A proud accomplishment, which I cannot really claim as an achievement at all, is my “Yellow Rose of Texas” certificate! So I found my return in May to Texas and to Dallas-Fort Worth heartwarming –– from both a personal and professional standpoint. The story of the commitment of local association members on behalf of the nation's youth is extremely compelling, as is the leadership of women lawyers in the area.

Nearly 70 percent of Fort Worth's 3,500 lawyers are members of the Tarrant County Bar Association. Its leaders have created a vital resource for lawyers and are continuing to seek revitalization of the profession.

The Dallas Bar Association and the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers have developed an innovative program for at-risk children. The program, e-Mentoring, Esq. -- implemented in selected schools in the Dallas Independent School District -- connects lawyers with one or more students. The lawyers serve as mentors, encouraging their students to stay in school, study hard and consider college. Because of the time constraints with which we're all so familiar, this mentoring takes place online.

Dallas, which is the 12th largest school district in the country with nearly 160,000 students, has typically had a drop-out rate of 50 percent (half of the students in ninth grade weren’t reaching graduation). As a real testament of the efficacy of the e-Mentoring program, none of the students working with a mentor has dropped out since the program began three years ago. Since 2004, the e-Mentoring program has grown from serving 45 students with 45 mentors, to serving 650 students with 400 legal professionals serving as mentors by the end of the 2006-07 school year.

In spring 2007, the State Bar of Texas, the Dallas Bar Association, the J. L. Turner Legal Association, the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, the Dallas Hispanic Bar and the Dallas Asian American Bar all had women presidents. During a lovely lunch at the headquarters of the Dallas Bar Association, the Belo Mansion, women leaders in the Dallas legal community discussed their roles, challenges and successes.

An afternoon Youth at Risk Roundtable at Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law brought together nearly two dozen child advocates, judicial representatives and community organizers to discuss the hurdles facing young people in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Last year, for example, there were 8,000 requests to Child Protective Services for foster care placements, yet only 7,700 homes could be found. Despite obstacles, these professionals –– lawyers and representatives from schools, courts and social services –– help young people put their lives on track through creative solutions, passion and working together.

The resourcefulness and enthusiasm of these efforts by the Dallas and Tarrant County bar leaders and association members can truly be an inspiration for us all.