PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Leaders in Delaware County held a special Black History Month celebration at Subaru Park Thursday to honor residents who have helped push their communities forward.
For nine years, Nathaniel Nichols served as a common pleas judge in Delaware County. But before that, the Columbia University law grad made quite a name for himself as a lawyer.
“I started as a legal services attorney in Chester from there I was in private practice in Chester, so I got a strong flavor of what the community was like especially the African American community,” he said.
Nichols, who also served as Widener Law School's dean of students, was honored at the second annual Delaware County celebration of Black history. While accepting his award, he reflected on the strides Black Americans have made in the county as well as what he hopes to see going forward.
“I’d like to see more economic diversity in the community,” he said. “I’d like to see more economic opportunity in the community.”
Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor says during a time when the federal government and other companies are cutting back on diversity, equity and inclusion, they are using it to press forward.
“We’ve brought in a consultant to really do a deep dive, have trainings, work through our policies and practices and really help us to infuse diversity equity and inclusion throughout all the work that we do,” she said.