e seek to establish, maintain and communicate an inclusive work environment in which people of diverse backgrounds, outlooks and interests can share a commitment to our core ideals of professionalism, excellence, and teamwork. We recognize that both the professional and personal rewards of our shared efforts are enhanced by the diversity that is fostered by this spirit of inclusion. We believe we work better among ourselves and in solving clients’ problems when our team is made up of diverse individuals.

Our Inclusion Committee undertakes to focus the firm’s efforts to have an environment that embraces individual differences and promotes the personal inclusion of all lawyers. The Committee’s activities encompass

• ensuring that our spirit of inclusion is communicated internally and externally;
• welcoming new lawyers and fostering their personal involvement in the firm;
• supporting the firm’s efforts to recruit, retain and develop lawyers with diverse backgrounds, outlooks and interests; and
• evaluating and supporting opportunities to partner with others in the Bar and the community in diversity initiatives.

A number of our lawyers have been personally engaged in promoting greater diversity in our communities. Nationally, Rob Harrington served as the Co-Chair of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Locally, our lawyers have participated in a variety of initiatives designed to achieve greater equity and diversity in our community and profession. We co-sponsored the award-winning “Courage” exhibit and programs at Charlotte’s Levine Museum of the New South. Julian Wright served as Chair of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Equity Committee from 2002-2007. Charles Johnson serves on the Minorities in the Profession Committee of the North Carolina Bar Association and heads an initiative to establish a job fair for minority second-year law students in North Carolina. Dianne Bailey works on the Board of Advisors for the Women’s Intercultural Exchange. Krista Bowen serves on the board of directors of the National Conference for Community and Justice, Charlotte Region. We established – on a pro bono basis – the Minority Scholarship Foundation for Clinton Junior School, founded by the AME Zion Church. We have provided pro bono counsel to the Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Charlotte on corporate governance matters and in connection with the organization of the Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Charlotte Foundation. We hope that these and other future efforts, to which we are committed, can help our firm and our communities approach the ideals of openness, diversity and inclusiveness.