Event Overview
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Join us for the Constance Baker Motley Symposium, featuring A’Lelia Bundles, journalist, author, and great-great-granddaughter of Madam C. J. Walker. This program highlights how diversity, inclusion, and legal advocacy shape client success and strengthen our profession. Through the story of Madam Walker and the pivotal role her attorney Freeman B. Ransom played in her rise, Ms. Bundles will illustrate how embracing diverse perspectives fosters resilience, opportunity, and positive outcomes for clients and communities.
Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Co-Chairs:
Nihla F. Sikkander, Esq., The State University of New York, Albany, NY
Dena M. DeFazio, Esq., Barclay Damon LLP, Albany, NY
New York State Bar Association 2026 Annual Meeting
Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Constance Baker Motley Symposium
The Legacy of Resilience – How Diversity Drives Success
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
New York Hilton Midtown | New York City
Welcome and CLE Program | 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Mercury Ballroom, 3rd Floor
Awards Ceremony | 5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Mercury Ballroom, 3rd Floor
1.0 MCLE Credit
1.0 MCLE Credit in Diversity, Inclusion, and Elimination of Bias
This program is transitional and is suitable for all attorneys
including those newly admitted.
4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Welcome and Introduction
Speaker
Kathleen M. Sweet, Esq. | President, New York State Bar Association & Partner at Gibson, McAskill & Crosby, LLP
Nihla F. Sikkander, Esq. | Assistant Counsel, The State University of New York
Dena M. DeFazio, Esq. | Associate Barclay Damon LLP
4:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
The Legacy of Resilience – How Diversity Drives Success
This program celebrates the power of inclusion, resilience, and advocacy through the story of Madam C. J. Walker—America’s first self-made female millionaire—and the lasting impact of her attorney, Freeman B. Ransom. Featuring A’Lelia Bundles, acclaimed journalist, author, and great-great-granddaughter of Madam Walker, this session will explore how diversity, equity, and allyship drive both client success and community advancement. Drawing from her extensive research on Madam Walker and her own five-decade career in journalism and network television news, Ms. Bundles will illustrate how embracing diversity strengthens the legal profession and society at large. She will highlight the transformative role that inclusive representation, equitable access, and legal advocacy play in empowering historically underrepresented individuals and communities. Through this lens, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how attorneys can contribute to a more equitable profession and promote fairness, opportunity, and client wellbeing by recognizing and addressing barriers related to race, gender, and access.
Speaker
A’Lelia Bundles | Author, Journalist
Nihla F. Sikkander, Esq. | Assistant Counsel The State University of New York
1.0 Credit in Diversity, Inclusion, and Elimination of Bias