On Wednesday, September 6, Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law hosted the Orange County Bar Association’s first annual Diversity & Inclusion Unity in Service Celebration. The evening brought together several Orange County organizations for a conversation about diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.  At the event, “Be the Change” awards were bestowed on two honorees:  the Honorable Elizabeth Macias of the Orange County Superior Court, and Fowler School of Law’s Assistant Dean of Admission and Diversity Initiatives Justin Cruz. The awards were presented by the Honorable Frederick P. Aguirre, formerly of the Orange County Superior Court (Ret.).  The ceremony was hosted by president of the Thurgood Marshall Bar Association of Orange County Kimberly La Salle.

“I am extremely humbled and honored to receive the Be the Change award alongside the Honorable Judge Elizabeth Macias. This award symbolizes the Chapman Family spirit and how we have built bridges and partnerships to strengthen diversity and inclusion at the Fowler School of Law and in the Orange County legal community,” said Dean Cruz.

The event was held in collaboration with the Fowler School of Law’s Diversity & Social Justice Forum; Thurgood Marshall Bar Association; Orange County Hispanic Bar Association; Filipino-American Lawyers of Orange County; Muslim Bar Association of Southern California; Orange County Lavender Bar Association; Iranian American Bar Association; Orange County Korean American Bar Association; Orange County Asian American Bar Association; Orange County Women Lawyers Association; Veterans Legal Institute; OCBA Mommy Esq. Committee; OCBA Human Trafficking Task Force; Orange County Jewish Bar Association; OC Human Relations, OCBA Amicus Alo Task Force; Consumer Attorneys of Orange County Diversity Committee; EGM Legal Studies Academy; OCBA Young Lawyers Division; and the Orange County Coalition for Diversity in the Law.