Year 6: Faith, Liberty, and Justice

Today, six years ago, I hit the live button on this blog and haven’t looked back! I cannot put into words how important this community is to me, how motivated and empowered I am by all of you, and how happy you all make me when I see you pushing ahead and working –so damn hard–to reach your goals. And then when you become attorneys?! To see some of you practice now for 5+ years when you were baby sharks when this first started? To see the leaders and experts and baddies you’ve become?! I am just so grateful to be able to have a peek and that I’m able to provide a tiny bit of support in helping you get to where you want to go.

For year six, I had big plans to celebrate! If everything had been normal, I would have visited los angeles this year and we would have had a big party in Chicago as well. Pero, Miss Rona isn’t going anywhere so we have to settle for digital only for the time being.

Of course, I couldn’t let this moment pass without some acknowledgement. For a while I had been thinking of Justicia as a symbol and how I wanted her to resonate further with everyone. I know that not everyone likes pink (for why though?!), others reached out to ask about curly hair representation, and more than a few asked about adding an Afro-Latina in the mix. At first, I thought about editing the main logo so we had a a curly haired Justicia, an Afro-Latina, etc., but the more I thought about it the more I realized I wanted to showcase the Lawtina journey. So I called on the amazingly talented illustrator, Cari Guevara, and we created two new Latinas Uprising symbols.

I am so excited to introduce—Fe and Libertad!!

Fe is a law student. I love her look of resolve and how sure she is of where she’s going. She’s holding a case law book (with those scales of justice). Faith has always been a part of the law school motto for most of us. We decide to apply to law school based on faith in our abilities and faith that we can achieve our goals even when the stats and perhaps everyone else tells us it’s not possible. I wanted that showcased as a reminder for those in the thick of it, that si se puede. Cari researched different traditional attire that is similar, but different, throughout Latin America and made sure those elements peeked through here (I love the headpiece!).

And Libertad is part of the Lawtina journey. When I  see her, I see a practicing lawyer–check out that pen, cuz you know we’re writers!  For me, speaking truth to power; using the laws to liberate (as much as we can); shaking up the system to make it better is what makes going through all the ups and downs worth it. Cari used traditional attire on her as well and you can see baby scales of justice on the details of her pollera. Also, check out the power stance! That’s the look you give to opposing counsel to let them know you’re not the one.

Of course, this isn’t the end all of what “we” look like or that you should feel represented here completely. I felt the need to add these two partly because others spoke up to ask for this representation. I’d love to know who else is needed–don’t be shy!

Finally, maybe it’s weird to love these graphics, but I do! I love the representation of the journey to becoming a lawyer; the fight for justice and to revamp the legal field; and the physical difference we all represent as well. Just like Justicia is now all over the place, I can’t wait for Fe and Libertad to make their way into law school classrooms, offices, and maybe even a judge’s chamber someday!

Oh and my favorite part–kind of like our own superheroes, together they are las poderosas: