can always work on more creative approaches to honoring and furthering the diversity effort in our professional culture. Barnes & Thornburg is pleased to honor trailblazers in the Chicago business community who have promoted diversity through their accomplishments.”
Sponsors of Barnes & Thornburg’s Seventh Annual Celebration of Diversity event were: Chatham Business Association; Constellation Brands Beer Division; Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce; and The Chicago Lighthouse. Micah Materre of WGN-TV served as emcee and Rev. William E. Crowder, Jr. senior pastor of Park Manor Christian Church, offered the invocation.
With more than 600 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from 13 offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Delaware, Indiana, Los Angeles, Michigan, Minneapolis, Ohio, and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit us online at www.btlaw.com or on Twitter @BTLawNews.
