The Bar Leadership Institute (BLI) of the Mecklenburg County Bar and Mecklenburg Bar Foundation entered into its 19th year in 2020-21, though it was the first (and hopefully last) year that the BLI kicked off during a global pandemic.  The BLI Class of 2021 is comprised of 17 participants with diverse backgrounds personally and professionally. 

In May of 2021, Bar and Foundation leaders celebrated (via Zoom!) the Class at the Annual BLI Kickoff Event, featuring a keynote address by Judge Robert J. Conrad, Jr. of the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.  That weekend, the Class embarked on a weekend retreat at the U.S. National Whitewater Center to evaluate their personal leadership styles, strengths, and areas for development under the facilitation of Dave Newell, Evolve Leadership Consulting.

The Committee planned sessions for the participants, amounting to 15 hours of CLE total, with both in-person and virtual elements.  The Committee invited prominent legal and civic leaders from the community and beyond, including representatives from the bench, CMPD, and the Southern Poverty Law Center.  The BLI Committee would like to thank those speakers: David Erdman, Judge Richard Boner, Judge Shirley Fulton, Dr. Tom Hanchett, Dr. Shaun Ward, Karen Baynes-Dunning, and Bryan Fair.