JALBCA congratulates Past President and current Assistant Treasurer Sharon Nelles on receiving the Hon. Shira A. Scheindlin Award for Excellence in the Courtroom from the New York State Bar Association Commercial & Federal Litigation Section on November 13, 2019. Many JALBCA leaders joined Sharon in celebrating at the Ceremonial Courtroom in the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse. (Top photo L-R: Hon. Jennifer Schecter, Co-President Hon. Saliann Scarpulla, Sharon Nelles, Co-President Vilia Hayes. Bottom photo L-R: Fellow honoree Sharon Porcellio, Hon. Shira Scheindlin, Sharon Nelles).

Our informative, interactive and inspirational Treatment Beyond the Tumor 2.0 program at the Appellate Division, Second Department on October 22, 2019 was a smash hit! Thanks to co-sponsors Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association and SHARE. The program addressed treatment to help patients cope with the emotional and physical side effects of a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Before the program, we aired JALBCA’s powerful new video, which shows the impact that JALBCA’s grantees have on people’s lives – please take four minutes to watch it here.
Thanks to Presiding Justice Alan Scheinkman for hosting the program and reception and welcoming us to the beautiful courthouse. After JALBCA President Hon. Saliann Scarpulla welcomed the audience on behalf of JALBCA, moderator and JALBCA Board member Hon. Linda Capitti introduced the program and discussed the importance of mental health services when facing a diagnosis of breast cancer, drawing on her own experience as a two-time breast cancer survivor. Glenn Liebman (CEO of the Mental Health Association in New York State, Inc.) described the law requiring parity between mental health and medical treatments, its implementation by insurance companies and how to challenge a denial of treatment. Felicia Newsome (LMT, Managing Director , CATA Oncology Massage Training Program) explained how massage can help the physical and emotional well-being of breast cancer patients. Then Bryan Molano (LMT, Element Natural Healing Arts) discussed how lymphatic drainage massage can reduce swelling from lymphedema following breast cancer surgery. Reprising her dynamic presentation from last year’s Treatment Beyond the Tumor program, Donna Wilson (RN, MSN, RRT, Personal Trainer, Clinical Fitness Specialist, Bendheim Integrative Medicine Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center) got the audience on its feet with exercises to improve mobility and health. Finally, Ms. Newsome led the group through a meditation exercise focused on breathing. Thanks to all the presenters for their engaging and informative presentations. Attendees enjoyed a lovely reception in the lawyers’ lounge after the program. What a night!
The program was webcast at Miller Zeiderman & Weiderkehr LLP in White Plains, co-sponsored by the Westchester Black Bar Association, the Westchester County Bar Association and the Westchester Women’s Bar Association. If you missed the program, you can watch it here.

JALBCA was proud to join NY State Senator Jamaal Bailey and Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark at Senator Bailey’s Survivor’s Day event for breast cancer and domestic violence survivors at the Butler United Methodist Church in the Bronx on October 27, 2019. JALBCA Executive Director Claire Gutekunst provided resources for people affected by breast cancer – and the bright pink bracelets everyone is sporting in this photo.