President's Corner

Dear APABA-DC Family,

As we near the first two months of this new presidential administration, one thing is clear: long-established norms of precedent, civility, and fundamental rights are under attack. Over the past few weeks, many of you have reached out—angry, frustrated, and deeply concerned about what lies ahead. Some have urged APABA-DC to take a more visible stand in protesting what we are seeing and feeling both individually and collectively, particularly against the Administration’s outrageous attacks on birthright citizenship and DEI. Others have suggested we say nothing in fear of attracting more attention and putting our more vulnerable members and community at risk. All of these viewpoints across the spectrum are valid. We are grateful for your trust in sharing them with us. I assure you that the organization is hearing and considering all the feedback received and navigating how to balance our actions, priorities, and resources to enable us to be most effective.

Let me be clear: We are not standing by. We reject any effort to undermine the rule of law, roll back hard-won progress, or dismantle the foundation of an inclusive society. APABA-DC is taking action—expanding programs and resources to support those directly affected, strengthening professional development opportunities to equip our members with the skills and networks to thrive, and continuing to create spaces where our community can connect, strategize, and lift each other up. We hope to see you at these events (and hear what you want or need most). We are also reaching out to our friends and allies, sharing information and resources, so that we may be stronger and more impactful together.

Now more than ever, we remind you: You are not alone. We stand together.

APABA-DC was founded in the fight for civil rights, and we remain committed to that mission. We are a voluntary bar association, created to represent the best of the legal profession and execute our skills and capabilities with integrity and professionalism. We remain steadfast in our character and knowing who we are, and we will continue to advocate, educate, and empower. We will push back against policies and efforts that seek to divide and disenfranchise. We will uphold and defend and speak up for the sanctity of the rule of law. And we will ensure that our members—individually and collectively—are prepared to meet this moment with strength, resilience, and action.

We are in this together. We will not be silenced. And we will not be deterred.

In solidarity,

Angeline Chen
President, APABA-DC

Dear APABA-DC Family,

There are moments in history and our individual lives when the world feels especially heavy—when uncertainty surrounds us, and the path ahead seems unclear.

Right now, many of us are carrying that weight, worrying about what the future holds for ourselves, our loved ones, our friends, and our colleagues. At times, it may feel like we are standing on shifting sands. The months ahead will likely bring even more change.

And yet, even in uncertainty, life does not pause. We still show up every day—for our work, for our families, for our communities. We celebrate milestones, comfort one another in times of loss, and find joy in the everyday. In the midst of all of this, APABA-DC remains unwavering in our purpose: to support you, to nurture you, and to ensure that no one in our community ever walks alone. Equally steadfast is our unwavering commitment to never allow our voice, your voice, to be silenced. We will continue to speak and be heard, not as one as we are not a monolith, but with the strength and balance of all of us, and with awareness and respect for each other and those whom we serve and interact.

It is one of my highest privileges and honors to serve as this year’s President of APABA-DC, following a long and illustrious line of over 40 years of dedicated leadership that came before me. Every day, I am inspired by the dedication, talent, and resilience of our board, our membership, and our broader community. I am proud of all that we have accomplished together and even more excited for what lies ahead. The strength of our organization comes not just from our shared history and experiences, but from the limitless potential we bring to the table—our voices, our leadership, and our collective commitment to uplifting one another.

It is said that it is in times of challenge and crisis that one can truly take the measure of a person. Time and again, without fail, I have seen this community rise to meet the moment: with courage, with grace, and with an unshakable resolve to uplift one another. Supporting and representing this organization is a responsibility I do not take lightly, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve and stand alongside each of you.

So I want to reaffirm: No matter what comes, APABA-DC will continue to create spaces for learning, for growth, and for connection. In the coming months, we will continue to offer programming to strengthen your professional skills, inform and engage on the substantive issues that matter, and provide opportunities to simply be in community with one another. Whether you seek knowledge, guidance, inspiration, or just the comfort of knowing you do and will always belong, APABA-DC is here.

And if there is something you want or need from us, please reach out. If there’s a topic we should cover, a resource we can provide, or an event that would bring people together in a meaningful way, let us know.

We are more than an organization—we are a family. And in times of uncertainty, family is what sustains us. Please remember that you are never alone. We will walk this road together, with resilience, with purpose, and with hope. We hear you. We see you. We are here for you.

With warmth and solidarity,

Angeline Chen
President, APABA-DC