The MBA hosted an informational forum on Gateway Cities on Jan.
26 at UMass School of Law in Dartmouth.
The evening event opened with a meet-and-greet reception, which
led to an informational forum. Bar, community and legislative
leaders who have long worked with the issues impacting the state's
Gateway Cities shared their insight. The final leg of the evening
focused on pinpointing ways in which the legal community can help
address such issues.
Some of the evening's featured speakers included MBA
President-elect Robert L. Holloway Jr.; UMass School of Law Dean
Michael G. Hillinger; Rep. Antonio Cabral (D-New Bedford) and Sen.
Benjamin Downing (D-Pittsfield), chairs of the Gateway Cities
Caucus; representatives from MassINC and UMass Dartmouth's Urban
Initiative; as well as other leading voices on the academic,
economic and cultural aspects impacting Gateway Cities.
MBA President Richard P. Campbell identified a Gateway Cities
initiative as one of his priorities for the 2011-12 association
year. He named Margaret D. Xifaras, who practices in New Bedford,
and Francis A. Ford, who practices in Worcester, to lead this
important effort.
Xifaras and Ford moderated the Jan. 26 forum.
Massachusetts' Gateway Cities are those mid-sized cities whose
residents are experiencing significantly higher rates of
unemployment and a stalemate in social, economic and civic
innovation. Some examples are Brockton, Fall River, Lawrence, New
Bedford, Springfield and Worcester.
Look for complete coverage of the event in the March issue of
Massachusetts Lawyers Journal.