For 65 years, the Mexican American Bar Association (MABA LA) has been a guiding light for Latinos in the legal profession. As one of the beneficiaries of their decades-long commitment to justice and equality, it was a privilege to be recognized as Attorney of the Year at their 65th?Annual Awards Gala.
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As the first in my family to graduate high school and college—let alone law school—I know what it means to navigate spaces that weren’t built for people like me. For years, even as a successful lawyer, I questioned whether I had to change who I was in order to “belong.” Over time I’ve learned that our power lies in embracing our values and our lived experience. MABA was critical in helping me build that sense of power and authenticity. And I have found the more we succeed at being our true selves, the more we open doors for others who follow.
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Many of the attendees at the gala have experienced similar challenges and joys—their own unlikely journeys—in the legal profession. In speaking to them, I emphasized that, at this critical moment in time when we are under attack, we cannot afford to be silent. Our communities have always been powerful in the face of tremendous odds. We are the life force of America's future, and we have the tools to fight back—not with hate, but with an unshakable commitment to justice, progress and love.
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Thank you to my mentor Antonia Hernandez for her moving introduction.?And thanks to the many friends and clients who celebrated with me...Arturo Becerra, Karim Webb, Julissa Bermudez, Vanessa Delgado, Michael Stern, Arturo Sneider, Alexis Suárez Urquijo, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, Wendy Carrillo, Roland Palencia, MA, Alan Acosta, Ramneek S., Tetlo Emmen, Ginger Hitzke, Sarah Magana, Maribel S. Medina, Olga Miranda and Mario Ceballos.
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Proud to be in the MABA familia, and fortunate to be able to work in a field I love!
