Cleveland State University's chapter of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) is set to host the organization¡¯s Midwest Regional Convention February 22-25.  The Midwest Black Law Students Association (MWBLSA) has a membership of 600 law students from 52 law schools located in 13 Midwestern states. The National Black Law Students Association has over 6,000 members in more than 200 local chapters throughout the country.

The 2017 convention will be the first time in four decades that the MWBLSA has hosted its signature event in Cleveland.  C|M|LAW was selected to host based in part on the strength of its chapter, which was named Midwest Regional Chapter of the Year and Midsize National Chapter of the Year in 2016. 

¡°Cleveland-Marshall is well-known amongst the BLSA community and the local community for having a strong and involved BLSA organization,¡± said C|M|LAW BLSA Vice President and Convention Coordinator Kelynn I. Carter.  ¡°We have an extremely active local chapter that has also become increasingly active at both the regional and national level.¡±

¡°Hosting the Midwest Regional BLSA Convention is an immense honor,¡± said C|M|LAW BLSA President Taurean Shattuck. ¡°Through the scheduled community service project and breakout sessions, attendees of the convention will have the opportunity to interact with diverse law students from across the region while making a positive impact on the Cleveland community and learning about important legal topics.¡±

Convention attendees will partake in panels and discussions on race relations, international law, health care law, criminal justice reform and professional branding.  They will also visit the ¡°Activist Photographers of the Civil Rights Movement¡± exhibit at the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage and partake in a community service event.

Regional rounds of the Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition and Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition will be held Wednesday-Friday at Cleveland-Marshall and the Carl B. Stokes U.S. Court House.  C|M|LAW will be represented in the Frederick Douglass Competition by BLSA students DeAngelo LaVette & Emily Stolfer, who placed fourth nationally as a duo in the 2016 Competition. 

The week will culminate with an Awards and Recognition Gala at the Wyndham Hotel.  KeyBank Senior Vice President Ronald V. Johnson, Jr. will deliver a keynote speech and Judge Ronald B. Adrine (C|MLAW '73) of the Cleveland Municipal Court will be recognized as the MWBLSA¡¯s annual honoree.

Many of the convention¡¯s activities are open to the public, including the Awards and Recognition Gala.  For more information or to purchase gala tickets, visit www.mwblsaconvention2017.eventbrite.com