The Dallas Hispanic Bar Association (DHBA) will hold its annual event at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25. The event is aimed to be a fun-filled evening dedicated to honoring and celebrating diversity in the legal profession.
“Lighting the Path to the Legal Profession” is a signature event for the DHBA. It brings attorneys, judges, and students together for a celebration that highlights the organization’s collective efforts to support educational and diversity initiatives within the legal community.
In addition to raising funds toward its mission and diversity pipeline initiatives, each year the DHBA presents various prestigious awards to individuals that have contributed in “lighting the path to the legal profession” in the Hispanic community.
Judge Lena Levario of the 204th Criminal Court will be honored with the La Luz award. Judge Levario is being recognized for her trailblazing contributions in the legal community, including her mentorship of young lawyers and law students as well as her enduring support of the DHBA.
The President’s Award will be presented to Bill Holston of Human Rights Initiative, and Vanna Slaughter of Catholic Charities of Dallas. Their leadership and collaboration with DHBA’s Unaccompanied Minors Action Committee has been instrumental in the DHBA’s ability to provide and coordinate volunteer attorneys to provide legal representation for unaccompanied children who entered this country from Central America.
The DHBA is also proud to recognize Chris Luna with the Corporate Counsel Award. Luna, staff vice president and assistant general counsel at MetroPCS Communication, promotes initiatives and practices that foster greater diversity within the MetroPCS legal department and the community. Luna is a former Dallas City Council member and is actively involved in diversity pipeline initiatives helping the Hispanic legal community such as the Dallas Hispanic Law Foundation’s Amanecer Luncheon.
Lastly, the La Estrella rising star award will be awarded to Larry Banda, an attorney with Placemark Investments, Inc., for his notable leadership and generous service to the DHBA.
Individual tickets for the event can be purchased for $75 for non-DHBA members and $60 for DHBA members through the DHBA website. The event will be held in the Tower Club, Thanksgiving Tower, 1601 Elm St., 48th Floor, Dallas, 75201. Sponsorships and pledges are still being accepted.