Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida

Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida Central Florida's voluntary bar organization serving the Hispanic community. The Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida, Inc.

(the “HBACF”) is a non-profit organization that was incorporated on September 3, 1991. The founding members of the HBACF were Norberto S. Katz, as Executive Director, Raul Alvarez, Angel Bello-Bellini, Wilfredo Martinez, Armando Payas, Jr., Jose Rodriguez and Ana Tangel-Rodriguez. This group of Hispanic attorneys recognized the immense need for support and representation of the Hispanic community,

which made up a significant part of the Central Florida population. It is indisputable that twenty plus years later the Hispanic Community continues grow in size and influence but remains vulnerable. That is why the HBACF’s mission remains as meaningful and important today as it was when it was formed. Currently, the HBACF has over 120 members made up of judges, magistrates, attorneys, legal assistants, law students, and other members. As the HBACF’s membership continues to grow, so does its influence and ability to fulfill its mission. The HBACF stands ready to advocate for the rights of the Hispanic community and help Hispanics learn and understand their legal rights and gain greater access to the courts and the legal system. The HBACF is also committed to promoting a greater representation of Hispanics in leadership positions. These efforts include supporting Hispanics in becoming judges, lawyers, law professors, law students, civic leaders, and business owners.

05/29/2026

As per the court:

Generative artificial intelligence tools—including large language models and other systems that produce text or citations in response to prompts—are being used as drafting or research aids for court filings. Though these tools can be helpful, they also can generate content that appears plausible but is in fact inaccurate, including fabricated or “hallucinated” authorities. Given the demonstrated risks of generative AI and to promote the accuracy and integrity of court filings, we amend rule 2.515(d)(2)





05/29/2026

Thank you for joining the Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida for our May Luncheon featuring our guest speaker, Gena Abel-Barnes, LMHC, CCTP, CTMH. The focus of the presentation centered on Mental Health Awareness.

We look forward to seeing you all at our June Luncheon. 🎟 Tickets available at link in bio.

🔔 Remember 🔔 the luncheon is free for Members but open to all.





The ABA's accreditation rules for law schools have required diversity and inclusion for decades, providing a key tool fo...
05/29/2026

The ABA's accreditation rules for law schools have required diversity and inclusion for decades, providing a key tool for advocates seeking to bolster the number of women and minorities in the U.S. legal profession — which remains more heavily white and male than the nation's population.

The purpose behind the repeal has been to make things easier on the law schools so they do not have to choose between ABA rules and the federal requirements.

The change would not become final until the ABA's House of Delegates begins to consider it as early as August and then debates revisions. That approval process could push the diversity rule's elimination to sometime in 2027.





05/29/2026

Join the Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida for a Dominies 101 Cocktail Hour at the 2026 Florida Bar Convention.

Learn to play or hop in a game of bones and have a drink with your fave voluntary bar association.

Cash Bar available from 4pm - 5pm

📍 Florida Bar Convention
📍 Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
📍 Flagler Meeting Room
📅 July 17, 2026
⏰️ 4pm
💵 Cash Bar Available





05/19/2026

Sonia Chang-Díaz is a Massachusetts State Senator and the daughter of Franklin Chang-Díaz (previously featured on our page). She worked as a legislative aide for Senator Cheryl Jacques and was a campaign manager for MassEquality.

Chang-Díaz won the 2008 Democratic Primary and subsequently won the general election. She is the first Hispanic woman to serve in the Massachusetts Senate. She served in the Senate through 2022.

While in office, she supported policies and sponsored legislation in 2011 to include transgender people in Massachusetts's anti-discrimination laws. She supported legislation that allowed people to use gendered-public places that matched their gender identity and gave protections against discrimination for transgender people.

We encourage you to learn more about Sonia Chang-Díaz.





05/19/2026

Join us for our May Luncheon, where we will be focusing on Mental Health Awareness. Our guest presenter is Gena Abel-Barnes, LMHC, CCTP, CTMH.

Gena Abel-Barnes is the owner and founder of Abel Counseling, Consulting, and Mediation (Abel CCM), a mental health counseling and mediation practice that helps people enhance the quality of their lives. Gena specializes in removing trauma from the body through activity-based sessions, a culturally-sensitive framework, and a holistic approach.

📅 May 27, 2026
🕐 12pm - 1pm
📍Orange County Bar Association
📍880 N. Orange, Orlando, FL 32801

🆓️ Free for Members
💵 $25 for Non-Members

Link in bio - We can't wait to see you there.

05/18/2026

May is Mental Health Month. We encourage you to take care of your mental health with the same vigilance you apply to your physical health.

If you haven't already, secure your ticket to our June Luncheon, where Gena Abel-Barnes, LMHC, CCTP, CTMH, will present on Mental Health Awareness.

Link for tickets in the bio.




05/15/2026

JOIN HBACF TODAY - EVERYONE IS WELCOME

Promoting: Diversity. Equality. Civic Duty.

Benefits of joining:
• Complimentary Monthly Luncheons
• Complimentary CLEs
• Complimentary Member Events
• Networking
• Career Spotlight
• Advertising Opportunities
• Access to our referral network
• Leadership and Community Involvement

We strive to build a more inclusive, knowledgeable, and equitable society.
We would love for you to join us. Everyone is welcome to visit our website at the link in the bio to learn more about the benefits of membership and to join.




05/13/2026

FRANKLIN RAMÓN CHANG-DÍAZ

Franklin Ramón Chang-Díaz was born in San José, Costa Rica , to Ramón Ángel Chang Morales, an oil worker whose own father fled from China during the Boxer Rebellion and María Eugenia Díaz. He graduated from Colegio de La Salle in San Jose with an "A" grade in November 1967, then moved to the United States to finish his high school education at Hartford Public High School in Connecticut, in 1969.He went on to attend the University of Connecticut, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering and joined the federal TRIO Student Support Services program in 1973.He then attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in applied plasma physics in 1977.

Chang-Díaz was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in 1980, and first flew aboard Space Shuttle mission STS-61-C in 1986. He was also director of the Advanced Space Propulsion Laboratory at the Johnson Space Center from 1993 to 2005. Chang-Díaz retired from NASA in 2005.

In 1986, Franklin Chang-Díaz was one of twelve recipients of the Medal of Liberty. He was inducted into the NASA Astronaut Hall of Fame on May 5, 2012[23] in a ceremony that took place in the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Also, due to his career and scientific success, he has been decorated multiple times in Costa Rica and named Honor Citizen by the national legislature

Chang-Díaz is active in environmental protection and raising awareness about climate change, notably in his role in Odyssey 2050 The Movie in which he encourages young people to get motivated about environmental issues. In addition, he is an adjunct professor in physics and astronomy at Rice University.[21] He has been on the board of directors of Cummins since December 8, 2009.

We encourage you to learn more about Franklin Ramón Chang-Díaz.




05/13/2026

Join us for our May Luncheon, where we will be focusing on Mental Health Awareness. Our guest presenter is Gena Abel-Barnes, LMHC, CCTP, CTMH.

Gena Abel-Barnes is the owner and founder of Abel Counseling, Consulting, and Mediation (Abel CCM), a mental health counseling and mediation practice that helps people enhance the quality of their lives. Gena specializes in removing trauma from the body through activity-based sessions, a culturally-sensitive framework, and a holistic approach.

📅 May 27, 2026
🕐 12pm - 1pm
📍Orange County Bar Association
📍880 N. Orange, Orlando, FL 32801

🆓️ Free for Members
💵 $25 for Non-Members

Link in bio - We can't wait to see you there.




Address

Orlando, FL
32802

Website

https://square.link/u/GddiYUFe, https://www.eventbrite.com/e/luncheon-at-the-orange-county-bar-associ

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