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2025 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Conference

June 6 All day

Attendees may earn 4.25 MCLE Credit, 3.75 Hours including Elimination of Bias Credits

Main Location (In-Person):

Loyola Law School
Donovan Hall
919 Albany Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015

Remote Locations (Livestream):

CLA Headquarters
400 Capitol Mall, Suite 650
Sacramento, CA 95814

Bay Area Metro Center
375 Beale Street (102 Temazcal)
San Francisco, CA 94105

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP
225 Broadway, Suite 1670
San Diego, CA 92101

Should I Attend?

Diversity Conference

Hear what our members our saying about the Diversity Conference:

“I want to help build a coalition of like-minded people to strategize a response to communities under threat.”  -Justin Bogda

“I want to be in an environment where we’re talking about both problems and solutions. It’s critical to identify ways we can make progress, even in this very difficult time.”  – Nell Green Nylen

“As a former ELS diversity fellow, the Section provided resources and community at a dynamic point in my career. I’m attending the Diversity Conference because I want to identify opportunities to contribute to the resilience and rebirth of the diversity, equity and inclusion efforts currently being dismantled in the law and legal profession.” -Mina Arasteh

Program Description

The Environmental Law Section (ELS) of the California Lawyers Association (CLA) proudly presents its 3rd Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Conference. Join community leaders, attorneys, policymakers, and students to discuss the escalating challenges of climate change, growing inequality, environmental racism, and policies of erasure in a shifting legal landscape.

The Diversity Conference will be at Loyola Law School and focuses on the Greater Los Angeles Area in light of the devastating fires recently experienced in the region. The Conference will also be livestreamed to remote locations in Sacramento, San Francisco, and San Diego where participants can express their solidarity, join roundtable discussions, and attend post-conference networking mixers.

Sponsor Us

RETURN FORM BY MAY 21, 2025. Thank you for your support in the 2025 ELS Diversity Equity and Inclusion Conference. Please do not hesitate to contact Raquel Ringlstetter should you have any additional questions, Environmental@calawyers.org.

Schedule

Opening Remarks | 10:00 a.m.

Keynote Speaker | 10:00 – 10:35 a.m.

0.5 MCLE Credits

Alfred Fraijo Jr. is the founder and CEO of the Somos Group. He founded Somos to spearhead innovative projects for clients that require multi-disciplinary expertise in planning and law with the goal of reimagining urban placemaking. He specializes in managing the design and permitting of complex development projects for government and private-sector clients. Under his leadership, a team of planners and lawyers has developed some of the most transformative planning and research projects in urban communities, spanning commercial, residential, hospitality, and healthcare sectors. Prior to starting his own firm, Alfred was a senior partner at Sheppard Mullin Richter and Hampton, LLP, where he led the Real Estate and Land Use Practice team in Los Angeles and served on the firm’s Executive Committee. Alfred was born and raised in Los Angeles and is passionate about community service and serves on prominent organizations advancing urban redevelopment and social equity. He is a leader in the Latinx and LGBTQ communities, serving on the executive boards of the Los Angeles LGBT Center, the California Community Foundation, the LA Phil, and For People of Color, a non-profit organization dedicated to growing diversity in the legal profession. He also serves on the Board of Homeboy Industries, a nonprofit that advocates for formerly incarcerated individuals who seek to reintegrate into society. Alfred also is the founder of Inclusive Action for the City Inc., a multidisciplinary nonprofit organization advocating for equitable land use and sustainable development policies. Alfred has a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and a J.D. from Loyola Marymount University.

Land Acknowledgement | 10:35 – 10:45 a.m.

Reparative Actions and Restorative Justice in the Era of Perceived Scarcity: A Path Forward | 10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

1.25 MCLE Credits; 1.25 Elimination of Bias Credit

This panel will explore practical approaches to addressing historical inequities, including California’s reparations package, land-back and land-return initiatives, and other local efforts. Panelists will examine how restorative justice can intersect with the clean energy transition and other transformative solutions, even amidst narratives of scarcity. The discussion will also consider strategies for resilience and progress in the face of “Trump 2.0” policies, offering a roadmap for meaningful, community-centered change.

Speakers’ workplaces are provided for identification purposes only, and that they are not speaking on behalf of their respective offices.

Speakers:

  • Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, California State Assembly, District 55
  • Martha Dina ArgĂĽello, Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles
  • Jerry Calderon, Tataviam Land Conservancy

Lunch and Roundtable Discussions | 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

Lunch will be hosted at each location where attendees can share their thoughts and concerns in facilitated conversations.

Guided Group Discussion | 1:00 – 1:30 p.m.

Attendees from all locations will be invited to come together to share highlights of their lunchtime roundtable discussions. This discussion will be guided by a central facilitator at Loyola Law School.

Frameworks in Public, Private, and Legal Education Sectors: Practical Ideas and Environmental Impacts | 1:30 – 2:45 p.m.

1.25 MCLE Credits; 1.25 Elimination of Bias Credit

This panel explores frameworks for fostering inclusivity across public and private sectors. Attendees will gain practical strategies for implementing effective initiatives while examining the broader environmental and societal impacts of these efforts. Join us for an engaging discussion on building inclusive environments that drive meaningful change across industries and institutions. 

Speakers: 

  • Heather Aubry, Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office
  • Nicole Gougis, Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office
  • Viviana Heger, Duane Morris

Climate Adaptation in Environmental Justice Communities | 3:00 – 4:15 p.m.

1.25 MCLE Credits; 1.25 Elimination of Bias Credit

This panel will explore the intersectionality of environmental justice, diversity, and climate adaptability. As communities in Southern California continue to recover from the historic destruction caused by multiple wildfires, there is an opportunity for leaders and policy makers throughout California to prioritize environmental justice communities most vulnerable to climate change-related disasters. This panel will highlight the importance of community advocacy, local government stewardship and planning, and other much-needed actions in preparing communities to be resilient to drought, extreme heat, wildfires, and flooding.

Moderator: Brennon Mendez, UCLA School of Law

Speakers: 

  • Sissy Trinh, Southeast Asian Community Alliance
  • Laura Gracia, Communities for a Better Environment
  • Alison Hahm, Natural Resources Defense Council

Closing Remarks | 4:15 – 4:30 p.m.

  • Miles Hogan, ELS Chair and City of Ventura
  • Paige Samblanet, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP

Networking Mixers (TBA at each location) | 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Essential Info

  • ELS Member – $75
  • CLA Member (Non-ELS Member) – $115
  • Non-CLA Member – $140
  • Gov’t / Non-Profit (ELS Member) – $45
  • New Lawyer (CLA Member) – $50
  • Law Student (CLA Member) – Free
  • Speakers – Free

Essential Information: Online-Registration: calawyers.org/environmental.

Pre-Registration Deadline: The deadline to pre-register is May 21, 2025.

Cancellations/Refunds: Requests must be received in writing by May 21, 2025. A 10% processing fee will be charged for requests received after May 21, 2025. For more information, call (916) 516-1757.

On-Site Registration: On-site registration is subject to availability.

Special Assistance: For special assistance, please call (916) 561-1744.

Questions: For registration information, call (916) 516-1757. Telephone registrations will not be accepted. For program content and/or Section information call (916) 561-1744.

We are committed to accessibility! Virtual events are equipped with closed captioning. To request an in-person accommodation, send us a note at accessibility@calawyers.org or contact us at 916-516-1760 for assistance.

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CLA Membership is $99 and includes one section. Additional sections are $99 each.

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