Phelps Honored with GJCP Excellence in Diversity Award
JACKSON — Feb. 21, 2024 — Phelps was honored with the 2023 Excellence in Diversity Award by the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership (GJCP). GJCP annually honors an organization that is committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion across the Greater Jackson area. Phelps’ Jackson office was chosen for its active involvement in initiatives across the firm’s footprint that promote and celebrate diversity and inclusion.
Lawyers in the firm’s Jackson office continually work to create an environment that promotes diversity. Of Counsel Fred Banks and Reuben Anderson entered the legal field in the thick of the battle for civil rights and formed the first interracial law partnership in Mississippi’s history, working with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund to integrate education systems in Mississippi. Reuben went on to become Mississippi’s first African American municipal court judge, county court judge, circuit court judge, and state supreme court justice. Fred followed in Reuben’s footsteps in the judiciary, taking Reuben’s seat on the bench when he left the 7th Circuit District, as well as the Mississippi Supreme Court.
LaToya Merritt, Jackson partner and chair of the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, recently joined the National Bar Association panel “Closing the Gap for Black Women in Executive Compensation,” and frequently speaks on topics that promote inclusivity in the workplace. She regularly represents educational institutions, including HBCUs, in suits alleging civil rights and constitutional law violations.
Jackson Partner Candace Gregory joined Phelps after a career championing civil rights as a state and federal prosecutor in Mississippi, and she extends this commitment to her work with clients and as a mentor to up-and-coming lawyers. She is a 2024 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellow, connecting with leading legal counsel to contribute to a more equitable and diverse legal profession.
Phelps also partners with HBCUs across Mississippi to help students prepare for life beyond college and find impactful career paths. Schools including Jackson State University, Hinds Community College, Mississippi Valley State University and Tougaloo College connect with corporations, creating pipelines that prepare the next generation of diverse, highly skilled employees for the workforce.
LaToya accepted the award on behalf of Phelps at the GJCP annual meeting on Jan. 31.
“I am honored to accept this award on behalf of Phelps and continue to work to advance diversity, equity and inclusion among professionals and the local Jackson community as a whole,” LaToya said. “As chair of the firm’s DEI committee, I am proud that Phelps continues to value diverse perspectives within our communities.”
To read more about Phelps’ diversity efforts and history, click here.