Missouri Lawyers Media to honor 20 for diversity work

For the first time, Missouri Lawyers Media will honor 20 attorneys, firms and organizations from around the state with its Diversity & Inclusion Awards for their work to support and advance those initiatives.

The inaugural event will recognize attorneys, firms and organizations who are significantly advancing diversity, inclusion and the dignity of all people in Missouri’s legal profession and in communities in which exceptional legal work impacts justice for all.

A selection committee, assembled from members of The Missouri Bar and statewide legal leaders, worked with Missouri Lawyers Media to review nominations and select the honorees. The 20 honorees, who include judges, firm and corporate leaders, attorneys for nonprofit organizations and one firm, will receive their awards during a ceremony Aug. 15 at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis.

The inaugural class of honorees includes:

Susan Bassford Wilson, Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete
Hillary Bean, Armstrong Teasdale
James A. Breckenridge, Levy Craig Law Firm
Koriambanya S. Carew, Shook, Hardy & Bacon
Patrick I. Chavez, Edward Jones
Lauren C. Collins, HeplerBroom
Nicole T.S. Cortes, MICA Project
Andy Crouppen, Brown and Crouppen
Judy P. Draper, Circuit Judge, St. Louis County
Willie J. Epps Jr., U.S. Magistrate Judge, Western District of Missouri
Kimberly A. Jones, Seyferth Blumenthal & Harris
J. Justin Meehan, J. Justin Meehan, Attorney at Law
Michelle Wimes, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart
Christopher A. Pickett, Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale
Keith Price, Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard
Tamee V. Reese, AT&T
Reuben A. Shelton, Monsanto Company
Stinson Leonard Street
Blake A. Strode, ArchCity Defenders
Lisa Sonia Taylor, Saint Louis University School of Law