{Members Only} One year in, there is no mistaking the fact that working mothers have been hit the hardest during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dubbed the "shecession," millions of women have left the workforce. Those of us lucky enough to still be employed full-time have been juggling unimaginable stresses, including in many cases, caring for our children while simultaneously working.

{Members Only} We asked judges from our region to share their experiences of keeping the judicial system functioning during the pandemic, and asked them to explain how they are proceeding now that the country works to return to some semblance of normalcy.

{Members Only} Over the course of the last 15 months, two incredible attorneys have dedicated countless hours to help our community with the most fundamental need: food.

{Public} When I think of continuous learning, I think of learning that goes beyond the classroom or traditional formal education. The brain is our body's most powerful "muscle," and using it in ways that go beyond how we would normally use it allows the brain to go through a form of cross-training.

{Members Only} June marks Pride month: a time when we commemorate the 1969 Stonewall uprisings led by Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and other activists who created an inflection point in favor of LGBTQ+ equality.

{Members Only} I loved being a juvenile court judge. There were times I could truly make a difference in the life of a child. At other times, I felt frustrated by the bureaucracy and weary of hearing all the barriers children and families had to deal with to be reunited.

{Public} As this column is being written, we have been dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic for more than 14 months. Its impact on the legal profession has been profound.

First, most lawyers — with extraordinary help from IT professionals — have learned to work remotely (meaning primarily from home). Shockingly, because of technology, many lawyers have found working remotely to be just as productive as working in a law office. Still, stories abound about lawyers “working from home” in vacation properties. One administrative assistant confided in me that her “cube” was now a table outside near her family swimming pool.

Feel Well (emotional well-being)—Valuing emotions. Developing an ability to identify and manage emotions for health, to achieve goals, and to inform decisions. Seeking help for mental health when needed.

Today's theme is CONNECT: social well-being which is building connection, belonging, and a reliable support network; contributing to our groups and communities.

The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL) officially kicked off its 2021-22 bar year on Fri., April 30 with a hybrid ceremony. Some members of BAMSL's 2021-22 Board of Governors and Young Lawyers Division (YLD) Executive Committee were sworn in at the BAMSL Bar Center in downtown St. Louis while others took the oath virtually via Zoom at 11:30 a.m. on April 30.