In 2023, Let’s Embrace Diversity, Not Division

Were he still alive, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would have celebrated his 94th birthday today. Regardless of the forum, his underlying message was, in essence, centered around achieving equity, justice, and peace through nonviolent means. Thus, Dr. King was a staunch advocate for “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” long before it ever became a popular catchphrase.

As we are now 55 years from his untimely passing, we should take a moment to assess, just how close are we really to “overcoming?” Bafflingly, the advancement we’ve made as a society has not kept pace with the growing number of resources and tools at our disposal. And, while modest gains have been made in select critical areas, there are still important ones requiring attention, including education.

For more than half a century, the Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO) has helped do its part to continue the trailblazing legacy of this “Champion of Change” by training and providing valuable information to thousands of ethnically diverse and underrepresented students seeking to positively impact the nation’s legal profession. At CLEO, we have never given up hope that, true change is possible when we strive to make a difference, both individually and collectively.

Whether as a judge, attorney, legislator, academic, businessperson, or community advocate, CLEO alumni have established their respective presence in numerous sectors. With another calendar year underway, we invite everyone who reads this message to join us on our journey to help develop the next generation of leaders and “social engineers.” For more details about our programs and how you can support CLEO, please visit us online at Cleoinc.org or send an email to cleo@cleoinc.org.

Thank you in advance for doing your part to help keep the DREAM alive!

Sincerely,
The CLEO Team

About the Council on Legal Education Opportunity, Inc.

CLEO, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to diversifying the legal profession by expanding legal education opportunities for persons from traditionally under-represented racial and ethnic groups, low-income, and disadvantaged communities. Founded in 1968, when the number of lawyers of color was less than one percent, CLEO has since had more than 28,000 high school, college, prelaw, and law students participate in its programs. CLEO alumni have excelled in every area of the legal profession to include judges, corporate attorneys, law school deans and professors, practitioners, and politicians. More information about CLEO and its programs can be found at https://cleoinc.org. Additionally, to watch episodes of the new CLEO EDGE Podcast, please click here: https://www.youtube.com/@cleoscholars.

Media Contact:
Bernetta J. Hayes
240-582-8600
bhayes@cleoinc.org

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