Celebrating Excellence: Notre Dame BLSA Honors Community Leaders, Students, and Alumni
The Notre Dame Black Law Students Association (BLSA) celebrated its 51st Alumni Reunion weekend in March, with the BLSA alumni banquet and awards ceremony serving as the reunion’s culminating event. The banquet included a cocktail reception, the presentation of student and alumni awards, a keynote address and fireside chat featuring Notre Dame Law School alumna Kym Worthy, and the presentation of the incoming BLSA executive board.
Kym Worthy ’84 J.D., who serves as the prosecutor of Wayne County, Michigan, delivered the keynote address at the banquet. In her address, she offered insights into her time serving on the Wayne County Circuit Bench, working in the Wayne County’s Prosecutor Office with a 90 percent conviction rate, starting the Detroit Rape Kit Program, and launching the Conviction Integrity Unit.
“I represent the people of the State of Michigan. I don’t just represent the traditional person,” said Worthy, highlighting the diversity of her constituents. “Wayne County has the biggest concentration of Arab Americans. We have a huge Asian population. We have a huge Latino population. It’s one of the most diverse counties in the country outside of Los Angeles and New York.”
“We must have policies and procedures to make sure that everybody is protected and represented. We must make sure that every defendant we have has the proper due process. That is the mandate of a prosecutor,” she added.
One of Worthy’s high-profile victories has been the success of a years-long project to end Wayne County’s backlog of untested rape kits. In 2009, Worthy’s office discovered that 11,341 untested rape kits were collecting dust in a police warehouse. Since then, she has been determined to test every single kit.
“We found 11,341 rape kits and, as you can imagine, 86.3 percent of those women that had their rape kits ignored were women of color,” she said. “The color of your skin dictates the value of your life in the criminal justice system. That's why we were so aggressive in making sure we brought them justice. Detroit now serves as the national model.”
“I particularly appreciated the address from our guest speaker, alumna, and Wayne County, Michigan prosecutor, Kym Worthy,” said incoming BLSA president Nicholas Smith. “Her impact on the Wayne County justice system is a prime example of what it means to be a ‘different kind of lawyer.’ She reminded us to stay true to ourselves as we pursue the many avenues available to young lawyers in the legal field. She assured, ‘The strength of spirit that you get from being here at Notre Dame will sustain you.’”
Ayanna Murphy, the outgoing BLSA president and a Metro Detroit native, expressed that her favorite part of the weekend was having the opportunity to speak with Worthy. "I really appreciated getting to meet and hear from someone that I’ve heard stories about throughout my life," said Murphy.
Murphy also extended her gratitude to her peers and fellow BLSA teammates Luwam Gabreselassie, Maya Joseph, Antonio Jean-Denis, and Kaitlyn Bowe, for their support and efforts throughout the academic year.
“The 51st reunion banquet provided us an opportunity to celebrate the work and achievements of our community, to showcase the strength of our united voice and to create bonds that unite us across generations,” said Gabreselassie, the outgoing BLSA vice president.
At the event, awards were presented to the following individuals:
Ann Kiley, Staff Appreciation Award
Judge Andre Gammage, Charles F. Crutchfield Award
Kym L. Worthy, Alvin McKenna Alumnus of the Year Award
Jennifer Osita, Dwight King Community Service Award
Kayla Dixon, Dean’s Circle Award
Aisha Bah, Community Advancement Award
Joshua Mannery, Highest Contributor to ND Award
Jamal Wilson, Highest Contributor to BLSA Award
Osita, a rising second-year law student, was recognized for consistently demonstrating exceptional leadership, teamwork, and initiative in service to the Notre Dame Law School community and the mission of BLSA.
“As someone who has always sought out opportunities to give back to the community, I am honored to receive the Dwight King Community Service Award, which makes me feel seen and appreciated,” she said.
Osita will serve on BLSA’s executive board as secretary in the next academic year. “As the new secretary for BLSA, I am excited to work alongside my dynamic and charismatic E-Board to keep the mission of BLSA alive,” she stated. “I am committed to seeing BLSA thrive and make its mark on Notre Dame.”
Bah, a rising third-year law student, has been actively involved in BLSA since her first year of law school. As the recipient of the Community Advancement Award, Bah reflected, “It means a great deal to me to be recognized because I love BLSA. BLSA has embraced me from the very beginning, and I’ve made several life-long connections in it. It has also given me a sense of community and belonging at Notre Dame, so I’m glad that I could contribute valuably to it.”
Learn more about the Notre Dame Black Law Students Association, its mission, and its robust impact on the Notre Dame community here.