MINNIS BAR ASSOCIATION FORMS SARASOTA-MANATEE COMMITTEE
The Fred G. Minnis, Sr. Bar Association is pleased to announce the formation of its newest committee, the Sarasota-Manatee Committee. The Fred G. Minnis, Sr. Bar Association is an affinity bar association that was formed following Fred G. Minnis, Sr.’s pioneering efforts in the legal profession for the Pinellas County lawyers.
While each bar association has a unique mission statement, affinity (minority) bar associations are needed because they are united by a similar objective: to promote the needs, interests, and goals of their members, and to increase the visibility of traditionally marginalized groups in the practice of law. In an increasingly diverse society, affinity bar associations play a crucial role in lobbying for the needs of attorneys across the demographic spectrum, particularly in light of a legal profession that continues to make efforts toward reflecting and representing the makeup of the nation as a whole. These goals translate to Minnis’ goals to promote and provide a support system for talented minority lawyers.
The Sarasota and Manatee legal community is very pleased about the Sarasota-Manatee Committee creation to foster and support the visibility of marginalized attorneys in the community. This partnership is life giving and supporting to our lawyers and it also serves as a conduit to promote justice and education in our communities. “It is truly an honor to join Minnis as we continue to champion the cultivation of minority lawyers as well as supporting our marginalized residents that comprise our areas of practice,” said Sarasota County Bar Association Council for Diversity and Inclusion’s Chair, Judge Karimu Hill-Harvey. “We hope to collaborate with the Sarasota County and Manatee County Bar Associations in the future as we collectively lift underrepresented groups in our profession and collective communities.”
“As Chair of the Florida Bar’s Standing Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, I have had the privilege of working with members of affinity Bar Associations across the state,”
said Charlie Ann Syprett. “I have seen firsthand the role they play in addressing the many challenges facing their members; challenges that are sometimes ignored or misunderstood by traditional Bar associations. I am honored to join the Sarasota-Manatee Committee of the Minnis Bar Association and to support its dedication to equality, mutual support and the collective success of its members.”
To celebrate the launch of this important initiative, the local Minnis Committee is hosting a special presentation of “My Lord What a Night” at Florida Studio Theatre on August 6, 2021, at 8:00 p.m. Based on actual events, this insightful new play offers a rare glimpse into the real-life struggles faced by two 20th century icons, renowned singer Marian Anderson and Albert Einstein. In 1937, after performing a sold-out concert in Princeton, NJ, Anderson was refused a room at the whites-only Nassau Inn. With nowhere to go, Albert Einstein invited her to stay in his own home, sparking a lifelong friendship. A conversation about the play led by Hon. Charles E. Williams will follow the performance. To purchase tickets, go to Eventbrite: “My Lord, What A Night”.
Founded in 2000, Fred G. Minnis, Sr. Bar Association has awarded scholarships to deserving youth, mentored high school and law school students, provided free legal advice to the community and worked diligently to fulfill the mission of the organization. Minnis was named after the first black full-time lawyer in Pinellas County, Florida—Fred G. Minnis, Sr. and is the only predominantly African-American voluntary bar association in Pinellas and now Sarasota and Manatee Counties. The mission of Minnis is to protect the civil rights of the historically disadvantaged in the community; to improve the administration of justice; to strengthen the honor and integrity of the legal profession; to mentor minority lawyers; and to promote scholarship of minority and disadvantaged youth.
