Page 15 - Florida Sentinel 2-24-17

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Civil Rights Activist Arthenia Joyner Speaks At WMU-Cooley Law School
RIVERVIEW — In ob- servance of Black History Month, the Black Law Stu- dents Association at WMU- Cooley Law School’s Tampa Bay campus hosted civil rights activist and former Florida State Senator Arthenia Joyner to speak about “Increasing Diversity in the Legal Profession.”
Atty. Joyner has spent her career advocating for civil rights. She served as a member of the Florida Sen- ate for 10 years, represent- ing the Tampa Bay Area from 2006 to 2016 and was the Senate minority leader during her last two years in office. Joyner left the Florida Senate due to term limits.
During her Feb. 15 pres- entation, Joyner spoke about increasing diversity in the legal profession and achieving academic success. She encouraged students to take full advantage of their education.
“Cooley has given you an
Civil rights activist Arthenia Joyner pictured with Professor Renalia DuBose and members of the WMU-Cooley Law School’s Black Law Students Association Executive Board Members: Clyde Barrow, April Fly, Shedaris Lakin, Sheena Bright and Kiarra Gilliam.
opportunity to do tunity,” Joyner said. allpeople."
President Bill Clinton ti- tled, “On the Pulse of Morn- ing,” which celebrates connectedness and human solidarity.
“It was an honor having Arthenia speak to our community for this event,” said Renalia DuBose, WMU-Cooley Law School professor. “Arthenia’s re- lentless passion for equal rights is an inspiration to all professionals advocating for truth and justice.”
Upon graduation from Florida A&M University’s College of Law (FAMU), Joyner worked as a legal assistant to State Represen- tative Joe Lang Kershaw in 1969, and later became a founding partner in the law firm of Stewart, Joyner and Jordan-Holmes. She was the first black attorney in Polk County and the first black female in Hillsborough County.
Joyner is currently of counsel at the Vanguard At- torneys law firm in Tampa.
good. Work hard while you are in law school, and do not waste this wonderful oppor-
“When you graduate and be- come a lawyer, work for jus- tice and equal treatment for
She quoted Dr. Maya Angelou’s poem written for the 1993 inauguration of
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