But first . . . listen.
These are the constants and the guiding principles throughout my experiences - from daughter and then mother to professor and colleague. To know me is to understand this first and foremost.
My professional mission continues to expand through my consulting company The Ellery Group, where I provide guidance on developing legal, cultural, and equal justice issues.
Born and raised in Harlem, I am a product of New York’s State University system by way of my undergraduate and graduate studies in anthropology and social science. My degree programs were foundational to a lifelong interest in education, social science, and law. I continued my graduate studies earning a JD from Howard University School of Law and then onto Temple University for an LL.M. in Legal education.
My parents emigrated from Haiti to start their American lives in New York where they built a business, raised and educated their family in our bilingual household while they supported many of our immigrating relatives. I frequently accompanied my relatives as their French/Kreyol translator and helped them navigate the streets of their new country. Our Sunday dinners grew to include more people than could be seated at one table amid a mix of languages and cultures. I grew up believing there were no differences among people and the only things distinguishing one person from the next was the perseverance and determination attributed to so many first-generation Americans. My personal and professional philosophies are grounded in some of my earliest life experiences around our family table.
Collectively, these experiences are the foundation from which we provide consulting to our clients. Much like the classroom where every student is equal and unique, our clients require a customized approach developed to address their specific needs. A generic or cookie-cutter perspective is ineffective in the law, the classroom, and especially here at The Ellery Group.
University of Illinois College of Law Champaign-Urbana
Professor, Original Course Development and Teaching:
Social Justice and The US Supreme Court, Women’s Rights and the US Supreme Court
Currently teaching advanced law students remotely.
Consultant - Legal and Diversity issues
Developed and implemented an assessment, strategic planning, and workshop presentation for a local municipality. The program included on-site presentations and evaluations with follow-up analysis and recommendations for program implementation and training.
F.A.R.M.S. https://30000acres.org/ Family Agriculture Resource Management Services; A non-profit organization offering legal and technical services to aging Indigenous and Black Farmers. To protect the family farmer through education and retail market expansion while relieving hunger in the farmers’ communities.
Director of Legal Oversight - (A MacArthur Racial Healing Grant) Oversee litigation, needs, and talent assessment, Coordinate institutional interest and community needs, and Develop outreach programs.
EXPLO; https://explo.org/about-us/ Curriculum Developer and Lead Instructor: Trial Law and The American Justice System; A course designed to introduce high school students to the practice of law and the American legal system.
Professional career path discovery for high school level students in STEM and law. Administered as a summer in-residence semester in a college campus setting.
BRAVEN; Leadership Coach to a diverse community of college students. Providing weekly in-person counsel throughout their academic journey to develop their visions for the future.
National Association of Bilingual Education; Member: Advocating for educational equity for bilingual and multilingual students. Proposed workshop presentation for educators and administrators: Translating the Law for Bilingual Educators; What it Really Means in the Classroom
THRIVE ON!; Board Member: BIPOC - lead systemic change organization using emergent strategies directed to youth development and education
La Maison Baldwin; (The James Baldwin Foundation) Board Member: Organization dedicated to honoring the legacy of James Baldwin and the upcoming Centennial Celebration of his birth in 2024.
IBM AI Foundations for Educators Course; Immersive online professional learning for educators
Women in AI + Ed; Active Member
International Law Practicum
Developed, taught, and administrated an international law program to encompass a multi-disciplinary approach to the practice of law in an international setting. Set in the Champagne region of France, the program sought to introduce students to the multiplicity of issues, laws, and regulations in a complex industry driven by history and culture. Students were trained in production processes, import/export, taxation, and health standards and requirements. Highly rated by the students as being unique and one of the most rewarding experiences in the law curriculum.
There was my Pandemic project. Driven by a strong desire to always be in a learning mode, the challenges brought on by the Pandemic and the subsequent shutdown demanded something new. For me, the answer was a creative writing project that I then learned to craft into a website and then a podcast. My purpose beyond the writing was to create a point of shared interest for friends, family, and anyone else who might discover the website and accompanying podcast. While it was a technical challenge to build the site and record the episodes, ultimately it was a joy to create a point of shared interest for friends and family. Like all fictional narratives, it drew upon personal experiences mixed with a strong desire to travel once again and is unsurprisingly based in the wine regions of France and Northern California.
Always Looking to The Future . . .
The exponential growth of AI throughout our daily experience demands our immediate attention. If we work together to focus the capacity of these new programs, we can not only provide students with a glimpse of their future but we can also address each student and their needs individually and effectively. Furthermore, our educators will have at hand the best tools available to enhance their professional experience and thereby facilitate an improved learning environment.
No one title or job description can encompass all of the responsibilities and duties within that position. Below are a few additional details for a more comprehensive overview of my skills and experiences that demonstrate my long-term interests.
Program Creation and Implementation; Reims, France - International Comparative Law; The Business of Wine - Curriculum design, program presentation including logistical support for students and faculty. Immigration and travel issues, identification of talent, hiring for local counsel and support.
C.L.E.O. (Council of Legal Education Opportunity) and several other Conditional Admission Programs for law schools – An Administrative role to select participants and teaching assistants. Coordinated housing and logistical support, created evaluation standards, and selected candidates for entry into the law school.
INSEAD – Fontainebleau, France - University Consultant; Feasibility study for American law students to study in France; logistical assessments and presentation.
EXPLO - Introduced high school students to the practice of law. Lead Instructor; Responsible for curriculum design, supervised teaching assistants, and coordinated student logistics (in-residence on a college campus) with support staff.
University of Innsbruk and St. Mary’s School of Law; Innsbruk, Austria - International Women’s Rights. Created curriculum and co-taught the course with the Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg
UN Commission on Human Rights; Geneva, Switzerland - NGO Representative and Group administrator, assembly supervision.
Consultant - Feasibility study for a joint venture for an exchange program with the University’s School of Law in Germany. Institutional assessment for curriculum and student-based logistics.
Bridge to Success; Roger Williams University School of Law - Provided management and counsel for a community-based and grant-funded program for underrepresented high school students and their parents to engage in college preparation and application processes.
F.A.R.M.S. (Family Agriculture Resource Management Services) Director of Legal Oversight - grant writing and implementation for outreach to international women farmers
US Supreme Court; Intersession Program – Developed intensive law school program to visit, study, and assess legislative groups and counsel. Supreme Court personnel meetings and attendance at Court hearings.
My Desk Drawer Teasures: Cards signed by the students in the class, a heartfelt thanks from a colleague, a letter from a former student and an outpouring of emotion on graduation day. A ceremonial gavel engraved with an oft repeated exclamation attributed to me. Below is a small sampling from my desk drawer.
Thank You for stopping by and for taking the time to get to know me and the Ellery Group. I hope I’ve managed to provide you with some insight beyond the narrow constraints of a brief encounter or hard copy resume. You’ll find additional details through the tabs above or use the link below to contact me.
BLB
She/Her/Hers
