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File #: 260144    Version: 0 Name:
Type: Resolution Status: ADOPTED
File created: 2/26/2026 In control: CITY COUNCIL
On agenda: Final action: 2/26/2026
Title: Welcoming the 58th Mid-Atlantic Black Law Students Association Regional Convention to the City of Philadelphia
Sponsors: Councilmember Young, Councilmember Phillips, Councilmember Lozada, Councilmember Brooks, Councilmember O'Rourke, Councilmember Driscoll, Councilmember Squilla
Title
Welcoming the 58th Mid-Atlantic Black Law Students Association Regional Convention to the City of Philadelphia

Body
WHEREAS the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) is the nation's largest student-run law organization dedicated to empowering Black students and other persons of color through advocacy, scholarship, and professional development; and

WHEREAS the Mid-Atlantic Black Law Students Association hosts its 58th Annual Regional Convention, this week from February 25th until March 1st, offering students, legal professionals, and partners opportunities to engage in immersive programming, networking, and competitions reflecting the highest standards of academic and professional achievement; and

WHEREAS Black attorneys remain significantly underrepresented within the legal profession nationally, comprising approximately 5% of practicing lawyers in the United States despite Black Americans comprising 14% of the national population; and

WHEREAS this disparity underscores the critical importance of institutions such as NBLSA and MABLSA in cultivating and supporting pathways to legal education, mentorship, and professional advancement for Black law students; and

WHEREAS in the City of Philadelphia, with its rich legacy of Black legal leadership and civil rights advocacy, Black attorneys have played a transformative role in advancing equal justice, expanding access to legal representation, strengthening public defense, leading community-based advocacy, and serving in positions across the judiciary, prosecution, public interest law, private practice, academia, and government; and

WHEREAS the theme and programming of the convention highlight not only the exceptional talent and drive of future legal leaders but also the collective mission of NBLSA and MABLSA to promote justice, inclusion, and community impact; and

WHEREAS the City of Philadelphia has a long and proud history as a cradle of liberty and justice, making it a fitting host for this re...

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