Page 14 - Phoenix Vol 11 No 4

EXECUTIVE BOARD
LOS ABOGADOS: DIVERSITY, EDUCATION, ADVOCACY
“By any standard, Los Abogados, Arizona’s Hispanic Bar Association, is a success- ful and unique bar association built not only on professional relationships among members, but also a commitment to serving the community and to the advancement of Latinos in Arizona. In just four decades, we have made great strides in promoting diversity in the legal profession, encouraging higher education in the Latino com- munity, and advocating for the rights of Latinos,” says organization President Judith E. Dávila, Esq.
Founded in 1976 and incorporated in 1988, Los Abogados’ members include pri- vate and public attorneys, judges, community and business partners, paralegals and law students. Members practice throughout Arizona, and serve as o cers and di- rectors of county, state, and federal bar and civic associations. Los Abogados is also an a liate member of the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA). Today, Los Abogados has more than 200 active members, including skilled lawyers and generous community partners who share a profound commitment to create positive change in the Latino community. Now entering its 43rd year, Los Abogados is larger, more in u- ential, and more engaged and inspiring than it has ever been, Dávila says.
e founding members of Los Abogados were focused on increasing the number of Latino attorneys by building relationships and increasing their visibility and voice. To increase the number of Latino attorneys, Los Abogados began raising money for law school scholarships. In 1988, Los Abogados created the Hon. Valdemar A. Cordova Scholarship, in honor of Arizona’s rst Latino Federal Judge. e scholar- ship e orts developed into a broader goal to raise funds for endowed scholarships to ensure that they would be awarded in perpetuity. In 2015, Los Abogados achieved a decades-long goal. and created and funded a $100,000 endowment at the ASU Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, and through additional donations, this scholarship
has grown.
In 2018, Los Abogados achieved the second phase of this goal, funding a $100,000
endowment at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers’ College of Law. e schol- arships are awarded to students who are active in and supportive of the Latino com- munity, to alleviate the nancial burden on students, and to hopefully inspire them to later pay it forward by continuing to support future law students and the Latino community.
ese scholarships are funded by the generous support raised through the annual Spring Golf Tournament, and the Annual Fall awards Gala, both of which are well- received by all attendees and sponsors. In 2018, Los Abogados re-launched its Foun- dation, originally established in 2012. e Los Abogados Foundation established its separate Board of Directors, and looks forward to providing donors the bene t of contributing to a 501(c)(3) organization. Los Abogados also looks forward to expand- ing the education and scholarship programming through its new partnership with the Foundation.
In addition to scholarships, increasing diversity in the profession requires mentor-
ATTORNEY AT LAW MAGAZINE · PHOENIX· VOL. 11 NO. 4 14
Judith E. Dávila, President
Casey Arellano, Recording Secretary
Phil Ortega, Communications Director
Marcos A. Tapia, Vice President
Fernando Anzaldua, Treasurer
Ashley Villaverde Halvorson, Immediate Past President