IMAGES: Reflections of Who We Are

It is my privilege and honor to serve as the 29th President of the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys. I am honored that the members of this prestigious organization saw fit to choose me as their leader for this new decade of service and commitment to our profession and to our community. This is not a task I take lightly, because I understand that leadership is not about being in the front of the line. Sometimes you have to be in the middle or the end of it to effectively lead. No matter where I am in line, please know that I stand ready to lead this organization to higher heights in 2010. This year’s theme is IMAGES: Reflections of Who We Are. During 2009, as I thought about what I wanted this GABWA year to focus on, the word Images kept coming into my mind. I thought about how we see ourselves, how others see us, and what effect does that have on our existence in this beloved community. Through our programming this year, I hope to make us all more cognizant of the images we portray, as well as the perceptions that our status as Black women and Black women attorneys often create in the global community. I also hope to illustrate to the rest of the state and beyond, the powerful images of Black women and the issues that are central to our mission of advocating for women and children’s issues—from health and fitness, to education and the protection of our children from sexual predators and abusive lifestyles; from tackling homelessness to joblessness, to investing in a pipeline of young people who are primed and ready to take their seat at the table and lead us into a brighter future for all of us.

This year we will see a marked increase in the amount of service we provide to our community and to the global community. There are women and children in dire need in our city, throughout the state, and across the world. We as GABWA members are in the special position to be able to serve the least, the last, and the lost. Many of our GABWA members spent time in Labadee, Haiti in November as part of our annual CLE at Sea. Little did any of us know that two months later, the country would be rocked by an earthquake of epic proportions. Throughout the year, we will put special emphasis on the need created in Haiti by the recent earthquake. We will coordinate service projects, clothing drives, and other projects to assist with the rebuilding of that nation and its people. We will also continue to provide the same depth and range of services to the citizens of Atlanta, Savannah, Macon, Columbus, and Albany. Every city within our reach will be touched by the compassion and dedication of our members.

The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; and be proud, but not arrogant. I am up and ready for this challenge and excited about a fabulous year.

Yours for GABWA,

La'Keitha Daniels
2010 GABWA President

Download the 2010 Membership Application