Washington Bar Association (WBA)
Founded in 1925, the Washington Bar Association (WBA) is one of the nation’s oldest and most prominent voluntary bar associations composed primarily of Black lawyers and legal professionals. Based in Washington, D.C., the WBA serves attorneys from across sectors, including government, private practice, the judiciary, academia, and law schools.
The Association was formed to support African American attorneys during a time of segregation and exclusion from other legal organizations. Today, the WBA continues to promote equality in the legal system, advocate for civil rights, and offer professional support to its members. Its mission includes advancing the science of jurisprudence, improving the administration of justice, and fostering respect for the law.
Key initiatives include judicial evaluations, pipeline programs for aspiring Black lawyers, scholarships for law students, and ongoing legal education. The WBA also hosts a series of networking, mentoring, and public interest events throughout the year.
A proud affiliate of the National Bar Association, the WBA remains deeply engaged in advocacy efforts and community outreach, shaping policy and empowering the next generation of legal leaders.
Washington Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (YLD)
The Young Lawyers Division (YLD) of the Washington Bar Association is a community of approximately 200 young attorneys practicing in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Focused on professional growth, the YLD offers robust networking and development opportunities—connecting its members with peers, senior attorneys, judges, law firms, corporate legal departments, government agencies, and other bar associations.
Beyond professional enrichment, YLD emphasizes community awareness and service. Members engage in mentoring law students (especially 3Ls), participate in law student career fairs, and take on civil rights‑oriented and public interest work. The division also hosts social events like happy hours, retreats, and professional development programs to build camaraderie among young legal professionals.
YLD is part of WBA’s larger mission of promoting equal justice under law, uplift‑ing Black legal voices, and contributing to the broader legal community through advocacy, education, and public service.
National Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (NBA YLD)
The Young Lawyers Division (YLD) of the National Bar Association (NBA) is the division for early‑career legal professionals and law students committed to advancing justice, professional excellence, and leadership. Membership in NBA YLD is open to NBA members who have been admitted to practice for less than 10 years or are under 40 years old.
YLD serves as a catalyst for mentorship, networking, and development of new attorneys through programs like its International Leadership Conference, which offers continuing legal education (CLE), leadership training, advocacy skill‑building, and wellness and pro bono opportunities.
The division also provides pipeline and mentorship initiatives to support law students and new lawyers, helping them connect with seasoned attorneys, sharpen legal skills, and familiarize themselves with professional expectations. YLD plays a key role in the NBA’s broader efforts to uphold civil and political rights, promote social justice, and strengthen the legal profession from the ground up.
National Pharmaceutical Association (NPhA)
Founded on May 30, 1947 by Dr. Chauncey I. Cooper, the National Pharmaceutical Association (NPhA) is a professional body of pharmacists committed to advancing health equity and elevating minority representation in pharmacy. From its origins among pharmacists excluded from mainstream organizations, NPhA has grown into a national voice advocating for underserved communities.
NPhA’s mission is to represent minority pharmacists on crucial healthcare issues, promote racial and health equity, and raise the standards of pharmaceutical care across all practitioners. In addition, it supports professional training and education, encourages participation of minority students in pharmacy, and helps ensure that pharmacists have the resources to serve disenfranchised populations.
Programs offered by NPhA include continuing education, networking and advocacy, community outreach (such as medication review programs), and leadership development (e.g. the Dr. Henry Lewis III Leadership Development Institute). The Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA), its student affiliate (founded in 1972), works to improve health, educational, and social environments of minority communities by giving future pharmacists experience in leadership, professional skills, and community service.
THE CELEBRATION
The Power 100 will come together to celebrate
Venue
The Park at Fourteenth
Event attire
Cocktail / Fashion Forward.