Standing Together for Justice
November invites us to reflect on what we value most: justice, community, and the shared responsibility we carry to protect both. At the Philadelphia Bar Foundation, this month represents a powerful intersection of celebration and challenge as we honor progress and renew our collective commitment to equal access to justice and the democratic principles that sustain it.
In just a few days, we will gather for the 2025 Philly Justice Awards on November 6 at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. This annual event is more than a celebration as it is a declaration of who we are as a community. Together, we will honor leaders whose vision, courage, and service remind us that protecting the rule of law is essential to protecting the people it serves. Their work has shown us that justice is not abstract but something which lives in our courts, our classrooms, our neighborhoods, and our everyday choices. When we stand together, we strengthen democracy itself, one case, one client, one community at a time.
November also marks an important opportunity for the next generation of legal and civic leaders: applications for the 2026 Board Observer Program are due November 7. Through this program, the Foundation connects emerging attorneys with nonprofit boards across the region, cultivating the leadership, empathy, and integrity our justice ecosystem needs to thrive. It is one of the many ways we invest in people, because the future of democracy depends on those willing to defend it.
As we move toward Thanksgiving, gratitude takes on a deeper meaning. It is not just thankfulness for what we have, but recognition of our duty to ensure that others have access to the same rights, protections, and opportunities. Democracy and justice both rely on our collective participation which means that we show up in the courtroom, in the community, and at the ballot box. The strength of our institutions rests on our collective resolve to safeguard them.
To those who have stepped up this year, thank you. To those still looking for your place in this work, there is room for you here. Whether through giving, volunteering, mentoring, or advocating, your participation fuels progress. Every contribution, large or small, helps ensure that our justice system reflects the people it serves. Remember, gratitude without action is just sentiment. Justice, like democracy, demands both. We must stand together when it matters most, and it matters right now.
P.S.- When you say AI to me first thought continues to be the Answer- Allen Iverson. Iverson’s autobiography, Misunderstood, was recently released. The essence of his personality comes through as the book is raw, honest and passionate. Iverson focuses primarily on his life before professional basketball and is candid about the events and forces that shaped his personality. This is a must read for sports fans as we move into basketball season.