I am truly honored and humbled to have been elected as the 35th president of the John M. Langston Bar Association, as this is an outstanding organization with a long history of great leadership and dedication to pursuing justice and social reform, advancing civil and human rights, educating the community on current legal and social issues, providing scholarships to highly deserving law students, and promoting ethics in the practice of law. The John M. Langston Bar Association is not only the largest and oldest bar association in California serving the African American legal community, but it also has a diverse membership of men and women attorneys, judges and law students of all racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Our theme this year is "Advocating for Citizens of the World." This theme is consistent with one of the founding purposes of the John M. Langston Bar Association, which is "to promote, speak for, and advance the cause of civil and human rights for all citizens of the world." In connection with this theme, we began the 2011 year at the Annual Installation & Awards Gala by honoring a few selected esteemed individuals who are global citizens and advocates for change in the world, as was the late John Mercer Langston, who was not only an abolitionist and advocated for the rights of freed slaves in America, but was also an international statesman, who served as U.S. Minister in Haiti for eight years and also served as chargé d'affaires to the Dominican Republic.
In pursuance of the vision of "Advocating for Citizens of the World," I am enthusiastic to work with the John M. Langston Bar Association's 2011 board of directors to create programs that (a) help promote social reform and advance civil and human rights for the disenfranchised and underrepresented, not just here in Los Angeles, but in the world community; (b) inform our membership of current legal and social issues affecting the global community, including important, international human and civil rights issues and laws; and (c) provide local disadvantaged youth guidance and opportunities to further their development as global citizens and world leaders. With the John M. Langston Bar Association's 2011 board of directors and officers being comprised of a dynamic group of individuals, its committees being composed of energetic volunteers, and the continuous participation and support of its members, I am confident that the John M. Langston Bar Association will not only be an important element in promoting progressive change in our local communities this year, but it will also help make a positive difference in the world at large.
Gilda Clift Breland
President
The John M. Langston Bar Association of Los Angeles, Inc.
Damon M. Brown
John T. Anthony III
Goldie K. Gabriel
Yavonna L. Blackmon
Christiane A. Roussell
