Events & Programs

2024 Training and Programs

Internal Programming

Black History Month: "My Name is Pauli Murray" film-watching sessions and group discussion

In February 2024, Calfee's DEI Committee and the Calfee Inclusion Network affinity group invited all attorneys and staff to participate in watching the documentary "My Name is Pauli Murray" and join in a group discussion of the award-winning film. The program was offered as a two-part series, and the firm provided lunches from minority-owned (and specifically Black-owned) caterers and restaurants in each of our offices to those who attended the two sessions.

Women's History Month: International Women's Day Receptions

The Calfee Women LEAD affinity group hosted simultaneous receptions in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Washington, D.C., in honor of International Women's Day in March 2024. During the receptions, the firm recognized several of the amazing women (attorneys and staff) at Calfee who are making history and #inspireinclusion within the firm and in our communities.

PRIDE Month: Numerous Events

Calfee’s DEI Committee and LGBTQA affinity group planned numerous events for June, including attorney and staff participation in local Pride parades and festivals. We also welcomed guest speakers Mallory Golski (Civic Engagement & Advocacy Manager of the Kaleidoscope Youth Center) for a discussion on the Center’s services and current LGBTQ+ issues, and State Senator Nickie J. Antonio (Ohio's State Senator for District 23 and Minority Leader in the Ohio Senate) for a discussion about her career and support for Ohio’s LGBTQ+ community, including providing updates on pending legislation impacting the community.

2023 Training and Programs

Internal Programming

Black History Month: "One Night in Miami" film watching sessions and group discussion

In February 2023, Calfee's DEI Committee and the Calfee Inclusion Network affinity group invited all attorneys and staff to participate in watching the film "One Night in Miami" and participate in a group discussion of the award-winning film. The program was offered as a two-part series, and the firm provided lunches from minority-owned (and specifically Black-owned) caterers and restaurants in each of our offices to those who attended the two sessions.

Women's History Month: International Women's Day Receptions

The Calfee Women LEAD affinity group hosted simultaneous receptions in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Washington, D.C., in honor of International Women's Day in March 2023. During the receptions, the firm recognized several of the amazing women (attorneys and staff) at Calfee who are making history and are helping to take the firm to new heights in the future.

PRIDE Month: Numerous Events

Calfee’s DEI Committee and LGBTQA Affinity Group planned numerous events for June, including attorney and staff participation in Cleveland’s Pride in the CLE march; and welcoming guest speakers Phyllis Harris (Executive Director of the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland) for a discussion on the Center’s programming, services and events, and Representative C. Allison Russo (Ohio's State Representative for House District 7 and Minority Leader for the Ohio House Democratic Caucus) for a discussion of several pending bills before the Ohio House and Senate and their potential impact on Ohio’s LGBTQ+ community.

Rosh Hashanah: Sweet New Year Treats with Calfee's Jewish Lawyers Affinity Group

The Jewish Lawyers Affinity Group invited all members of the firm to partake in a Rosh Hashanah tradition by sharing sweet treats, symbolizing one’s wish for a sweet new year to come.

Introducing Calfee's Newest Affinity Group - The "Sandwich Generation"

In August of 2023, Calfee introduced its newest affinity group to help provide support to those in the Calfee community who are facing the very real and difficult challenges of caring for aging parents or other loved ones while simultaneously managing families and raising children.

Calfee’s DEI Committee and Sandwich Generation Affinity Group hosted the Alzheimer's Association for a two-part learning series in September and November (National Caregivers Month) to educate our attorneys and staff in recognizing common signs of the disease, understanding the importance of early detection and benefits of diagnosis, and learning effective communication strategies when connecting with those who suffer from the disease and other dementias. 

Newish Parents Affinity Group: Halloween Trick-or-Treat with Calfee

The Newish Parents Affinity Group invited Cleveland attorneys and staff, along with their children and grandchildren, to participate in traditional Halloween festivities in our Cleveland office. Dressed in their costumes and equipped with their goodie bags, kids of all ages walked through the office to trick-or-treat, view decorated spaces, see their parents' offices and enjoy cookies and cider together.

2022 Training and Programs

Internal Training

Inclusive Work Environment Training

Calfee's DEI Committee, in conjunction with the HR Team, continues its "Contributing to and Creating an Inclusive Work Environment" training program (a two-part series) for all attorneys and staff members.

Internal Programming

Black History Month: "Summer of Soul" film-watching sessions and group discussion

In February 2022, Calfee's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee and the Calfee Inclusion Network affinity group invited all attorneys and staff to participate in watching the documentary "Summer of Soul" and participate in a group discussion of the award-winning film. The program was offered as a three-part series, and the firm provided lunches from minority-owned (and specifically Black-owned) caterers and restaurants in each of our offices to those who attended the three sessions.

LGBTQ Pride Month: Happy Hour with Alana Jochum, Executive Director of Equality Ohio

In June, all attorneys and staff were invited to join Calfee’s LGBTQ Affinity Group onsite or virtually for Happy Hour with Alana Jochum, Executive Director of Equality Ohio. The presentation and discussions focused on the threats to LGBTQ rights in the current environment, the Equality Ohio Legal Clinic’s work, and how everyone can stay informed and get involved.

Rosh Hashanah: Sweet Treats with Calfee's Jewish Lawyers Affinity Group

The Jewish Lawyers Affinity Group invited all members of the firm to partake in a Rosh Hashanah tradition by sharing apples dipped in honey, symbolizing one’s wish for a sweet new year to come.

Client / Community Events

International Women's Day Events with KeyBank and YWCA

The Calfee Women LEAD affinity group partnered with KeyBank's Key4Women and the YWCA to host simultaneous networking receptions in Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati in honor of International Women's Day in March 2022. Clients and friends of Calfee and KeyBank enjoyed an evening at Calfee's offices in each of the three Ohio markets. Calfee, KeyBank, and event attendees recognized the good work being done by the YWCA organizations in each market through financial contributions to the nonprofit whose mission is to eliminate racism and empower women.

2022 Summit on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Legal Profession: Attracting, Promoting, Retaining, and Ensuring the Success of Diverse Talent

In April 2022, Calfee hosted its second Summit on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Legal Profession with the participation of several fellow corporate and law firm members of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD). Calfee clients, business and legal industry leaders, minority bar associations, law students, and law school leaders in Northeast Ohio attended our live event in Cleveland, and clients and firm members across the country attended the simulcast livestream event. The Honorable Solomon Oliver, Jr., U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, started the program with personal reflections and thoughts to consider to achieve increased diversity and inclusion in the legal industry. Corporate counsel from Eaton Corporation PLC, GE Lighting a Savant Company, and KeyCorp provided insights on the efforts being made to diversify their corporate legal departments and to encourage their law firm partners to achieve DEI goals. Finally, a panel consisting of legal and diversity leaders from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Cleveland State University College of Law, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, South Asian Bar Association of Ohio, Norman S. Minor Bar Association, and Dealer Tire LLC offered DEI data and engaged in an informative discussion about ways to increase the pipeline of diverse students applying to law school and ways to support diverse law students entering legal careers.

2021 Training and Programs

Internal Training

Unconscious Bias Training

The Calfee DEI Committee offered Unconscious Bias training to all attorneys and staff members in the spring, which was required for all current attorneys and employees and will be required of all newly hired attorneys and staff members.

Inclusive Work Environment Training

In the fall, the Calfee DEI Committee will be offering a "Creating an Inclusive Work Environment" training program (a two-part series) to all attorneys and staff members.

Internal Programming

Language of Leadership Webinar: Leading Through Diversity & Inclusion With Renee Ligon on February 12, 2021

Calfee's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee invited all attorneys and staff to a town hall forum discussion with Renee Ligon, Director of Partnerships and Engagement at Team NEO, who spoke on her background in financial services and inequities of MBE financing and small businesses.

Virtual Cooking Demonstration With Chef Eric Wells on February 24, 2021

Calfee attorneys and staff were invited to join Chef Eric Wells, a graduate of Loretta Paganini's International Culinary Arts & Sciences Institute and owner of Skye Larae's Culinary Services, for a virtual cooking demonstration of a recipe Chef Wells selected to honor and celebrate Black History Month.

Courageously Navigating Your Leadership Journey: A Webinar for Calfee Women on March 30, 2021

In honor of Women's History Month, Calfee female attorneys and staff members were invited to participate in a luncheon seminar with Calfee's Diversity Consultant, Ellen Burts-Cooper. In conjunction with International Women's History Month, Calfee participated in the Dress for Success program, Your Hour, Her Power^®, and collected professional attire for donation in our offices.

A Historical and Policy Perspective on the AAPI Experience: An LCLD Program on May 27, 2021

In honor of Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Calfee invited all attorneys and staff members to participate in the LCLD program presented by Professor Jane Hong. The session discussed the recent surge in AAPI hate and xenophobia, contextualized these events as part of the AAPI experience in the U.S., and discussed AAPI community responses.

The Calfee DEI Committee Presents: A Discussion About the Asian and Asian-American Experience in the U.S. on June 3, 2021

In honor of Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May and Immigrant Heritage Month in June, Calfee's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee invited firm members to participate in an open town hall discussion with a panel of Calfee attorneys who are members of the Asian and Asian-American communities.

The Calfee DEI Committee Presents: Navigating the Jewish High Holidays in a Business Setting and Other Timely Topics on September 23, 2021

Calfee invited a panel of religious and lay leaders in the Jewish community – including Rabbi Sharon Mars (Senior Rabbi, Temple Israel in Columbus), Howie Beigelman (Executive Director, Ohio Jewish Communities), and J. David Heller (President and CEO, NRP Enterprises LLC and Board Chair, Jewish Federation of Cleveland) – for a discussion about the High Holidays and how to navigate them in a business setting. The panel, which was moderated by Calfee Partner Josh Sanders, also discussed the rise in anti-Semitic incidents in Ohio and throughout the country, policies being pursued on the state and federal level as a result of these increased threats, and other issues impacting the Jewish community.

2020 Events and Programs

Client / Community Events

2020 Northeast Ohio Summit on Diversity in the Legal Profession

The firm hosted its inaugural 2020 Northeast Ohio Summit on Diversity in the Legal Profession with the support and participation of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD). Calfee clients, business and legal leaders, law students, and law school leaders in Northeast Ohio attended. LCLD President, Robert Grey, served as Keynote Speaker and panel facilitator for this event, which featured 12 panelists from local law schools, corporate legal departments and law firms. Topics included: "Following the Legal Pipeline – A Deep Exploration of What's Working and What Needs To Be Fixed To Achieve Equity, From Law School Application Through Hiring” and "Equalizing Opportunities for Diverse Lawyers – Tearing Down Barriers and Actively Facilitating Achievement."

"BLACK YOUTH [Avant-garde]" Art Exhibit Displayed in Calfee’s Cleveland Office

Calfee commissioned Shooting Without Bullets to curate an art exhibit to be displayed in Calfee’s Cleveland office during the month of February. The "BLACK YOUTH [Avant-garde]" exhibit was conceptualized by several African American youth artists associated with Shooting Without Bullets, a for-impact, nonprofit organization that works to eliminate systemic barriers that prevent young black and brown youth from thriving. Utilizing an art-as-activism model, the organization develops and elevates the youth artistic voice in order to shift policy, perspective and culture.

The artistic activism exhibit was specifically curated for display in Calfee's Cleveland building, and it portrayed what black and brown youth are looking forward to in the next decade in connection with revered black history. The exhibit visualized the six intellectual faculties of memory, imagination, perception, intuition, will and reason. Drawing upon African-American history and Avant-garde art, the work sought to broaden society's understanding of the lived experiences of youth of color in Cleveland and connect their bold artistic activism to artistic movements of the past that pushed boundaries of creativity, ideas and society. Images from the exhibit can be found below. (BLACK YOUTH [Avant‐garde] Exhibition by Shooting Without Bullets. Photo credit: Rustin McCann)

Calfee employees and families were invited to attend the art exhibit opening reception for the Shooting Without Bullets' teen artists and their families and friends. Five young artists who contributed their commissioned artwork for the "BLACK YOUTH [Avant-garde]" exhibit took to the podium to explain their artistic vision and toured the exhibit with reception guests.

Internal Programming

Language of Leadership Webinar: Leading Through Diversity & Inclusion With RPM's Randy McShepard on November 6, 2020

The Diversity & Inclusion Committee invited Calfee attorneys and staff to the first in a series of town hall forums where we will host guest speakers – clients, community leaders and colleagues – to share their perspectives on the critical importance of diversity, inclusion and equity in our industry and in our communities. On Friday, November 6, the Committee hosted a discussion with RPM International Vice President of Public Affairs and Chief Talent Officer Randell McShepard. Randy spoke about equity and inclusion efforts surrounding hiring, retention and promotion of talent and the benefits of these efforts. This inaugural town hall was moderated by Brent Ballard, Managing Partner, and Michael Bowen, Calfee Government Relations and Litigation Associate. Brandon Brown, Calfee Litigation Associate, provided opening remarks.

Diversity & Inclusion Listening Sessions on Police Violence and Racial Equity

Calfee held Diversity & Inclusion Listening Sessions with attorneys and staff during the protests of police violence and demonstrations for racial equity in June of 2020. These programs were sponsored by Calfee's Diversity & Inclusion Committee in conjunction with the firm's Human Resources department.

"UNDEREXPOSED" Documentary Viewing

Calfee welcomed Amanda D. King, J.D., Founder and Creative Director of Shooting Without Bullets and co-producer of the documentary, "UNDEREXPOSED," to join the firm for a Black History Month lunch program held in Cleveland and simulcast to all of Calfee’s offices. The program featured the viewing of the 20-minute documentary short, “UNDEREXPOSED,” which brings visibility to the black youth perspective in Cleveland and chronicles the lives of 10 teen artists as they find solace in art-making and performing as members of Shooting Without Bullets. In addition, Ms. King and several of the youth artists who were featured in the documentary, shared their experiences with the Calfee audience and answered questions about their organization, its mission, and their experiences as artists in Cleveland.

Calfee "Friday Jeans for Charity"

Calfee attorneys and staff “purchase” a pass each month in order to wear jeans to work on Fridays. Money collected from the jeans pass purchases is always donated to a charity chosen by members of the firm. In honor of Black History Month 2020, the firm’s “Friday Jeans for Charity” contributions for the month of February were donated to Shooting Without Bullets to help support their mission to eliminate systemic barriers that prevent young black and brown youth from thriving.