Diversity & Inclusion

Connecting people of diverse backgrounds with opportunities
to succeed

Diversity is a cultural cornerstone at Chuhak & Tecson, a foundation on which we create an inclusive and open workplace, cultivate creative collaboration and encourage perspective-taking. Lawyers and staff work together to nurture an environment where people of diverse backgrounds have a variety of opportunities to be involved and succeed in ways that are meaningful to them.

Initiatives in Action

Action is at the heart of diversity and inclusion. It comes in many forms, from broadening one’s thinking, to committing resources to those in our community, to including others. We do all of these, month in and month out. We are persistent in our intentions to better our slice of the world when, where and how we can.

Joseph A. Tecson Scholarship

In 2017, Chuhak & Tecson established the Joseph A. Tecson Scholarship at DePaul University College of Law in honor of one founder, Joseph A. Tecson.  

The scholarship is administered by DePaul and is open to law students both in good academic standing and with proven financial need, with a preference for those who have performed community service. One or two students are awarded a scholarship each year for books and supplies and find it renewed if they remain in good academic standing. Each scholarship recipient will be invited to attend firm events and apply to the firm’s law clerk program.

Joseph Tecson was a ground-breaking attorney in Chicago’s legal community and practiced for over 50 years. Tecson was passionate about public and community service. He served as a delegate with the Constitutional Convention which drafted a new constitution for Illinois in 1970 that is still in effect. Beginning in 1976 he also served for five years as the first Asian-American commissioner on the Cook County Board and was on the committee that oversaw Cook County Hospital. Tecson’s zest for public service further extended to serving on the boards of MacNeal Hospital and Brookfield Zoo. He was one of the greatest proponents of the zoo’s continual upgrades and addition of new exhibits. Chuhak & Tecson continues Tecson’s commitment to diversity and inclusion today with an environment where each person is included, listened to and supported as they strive to achieve their personal best.

Deadlines for applications are on a rolling basis. For more information or to learn how to apply for the Joseph A. Tecson Scholarship Fund, contact Lauren Harrison, executive director of development, DePaul University College of Law. 

World Hearing Day: March 3, 2026

In honor of World Hearing Day, a global advocacy event held annually on March 3, Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. was proud to host a Lunch & Learn workshop, “Deaf With a Purpose.” This year’s World Hearing Day theme, “From communities to classrooms: hearing care for all children,” highlights the importance of ensuring access to hearing care and support from an early age.

The session introduced our team to Deaf Culture and American Sign Language (ASL), offering a meaningful glimpse into some of the challenges faced by the Deaf community and the ways hearing individuals can be better advocates.

Facilitator Brandy Govan, MBA, with a certificate in Deaf Studies, shared her personal journey navigating life as a person who is deaf, providing powerful insights that helped expand our team’s understanding of the d/Deaf community (“deaf,” referring to medical, and “Deaf,” referring to cultural) and the importance of accessibility and inclusion. She also guided us through some basic ASL by teaching our team how to sign common words, numbers, colors and greetings.

We are grateful to Brandy for sharing her story and helping our team to continue learning how we can be stronger advocates for inclusion.

Women’s History Month: March 1 – March 31, 2026

In March, Chuhak & Tecson, P.C.’s, Diversity & Inclusion Council is celebrating Women’s History Month, an annual, month-long observance dedicated to reflecting on the often-overlooked contributions of women to U.S. history. From Abigail Adams to Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth to Rosa Parks, Arabella Mansfield to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the timeline of women’s history milestones stretches back to the founding of the United States.

According to History.com, the event grew out of a weeklong celebration of women’s contributions to culture, history and society and was organized in 1978 by the school district of Sonoma, California. Presentations were given at dozens of schools, a “Real Woman” essay contest was held that drew in hundreds of students and a parade took place in downtown Santa Rosa. A few years later the idea caught on within communities, school districts and organizations across the country. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8 as National Women’s History Week. In 1981, the U.S. Congress followed suit by passing a resolution establishing a national celebration. Six years later, the National Women’s History Project (now named the National Women’s History Alliance) successfully petitioned Congress to expand the event to the entire month of March.

Throughout March, we encourage everyone to take time to learn, reflect and engage with this important month.

Check out these links for things to do in Chicago to celebrate the month:  womens-history-month-in-chicago and/or celebrate-womens-history-month-chicago.

Black History Month: February 1 – March 1, 2026

As we enter February, the Chuhak & Tecson, P.C., Diversity & Inclusion Council is celebrating Black History Month. This annual observance provides an important opportunity to honor the achievements, contributions and resilience of Black Americans throughout our nation’s history and in our communities today.

The 2026 theme for Black History Month is “A Century of Black History Commemorations,”marking 100 years since Dr. Carter G. Woodson first established Negro History Week in 1926. Dr. Woodson, often called the “Father of Black History,” recognized that the contributions of Black Americans were being overlooked and undervalued. His vision laid the foundation for what would become Black History Month, ensuring that these stories would be told, remembered and celebrated.

This centennial theme invites our firm to reflect on a century of progress in recognizing and honoring Black history, while acknowledging that the work of education, representation and equity continues. As legal professionals, we have a particular responsibility to understand this history and its ongoing impact on our justice system and society.

Throughout February, we encourage everyone to take time to learn, reflect and engage with this important observance.

Diversity Scholarship Foundation’s annual Unity Award Gala: January 23, 2026

As part of the firm’s diversity and inclusion initiative, we were once again pleased to join others in the legal community for the Diversity Scholarship Foundation’s annual Unity Award Gala to raise funds for scholarships awarded to law students who are leaders and achievers and interested in public service after graduation. The evening featured the Unity Award ceremony where scholarships were awarded to diverse and deserving students from more than 100 applicants, the annual swearing-in ceremony of bar association presidents from across the state and several other diversity achievement awards.

Unity Gala attendees who represented our firm were, from left to right, Loyola University College of Law student Trina Wong; Chuhak & Tecson team members Tae Kim, Monica Westlake, Jama Kay Emerson and Martinique Dickey; and friend Cheryl Muhammad.

gala

Profile in Inclusion

Celebrating the people of Chuhak & Tecson:
D&I Council Members