Miami    -   On Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at its 6^th annual celebration for Black History Month, delancyhill P.A., in collaboration with Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Bilmor Advertising, Circle of One Marketing and the law firm of SquiresBenson  hosted a reception in honor of attorney Cheryl Little for her unwavering advocacy on behalf of Haitian refugees and other immigrants from the African Diaspora. The reception hosted clients, firm partners and community leaders at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens in Coral Gables, Florida.

In light of the tragic catastrophe in Haiti, the reception also raised over $3,500.00 in support of local organizations serving the needs of the impacted Haitian-American community.  The reception also welcomed Haiti earthquake survivor, Faradhiah Moise, who survived beneath the rubble at the Caribbean Marketplace supermarket in Port-au-Prince for over 50 hours, and shared her thoughts about the recovery efforts in Haiti.

For nearly two decades, 2010 honoree Cheryl Little has tirelessly advocated for immigrant rights, establishing her as one of this country’s leading experts in the field of immigration. Cheryl’s extensive involvement in immigration dates from 1985. After graduating from law school with honors, she began working at the Haitian Refugee Center. Since 1996, she has served as the Executive Director of Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center, Inc. (FIAC), an agency she co-founded. After years of unwavering advocacy, Ms. Little led efforts to secure Temporary Protected Status (”TPS”) for Haitian nationals after a series of natural disasters culminating with the tragic earthquake.

“Cheryl Little ’s deeds speak loudly for themselves. We were honored to recognize the breadth of her work and her signature mark on Black History in this hemisphere,” stated Marlon A. Hill, partner, delancyhill. As host venue, Bruce Greer, President of Fairchild’s Board of Trustees commented, “Fairchild was thrilled to work with delancyhill for this important annual community event.”

This annual celebration of Black History Month inspired the law firm of delancyhill, P.A. to create the award of Firm Partner Star, previously offered to Ruth Shack,                             Dorothy Jenkins-Fields, David Wilson, Babacar M’Bow and Commissioner Betty T. Ferguson for their contributions to uplifting South Florida’s communities within the African Diaspora.

Supporting sponsors and partners included: Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, SquiresBenson, Bacardi, Bilmor with Advertising Specialties, Circle of One Marketing, Chef Irie Spice, Bull Bay Catering, We’re Having A Party, Medium Four, South Florida Caribbean News.Com, Jazz in the Gardens, Caribbean Riddims, Social Capital, Management, Caribbean Today, Pixelittle Media, Miami Parking Authority, Unique Coalition of Minority Businesses of South Dade (UCOMB), The South Florida Times, Daily Business Review, and The Miami Times. 

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Fairchild is dedicated to exploring, explaining and conserving the world of tropical plants. They are one of the premier conservation and education-based gardens in the world and a recognized international leader in both Florida and international conservation. Currently Fairchild has field programs in over 20 countries including support to protected areas in Madagascar and Africa and botanic garden development and renovation projects in South and Central America, the Caribbean and the Middle East. For more information visit the museum at 10901 Old Cutler Road Coral Gables, Florida 33156 or visit their website at www.fairchildgarden.org

 About delancyhill.PA.

With offices in downtown Miami and Miramar-Broward, delancyhill, P.A. is a full service law firm practicing in the areas of commercial, construction, family, probate, and criminal litigation, as well as, general corporate, international business and trade, intellectual property, real estate, estate planning                , and immigration transactions. The Firm’s mission is to provide the highest quality legal services to our clients from South Florida and the Caribbean, in a manner that upholds the highest legal and professional standards of integrity and demonstrates our commitment to building community through our legal and community service.  For additional information about the Firm, call (786) 777-0184 or visit www.delancyhill.com www.delancyhill.com

She earned an undergraduate degree from Florida Agricultural Mechanics University (FAMU), where she later retuned to complete her Juris Doctorate degree and serve as a professor at its law school.

She was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1965.

The Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association (GSCBWLA), formerly the National Bar Association Women Lawyers Division Dade County Chapter, was formed in 1985 with a mission to address the concerns of women lawyers as they relate to the social, economic, political and moral needs of the community.

The GSCBWLA currently represents over 350 men and women law students, lawyers and judges throughout the State of Florida.
“In its beginning, the Dade County Bar did not include blacks, and I don’t think it included women,” Marva Wiley, GSCBWLA’s immediate past president said.

“At the time our organization was founded, you could just about count the number of women practicing in Dade on one hand. They had to somewhat kick the doors in on their own, and that created a certain camaraderie and kind of friendship as they went through it together.”

Cherry was the first black woman law student to attend the University of Miami and the first black woman to practice law in Dade County. She was one of the first nine attorneys who initially served at Legal Services of Greater Miami in 1966.

In 1970, Cherry was elected as a state representative, becoming the first black woman to serve as a legislator for the State of Florida. While in the State House of Representative, she introduced legislation including the Equal Rights Amendment and the Martin Luther King, Jr. state holiday.She was elected to four terms and served until 1979.
The GSCBWLA offers a combination of programs, according to Wiley. “For starters, we offer mentorship programs, professional development seminars and legal clinics at battered women’s

“We also encourage Florida Bar participation as another mechanism to achieve recognition and to be considered a credible and outstanding lawyer in your field.

“Making the transition from Esquire to super lawyer is something we support,” she continued. “Women need to know that they can conceivably achieve some of the same successes enjoyed by our white male counterparts.”

Wiley said that over the years the GSCBWLA has created a great value in relationships.

“There is a certain identification and support that comes with Gwen Cherry that does not necessarily come so freely in other organizations. We’re all in it together and must work collectively to assure that our progress continues.”

In February 1979, Cherry died in a car accident in Tallahassee.
On June 5, 2008, the FAMU College of Law announced the dedication of the Gwendolyn Sawyer Cherry, Esquire Lecture Hall, which will be used for classrooms and practices for mock trial competitions.
Visit: http://www.bluestockingink.net

Cynthia Roby
Bluestocking Ink, Limited
President/CEO
cynthia@bluestockingink.net

Cynthia A Roby is president and CEO of Bluestocking Ink, Limited, a copywriting, editing and author services firm based in Fort Lauderdale.