Welcome Message from the 58th Regional Vice Chair
Dear Midwest BLSA Family,
My name is Copenhagen Elliott, and I am deeply honored to serve as the 58th Vice Chair of the Midwest Black Law Students Association for the 2025-2026 academic year. I am a proud student at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and hail from the great city of Houston, Texas. I want to express my sincere gratitude to our Chair and the executive board for their trust and support as we work together to strengthen our regional chapter.
Like many of you, my path to law school was not without its challenges. As a first-generation law student and growing up in the inner city, there were many roads more traveled. Yet my passion for helping marginalized individuals and communities brought me here. These experiences have shaped my perspective and fueled my passion for creating spaces where Black law students can find community, support, and opportunities to excel.
This year, our regional theme is "Building on our Legacy: Past Wisdom, Present Action, Future Hope" – a call for us to connect across our differences while dismantling the obstacles that have historically limited our advancement in the legal profession. This theme reflects both our individual journeys and our collective responsibility to each other and to our communities.
As Vice Chair, I am committed to several key initiatives:
I believe deeply in the potential of every MWBLSA member. We each bring unique strengths, perspectives, and dreams to this organization. By supporting one another and working together, there is nothing we cannot achieve.
I encourage you to reach out to me directly with your ideas, concerns, or just to connect. My inbox is always open at [email protected], and I look forward to meeting many of you at our upcoming regional events this Fall.
With purpose and solidarity,
Copenhagen “Cope” Elliott, MBA
MWBLSA 58 Vice Chair
Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
J.D. Candidate, 2026
My name is Copenhagen Elliott, and I am deeply honored to serve as the 58th Vice Chair of the Midwest Black Law Students Association for the 2025-2026 academic year. I am a proud student at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and hail from the great city of Houston, Texas. I want to express my sincere gratitude to our Chair and the executive board for their trust and support as we work together to strengthen our regional chapter.
Like many of you, my path to law school was not without its challenges. As a first-generation law student and growing up in the inner city, there were many roads more traveled. Yet my passion for helping marginalized individuals and communities brought me here. These experiences have shaped my perspective and fueled my passion for creating spaces where Black law students can find community, support, and opportunities to excel.
This year, our regional theme is "Building on our Legacy: Past Wisdom, Present Action, Future Hope" – a call for us to connect across our differences while dismantling the obstacles that have historically limited our advancement in the legal profession. This theme reflects both our individual journeys and our collective responsibility to each other and to our communities.
As Vice Chair, I am committed to several key initiatives:
- First, strengthening chapter connections across the Midwest region through quarterly virtual roundtables and a revamped mentorship program pairing 1Ls with upper-class students and practicing attorneys who share similar backgrounds and career interests.
- Second, expanding professional development opportunities through partnerships with law firms and organizations committed to diversity in the legal profession. This includes our new "Pathways to Practice" workshop series focusing on diverse career paths in law.
- Third, increasing community engagement initiatives that connect our academic pursuits with real-world impact. We will launch a regional pro bono challenge, encouraging chapters to collectively contribute 2,500 hours of service to underserved communities across the Midwest.
I believe deeply in the potential of every MWBLSA member. We each bring unique strengths, perspectives, and dreams to this organization. By supporting one another and working together, there is nothing we cannot achieve.
I encourage you to reach out to me directly with your ideas, concerns, or just to connect. My inbox is always open at [email protected], and I look forward to meeting many of you at our upcoming regional events this Fall.
With purpose and solidarity,
Copenhagen “Cope” Elliott, MBA
MWBLSA 58 Vice Chair
Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
J.D. Candidate, 2026