Delicia Taylor Coleman, President of Black Women Lawyers of Michigan, joins us to discuss The Black Women Lawyers Association of Michigan (BWLAM), its founding and where it is headed.
Delicia Taylor Colman is a Senior Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Detroit in the Blight Division and General Counsel for the City of Detroit Board of Ethics. Delicia had an active trial practice for over 27 years primarily in Criminal (Misdemeanor, Felony and Federal Law), but also Family, Real Estate, Civil (Several Small Business Clients), Probate and Juvenile Law. She represented clients as both Plaintiff’s and Defense Counsel and was a vocal advocate for reforming the Criminal Justice system to incorporate restorative justice along with equity, equality, and respect for all coming before the Court. In seeing disparate treatment for individuals whose financial, racial, or sexual orientation or preference is not considered “mainstream” Delicia actively sought programs to bring about fair and just treatment for everyone especially the disenfranchised.
Delicia has served her community as a mentor for the Midnight Golf Program for the last 11 years. Prior to that I was a Board member of BLAC magazine and previously served as an executive Board member for Serenity Services. She is regular career day speaker with the Detroit Board of Education and participate in Pro Bono legal services through local Bar Associations and a past member of the Wayne County Criminal Bar Association. Delicia is a current member of the NBA, and NAACP. In 2021, she was awarded the State Bar of Michigan, Unsung Hero award selected for an attorney who has exhibited the highest standards of practice and commitment for the benefit of others. In 2017, she was nominated as one of top 10 “Best in Black” attorneys by Michigan Chronicle.
Tanya A. Grillo is the President-Elect of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan and a Director - National Conference of Women's Bar Associations. She is the Managed Assigned Counsel Coordinator for the city of Southfield. From 2017-2018, Tanya was the Regional Manager for the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC). In that capacity, I worked with all the courts in Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland and St. Clair Counties in the State of Michigan’s goal to reform the indigent defense system. She received a Juris Doctorate from Thomas M. Cooley Law School and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Central Florida.
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