On June 24, people from across the legal community gathered at the Chateau Bellevue to laugh, connect, and even do a little “gambling.” Fully equipped with poker, blackjack, and roulette, the Austin Bar/Austin Young Lawyers Association’s Leadership Academy hosted a Casino Night and Silent Auction that transformed the downtown Austin venue into a casino on the Vegas Strip.
The Austin Bar/AYLA Leadership Academy was established to assist Austin-area lawyers in making a difference in our community, serving the bar, and promoting professional development. Each year a class of approximately 20-30 members is selected from applications submitted by lawyers of all areas of practice, firm size, and levels of experience. The class curriculum includes informative articles on leadership, as well as in-person discussions with community leaders who share their thoughts and stories about leadership. To wrap up each class year, the Leadership Academy is tasked with completing a class project that benefits the Austin community. This year, after researching a number of well-deserving organizations, the class chose to host a fundraising event for the Youth Justice Alliance.
(L-R): 250th District Court Judge Karin Crump; Youth Justice Alliance Executive Director Armin Salek; and Katherine Obando, attorney at Bollier Ciccone LLP.
The Youth Justice Alliance is an Austin-based non-profit with a focus on making a difference early in students’ lives. Specifically, the Youth Justice Alliance is designed to identify aspiring first-generation lawyers in high school and engage them with four years of experiential learning, mentorship, and financial support to help them overcome common barriers that can prevent those students from achieving successful legal careers. The Youth Justice Alliance was established by Armin Salek, who has received several accolades for his efforts, including the Rather Award for Education Innovation in 2019. As Salek would tell you, the Youth Justice Alliance aspires to make a difference and spark a change in a profession that often struggles to serve an increasingly diverse society. The following student testimonials describe the amazing opportunities these students are able to have through the organization:
“As an undergraduate aspiring to become the first lawyer in my family, I have learned so much from my involvement in the Youth Justice Alliance,” said Sofia K. “I have participated in moot court, observed a jury trial, and made connections in the legal community.”
“The Youth Justice Alliance has provided me with invaluable first-hand legal experiences, including opportunities to shadow a jury selection process, observe closing arguments, and meet with a district court judge,” said Tracy O.
To learn more about the Youth Justice Alliance and the great work its members are doing, please visit: https://youthjusticealliance.org/
Being a non-profit itself, the Austin Bar/AYLA’s Leadership Academy leaned heavily on the local community to support the event. For months, the class’s fundraising committee reached out to leaders within our city, and they certainly showed up. Law firms, legal vendors, fan-favorite bars and restaurants, and many more donated. Approximately $16,000 was raised. The event would truly not have been able succeed as it did without the generous support of so many who saw the value of Youth Justice Alliance’s vision.
As you might expect, the event began long before June 24. The Leadership Academy planned for months—finding the perfect venue, picking the right date, securing the right vendors, you name it. The class formed seven committees to ensure the event’s success, with each committee appointing a leader to represent their team on an executive committee. All committees played an integral role. The Venue Committee called and met with dozens of venues over several weeks before selecting the perfect spot—Chateau Bellevue. The Entertainment Committee found and worked with the Casino Knights for casino games, Justin Hargrove for live music, Alvies to provide patrons with boot fittings and wide array of boot styles and selections, and the Jigglewatts, which provided two authentic Vegas showgirls. The Advertising, Fundraising, and Silent Auction Committees got the word out and raised approximately $30,000 in sponsorships, ticket sales, and donations from across the community. The Food and Beverage Committee worked with Shiner, Tequila 512, Tito’s Vodka, Genius Gin, Treaty Oaks, Austin Wine Merchant, and Dripping Springs Vodka to garner enough donations that, even after a three-hour open bar, there was plenty to spare. Finally, the Charity Outreach committee worked directly with the Youth Justice Alliance to make sure their message was spread early and often.
On the night of the event, doors opened at 7 p.m. However, the Leadership Academy arrived hours before, working to create an atmosphere where one could step out of the Texas heat and into the heart of a Vegas casino. As showtime neared, the venue looked incredible. Banners hugged the window frames. Diamond- and club-shaped decorations twirled down from the ceiling. Casino games spread the length of the venue hall with dealers at the ready. All that was needed were people dressed to the nines ready to have a good time. And the people did not disappoint. Colorful suits and sequined dresses soon filled the room. Attorneys, judges, and leading vendors all made appearances.
At the outset of the event, heartfelt messages were provided by Judge Karin Crump and Armin Salek that reminded everyone of the important work being done by the Youth Justice Alliance. Thereafter, patrons quickly filled the seats of the various tables for some lighthearted “gambling” and made their way back to the silent auction to make their bids. The evening seemed to go by in a flash—people grabbing a photo with the Vegas showgirls, trying not to crap-out at the craps table, and trying one of the event’s recommended cocktails. Before you knew it, three hours evaporated. And, while a few folks had a brief scare exiting the elevator, the fun and fellowship shared throughout the evening, along with the support generated for a local charity, wouldn’t be traded for the world.