Virgil Hawkins Chapter celebrates 70 years of legal advocacy at sold-out gala
Brendalyn Edwards, center, was sworn in as president of the Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter National Bar Association at its 70th Anniversary Gala at The Boca Raton Resort on June 28. Edwards urged members to get involved with and support various outreach initiatives such as mentorship programs for aspiring attorneys and free legal clinics to assist underserved communities. Her theme for the upcoming year is “Strengthening Our Power Through Unity.”
The Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter National Bar Association (VHFCNBA) held its 70th Anniversary Gala at The Boca Raton Resort on June 28. The organization — named after civil rights attorney Virgil D. Hawkins, who led the effort to desegregate the University of Florida College of Law in 1949 — was established in 1955 to advance equality in the legal profession and the justice system.
The gala's theme was “Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges” and welcomed lawyers, judges, elected officials, community leaders, and legal professionals from across the country to a sold-out event of nearly 400 attendees. For the first time in its history, the organization presented 30 Medals of Honor to attorneys and judges for their leadership and advocacy to advance a more equitable and diverse legal system, and two Trailblazer Awards to Detra Shaw-Wilder, who was recently appointed a magistrate judge in the Southern District of Florida, and to Florida Bar President Rosalyn Sia Baker-Barnes. The VHFCNBA Trailblazer Award honors a member of The Florida Bar with more than 15 years of exemplary service, whose career reflects the legacy and pioneering spirit of Virgil Hawkins.
Magistrate Judge Enjolique Aytch Lett of the U.S. Southern District of Florida swore in the new President Brendalyn Edwards, deputy general counsel at Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company. Edwards was born and raised in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, and made history as the first Virgin Islander to serve as president of a bar association in Florida, according to VHFCNBA.
President Edwards urged members to get involved with and support various outreach initiatives such as mentorship programs for aspiring attorneys and free legal clinics to assist underserved communities. Her theme for the upcoming year is “Strengthening Our Power Through Unity,” guided by four pillars of progress: assemble, align, activate, and amplify.
“We will continue to stand firmly for judicial independence, the integrity of the rule of law, and the urgent need for a judiciary that reflects the diversity of the communities they serve.” Edwards said. “These values are non-negotiable in any system that claims to deliver justice.”
The executive officers of the board were sworn in by 11th Circuit Judge Julie Harris Nelson and included:
- President-elect Vladimir St. Louis, founding partner at St. Louis Law.
- Vice President Sherea Randle, ASP professor of practice & adjunct professor of Law at Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law
- Treasurer William Saintilus, associate at Benmeleh Law
- Secretary M. Deborah Saint-Vil, staff attorney at Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.
- Student Liaison Reed Blair, senior legal counsel at Duke Energy Corporation
- General Counsel Brandon M. Sapp, founding partner at Brandon Sapp Law
- Parliamentarian Noel G. Lawrence, founding partner at Noel G. Lawrence, P.A.
- Immediate Past President Benjamin C. Garcia, associate at Osborne & FrancisThe night was made possible by a multitude of gala sponsors and contributors, including Gold level sponsors, Paul & Perkins, Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company, and Nick Pittman for NBA President-elect.
Additional award recipients included Lisa Harvey of Orlando (the President's Award), Michael's Deborah Saint-Vil of Miami (the Young Lawyers Award), George Edgecomb Bar Association of Hillsborough County, led by President Tiffany Hilton (the Affiliate of the Year Award).
The night was made possible by a host of gala sponsors and contributors, including Gold level sponsors, Paul & Perkins, Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company, and Nick Pittman for National Bar Association President-Elect.
For more about the 70th Anniversary Gala and the biographies of the 30 Medal of Honor recipients, visit https://virgilhawkinsnba.com/70th-anniversary-gala/
