Second Annual Potomac River Bench -amp; Bar Stress Management -amp; Resilience Summit Takes Place on Friday, May 1, 2026

Washington, D.C, District of Columbia Apr 20, 2026 (EMWNews.com) – The American Psychiatric Association Foundation (APAF), in partnership with Bar Association of the District of Columbia (BADC) and the Rotary Club of Howard West, will host the 2nd Annual Potomac River Bench & Bar Peak Performance and Resilience Summit on Friday, May 1, 2026, from 11:30 AM to 5:00 PM ET at K&L Gates LLP in Washington, D.C. A rooftop reception will be held immediately following the Summit.

Now in its second year, the Summit brings together leaders across law and mental health to address burnout, well-being, neurodivergence, caregiving, and resilience in high-pressure legal settings. “This Summit is about turning awareness into action for a profession that has suffered in silence for far too long while attending to the varied needs of others. Enough is enough,” said Rawle Andrews Jr., Esq., executive director of APAF and Summit Co-Chair. “We are creating a safe space for honest dialogue and real solutions so that mental health is treated as essential to performance, leadership, and access to justice as physical health.”

This year’s keynote speaker is Manar Morales, JD, Founder & CEO, Diversity & Flexibility Alliance. Ms. Morales is a national thought leader and visionary on building human-centered workplace cultures at the intersection of diversity, flexibility, and well-being. As the Founder & CEO of the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance, Ms. Morales is on a mission to empower organizations to unlock their full potential by creating inclusive environments, implementing effective flexible work strategies, and prioritizing holistic employee well-being. A sought-after speaker, author, and trusted advisor, Ms. Morales brings a wealth of expertise from her background as an employment litigator and adjunct faculty member at Georgetown University. She is the author of “The Flexibility Paradigm: Humanizing the Workplace for Productivity, Profitability, and Possibility” (Georgetown University Press, January 2025), which provides a roadmap for building adaptive, resilient organizations that bring out the best in their people.

Other Featured Speakers and Panelists:
Constance Dunlap, MD, DLFAPA, FACPsych – Psychiatrist & Psychoanalyst
Denise Perme – DC Bar Lawyer Assistance Program
Shirley Ann Higuchi, Esq. – President, BADC; Past President, D.C. Bar
Craig Leen, Esq. – Partner, K&L Gates; President-Elect, BADC
GiShawn Mance, PhD – Howard University
Rashida Prioleau, Esq. – Office of the Attorney General, D.C.
Vedrana Hodzic, MD, FAPA – APA Foundation
Betsy Schwartz, MSW – APA Foundation

To register visit: bit.ly/apafsummitlive

About Bar Association of DC
Founded on May 23, 1871, The Bar Association of the District of Columbia (@badc1871) is the 1st bar
association in the District and the 3rd oldest bar association in the United States. The BADC is a voluntary bar association. Its members participate in various volunteer committees and sections including the Young LawyersSection (YLS), the Intellectual Property (IP) Section, the Bankruptcy & Restructuring Section, and over 20 practice area committees. Join us at www.badc.org.