Connecting people of diverse backgrounds with opportunities
to succeed

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. 

Each year, Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. proudly recognizes Juneteenth, a day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and celebrates freedom, resilience and progress.

Observed on June 19, Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed the last remaining enslaved African Americans that they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed. The day has long been celebrated by communities across the country and was officially recognized as a federal holiday in 2021.

As part of our ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, we are proud to recognize Juneteenth and encourage our team members to learn, reflect and engage with the history and significance of this important day.

Here some ways for you to celebrate throughout the city and suburbs:

In the City

• DuSable Black History Museum Juneteenth Celebration (June 19)
  • Live music, wellness activities, educational programming and local vendors at the nation’s oldest independent Black history museum.
• Obama Presidential Center Opening Weekend (June 19–21, Jackson Park)
  • The OPC opens on Juneteenth weekend with free community celebrations, live performances, food, art and family activities.
• Bronzeville’s 6th Annual Juneteenth Community Celebration (June 20)
  • Performances, art, local entrepreneurs and South Side community connection.
• R&B Music Experience: Juneteenth Music Fest (June 20, Wintrust Arena)
  • Classic ’80s and ’90s R&B featuring Tyrese, Tank and Tamar Braxton.
• 12th Annual Chicago Juneteenth Parade (June 20, Madison Street)
  • The city’s longest-running Juneteenth event, followed by a free community picnic.
• Beverly/Morgan Park Juneteenth Family Festival (June 20)
  • Live music, African dance, face painting, health screenings and vendors.

In the Suburbs

Joliet Park District (June 20, Inwood Park) — 13th Annual Helping Hands Juneteenth Community Picnic featuring the Jesse White Tumblers.

Evanston — Opal’s Walk for Freedom (June 19) — Movement, music, learning and community unity.

Aurora (June 20, MLK Jr. Park) — Poetry, music, dance contests, Double Dutch, chess tournament and family activities.

In May, Chuhak & Tecson was proud to recognize Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and honor the millions of Asian Americans whose roots span more than 20 countries across East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent — each with its own rich history, culture and language.

As part of this recognition, our firm sponsored a table at the Asian American Bar Association’s (AABA) annual awards ceremony and reception. Several members of the firm attended the event in support of AABA and to celebrate the achievements of the Asian American legal community. We are especially proud that Chuhak & Tecson principal Tae Kim is the incoming president of AABA beginning July 1.

With April designated as Celebrate Diversity Month, at Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. we embraced this opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the diverse tapestry of our world, both within our firm and in the communities we serve. Throughout the month, our Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Council orchestrated an array of activities to broaden our perspectives, deepen our understanding and foster connections that celebrate each other’s uniqueness. Here is a recap of the events that took place:

• How Diverse is Chuhak’s Universe? Firm members were asked to share the inclusion of a wide range of diverse individuals in their lives by dropping marbles in containers representing categories of individuals, including visible and invisible disabilities, religion/faith practice, race/national origin/ethnicity, age, sexual orientation/gender identity and veteran status. Each marble in the glass became a visual representation of a person of that characteristic who is meaningful to someone here at the firm.
• A Taste Around the Chuhak World: On this culinary journey, our team members generously brought in food dishes reflective of their diverse family backgrounds. Lunchtime in our café was a collaboration of sharing and savoring main courses, sides and desserts, uniting us all through the universal language of food. Additionally, attendees were invited to display an “Ask Me About” sign to deepen our connections with each other.
• World Autism Day: As time permitted and opportunities presented themselves, team members spent the month working on a community jigsaw puzzle, as this is a symbol for some of the interconnectedness, complexity and diversity of this community.
• Intergenerational Communication Workshop: Facilitator Jenna Rogers, founder of Career Civility, works with organizations to bring humanity back into the workplace by using “civil communication” as the tool to help people communicate more effectively. She led us through an engaging, discussion-driven session that raised awareness of the challenges and dynamics within today’s multi-generational, hybrid workforce, while providing tactical and practical interpersonal communication strategies we could then utilize on a daily basis. We explored generational motivators, values and communication preferences, and we learned best practices for communicating effectively in a hybrid environment where visibility, access and learning can often vary by role and generation. This included tools for building collaboration and trust to better ensure inclusive team dynamics across age groups.

Our firm is committed to fostering an environment where every individual feels seen, heard and empowered to bring their whole selves to work. We thank all the employees who participated and contributed to making Celebrate Diversity Month a resounding success!