The Asian-American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts sponsored the 22nd Dinner Celebration of the Harry H. Dow Memorial Legal Assistance Fund, which took place on Dec. 7 at Chau Chow City Restaurant in Boston’s Chinatown. The keynote speaker was Ryoza Glenn Kumekawa, president of Nisei Student Relocation Commemorative Fund and a civil rights activist, urban planner, educator and survivor of a Japanese-American internment camp.
Since the mid-1980s, when the Dow Fund was co-founded by AALAM members, the two organizations have shared a commitment to serve the Asian-American community. The Dow Fund has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support legal services for Asians, including through the Dow Internships, the Asian Battered Women and Cambodian Outreach Projects and the emergency Asian Immigrant Rights Initiative.
At this year’s dinner, Boston-based sole practitioner and longtime AALAM member Paul M. Yee was presented with the AALAM Community Service Award. During his 33-year legal career, Yee has worked with the Brooklyn Legal Services Corp., the Boston Housing Authority and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, and, more recently, maintained his own litigation practice. He was praised as an unsung hero who, over the years, has handled many cases that other attorneys could not or would not take. He has also been active in the Asian American Civic Association. AALAM saluted Yee for his contributions to Boston’s Chinatown and Asian and immigrant communities.
The Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association held its annual Western Mass. Holiday Reception on Dec. 6 at the Massachusetts Bar Association’s office in Springfield. The reception was well attended by members and colleagues of the MBLA.
On Dec. 6, the Massachusetts Association of Hispanic Attorneys sponsored an assembly at Chelsea High School for students who want to pursue a career in law.
Hon. Gustavo A. Gelpi also swore in 400 people as U.S. citizens at Faneuil Hall, along with James S. Richardson Sr. of the Executive Committee of the Federal Bar Association.