欧美口爆视频

Velveta Golightly-Howell (鈥�81) has achieved many firsts throughout her life. She was among the first group of Black students to integrate the Alabama public school system at age 12, and then among the first Black students admitted to the University of Alabama undergraduate and law schools. She went on to become the first in her family to attend law school and was the eighth female American descendent of slavery to earn a听 Juris Doctor from the University of 欧美口爆视频 Law School.

Golightly-Howell continued to break barriers throughout her career. After being appointed by Denver District Attorney Dale Tooley, she became 欧美口爆视频鈥檚 first Black female prosecutor. She was the third Black attorney employed at the Denver City Attorney鈥檚 Office and the first attorney of color hired at an international labor organization, where she practiced labor and employment law.

At the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the General Counsel for the Rocky Mountain Region, where she was selected as the first Black female lawyer and only the second African American, she became the first attorney of color to receive the office鈥檚 highest recognition for exceptional performance.

In 2020, Golightly-Howell became the second Black recipient of the 欧美口爆视频 Women鈥檚 Bar Association鈥檚 Mary Lathrop Trailblazer Award. Most recently, she became the first 欧美口爆视频 Law alumna to be inducted to the 欧美口爆视频 Women鈥檚 Hall of Fame, recognizing a lifetime of service, mentorship, and professional success.听

Growing up in Alabama in the 1960s, Golightly-Howell experienced the perverse effects of racial discrimination. While she felt supported and loved in her all-Black community of church, family, and neighbors, she was also acutely aware of the deep-seated racism throughout the U.S. Heeding her wise parents鈥� advice鈥斺�淲here opportunity does not exist, create it鈥濃�攕he sought to open doors for herself and others.

Inspired by her own mentor and lifelong friend, legendary attorney Brooke Wunnicke (鈥�45), Golightly-Howell has mentored hundreds of law students, young attorneys, and other young professionals. She first experienced the power of mentorship during the second semester of her 2L year, when she accepted a one-year, paid internship with the Denver District Attorney鈥檚 Office. She and three white male 欧美口爆视频 Law classmates worked under the tutelage of Wunnicke, 欧美口爆视频鈥檚 first female appellate chief deputy and barrier breaker herself.

"Brooke role-modeled how you treat people and how you carry yourself. She modeled for us how to be a reputable lawyer鈥攐ne whom judges respect and colleagues trust,鈥� Golightly-Howell said.

Many others have encouraged and made space for Golightly-Howell along the way, including law school classmates Hon. Claudia Jordan (鈥�80), who encouraged her to apply for the internship with the Denver DA, and Hon. Bill Ritter (鈥�81), who served as an intern alongside her and with whom she remains friends.

Golightly-Howell has found particular joy in helping students and attorneys of color navigate the ins and outs of law school, the legal profession, and life. She鈥檚 sought to create the community that she wished she鈥檇 had in law school as a first-generation law student and newcomer to 欧美口爆视频.

鈥淔or me, my path and purpose were revealed when I was 6 years old,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y purpose is to open the door for others to come through."

Whether they are formally matched with Golightly-Howell through 欧美口爆视频 Law鈥檚 mentorship program or meet more informally, students know they can turn to her for guidance on professional and personal matters.鈥淚 met Ms. Velveta at a mixer with alumni and incoming 1Ls. She walked right up to me and gave me her business card and started talking to me,鈥� said Rosaline Martinez (鈥�22).

鈥淚 had only been in 欧美口爆视频 for a week at the time and was feeling really vulnerable. It was nice to be approached by someone who took an active interest in me and was really kind."

As they started talking, they realized they had a lot in common. They were both born in Alabama, had similar backgrounds, and came to 欧美口爆视频 Law as first-generation law students. Within a few weeks, Martinez and her roommate attended dinner at Golightly-Howell鈥檚 home with听 her family.

鈥淲e were both strangers in a strange land鈥攕he knew exactly how I felt,鈥� Martinez said. 鈥淚 did not know many lawyers before law school. Having someone like her welcome me with open arms into her family was very helpful. It was really nice to feel cared about.鈥�

Jos茅 Garc铆a-Madrid (鈥�22) recalls meeting Golightly-Howell at a 1L orientation event. 鈥淰elveta was one of the few nonstudent, nonfaculty members,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ecause she is a woman of color, I wanted to talk to her. In the first 5 minutes she told me she had a get-together at her house planned for students and invited me.鈥�

Naomi King (鈥�21) was matched with Golightly-Howell through the mentorship program as a 2L. Even after the official 12-month commitment, they kept in touch and talk regularly.

鈥淲hen we first met, she was very forthright. She said, 鈥業鈥檓 here to really see you grow. Let鈥檚 get to know each other for real.鈥� That is what I signed up for: a real, authentic connection鈥攕omeone I could be candid with,鈥� King said.

Golightly-Howell鈥檚 counsel to students runs the gamut from how to stand out as a summer associate, navigating different legal careers, advocating for oneself, and balancing parenthood with a successful legal career. She also introduces students to her vast network of attorneys throughout the state.

鈥淰el is so generous with her space and resources. The last time I was at her house, she invited another attorney and his wife to have brunch with us. She wanted to make sure we connected with him,鈥� Garc铆a-Madrid said. 鈥淪he really understands community. It鈥檚 especially critical to build community among lawyers of color.鈥�

Golightly-Howell is also an important part of the system of support for students of color, Garc铆a-Madrid said. Last summer, students turned to her for support and conversations around systemic racism in the U.S. She served as a sounding board for the student-led Council for Racial Justice and Equity, created by student leaders to supplement Dean Anaya鈥檚 Anti-Racism and Representation Initiative.

鈥淚t was so valuable talking with her about this festering wound in our country, and hearing about her lived experience of fighting racism her whole life,鈥� King said. 鈥淚 appreciated having those conversations with her about the decades of work it took to get to this point and how it can be reversed so easily. Velveta inspires me to speak up and take action.鈥�

Student leaders have learned from Golightly-Howell鈥檚 example of uplifting others and sharing the spotlight.

"Learning from Vel about community and how to support each other has really helped us in our work on the Council for Racial Justice and Equity,鈥� Garc铆a-Madrid said. Equally important, he added, is pointing out other students doing the work who may not be as vocal about it.

鈥淰elveta鈥檚 example has encouraged us to share the spotlight and help others build up their leadership,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e feel it鈥檚 a duty we owe to people like Velveta.鈥�

Making space for others

Golightly-Howell is passionate about increasing access for people from marginalized groups in government work, particularly where they have a seat at the table for important decisions that affect national and international policies and legal processes. At the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights, she worked to recruit a diverse staff that represented many racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, and religious groups.

鈥淚 felt that when you had a multiplicity of different minds, lived and professional experiences, and aptitudes that are committed to working towards a mission and purpose, you鈥檙e going to come up with much better decisions and much broader impact at the organization,鈥� she said.

She鈥檚 also worked to increase access for law students in government work. While serving as the director at the Office of Civil Rights for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C., Golightly-Howell contacted Alexia McCaskill, senior director for professional development, to partner on an internship program for 欧美口爆视频 Law students.

鈥淭hat was Vel鈥檚 way of opening up access to students within that office. She is always thinking about ways that she can support 欧美口爆视频 Law students, and particularly students who have identities that are underrepresented in the profession,鈥� McCaskill said.

Even with increased efforts by law schools and firms to increase diversity, many Black attorneys don鈥檛 feel good about their experiences, Golightly-Howell said. Through her mentorship, advocacy, and engagement, she aims to instill the same sense of confidence and belief in oneself that her family, teachers, and community instilled in her.

鈥淚 remind them, 鈥榊ou can do whatever you want to do as long as you work hard for it,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淚 remind them to keep听 their faith.鈥�

鈥淎s a Black woman, she knows the importance of having people that make way and make space for you in a profession that doesn鈥檛 sometimes or oftentimes reflect you,鈥� said McCaskill, who oversees the mentorship program. 鈥淪he has a very keen understanding of the importance of students, regardless of their identities and backgrounds, having someone they can go to to ask questions of and feel supported by, and who can create for them a sense of belonging. She鈥檚 always thinking of how she can help people belong and be that resource.鈥�

In between mentoring students, Golightly-Howell serves on the Law Alumni Board, where she is involved in efforts to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion at 欧美口爆视频 Law and recruit students from marginalized backgrounds. This January, she launched Sister-to-Sister: International Network of Professional African American Women Inc., a nonprofit that serves as a network for professional Black women and provides communal spaces, education, training, mentoring, and other offerings. The nonprofit builds on the 欧美口爆视频 Sister-to-Sister group Golightly-Howell founded nearly three decades ago, which has connected hundreds of women in and outside the U.S.

It all goes back to Golightly-Howell鈥檚 lifelong commitment to bringing people together, building up their confidence and self-esteem, and nurturing relationships with others.

鈥淚 jokingly say that even though Velveta is a mentor in a program I run, she finds these ways to mentor and support me,鈥� McCaskill said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 who she is. It鈥檚 intentional the way she supports and engages, but not forced or studied. It鈥檚 what comes to her naturally. It always seems to arrive at just the right time.鈥�

If you are interested in mentoring a 欧美口爆视频 Law student, please contact Alexia McCaskill at alexia.mccaskill@colorado.edu