I saw the posting about the Delta Sigma Theta member who is a part of this GW Emerging Leader competition, and I felt that I would be remiss if I did not note that we also have a soror in the competition. (If I knew how to add the picture I would.) Several of the people on the list are members of the D9 and are doing amazing things in their communities. However, this is a special shout out for Soror Michelle. You can go here to vote:
http://www.impact-dc.com/vote.html#aug
Michelle Thomas, Esq.
August
This sophisticated sister is one to watch in the DC area. She’s poised, professional and unpretentious, and has an effervescent smile that warms any room. However, don’t let her smile fool you! Michelle C. Thomas is quickly becoming someone of influence, dedicated to leaving a legacy of excellence in her profession and commitment to the community. Michelle’s reputation as an accomplished attorney, community organizer and political activist resonates throughout the DC area. Currently, Michelle maintains a burgeoning divorce and family law practice in Virginia and DC where she is most widely known for her dynamic advocacy and unique negotiating techniques. Despite the increasing demands of her law firm, Leftwich and Ludaway, LLC, Michelle’s leadership continues to soar.
In May, 2007, Michelle was elected President of the Greater Washington Area Chapter (GWAC), Women Lawyers Division, National Bar Association (
www.gwacbar.org). Michelle manages to balance her leadership in the legal community with her political endeavors. Michelle recently co-chaired a political benefit raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for U.S. Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama, and was recently appointed to serve as the National Political Director for Young Lawyers for Obama, where she collaborates with constituency-based organizations and community leaders, as well as elected officials from across the nation in support of Senator Obama’s bid for the presidency. In fact, Michelle is in the process of recruiting individuals to serve on an African American lawyer/lobbying committee to focus on developing policy-initiatives for specific constituencies.
Michelle is about creating institutional change, and she is clearly doing just that. However, Michelle realizes that one cannot affect institutional change alone. “It’s more efficient to accomplish your goals when you surround yourself with like-minded people and bring them along on your journey.” Upon building her own network exponentially, she has been able to organize networking events, where she partners with various professional organizations for the purpose of cultivating a cohesive, unified population of area Black professionals while giving back to the community simultaneously. Through these events, which have attracted an average of 400-500 young professionals each time, Michelle has raised thousands of dollars to donate to scholarships and other charities.
Some say she has a lot on her plate. Michelle says that this is just the beginning. “There is so much work to be done in our communities. It is nonsensical to pursue personal socio-economic success without remembering to bring others with you.” And that she does. Michelle is a member of Reid Temple AME Church and
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She resides in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Whether dominating the courtroom or contributing to the community, you will be hard-pressed to find someone as diligent and focused as this talented sister. Michelle often says that “we're blessed to be a blessing to others,” and while that may be empty rhetoric for most, she clearly governs her life according to that mantra. She believes in living life to the fullest and maximizing each moment. We look forward to watching Michelle C. Thomas continue to make her mark on the Greater Washington Area. To receive more information about her organizations, contact. Michelle at
MThomasEsq@gmail.com.
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