Women Community Events in Mississippi

Assma Ali is the leading immigration attorney at Chhabra & Gibbs, P.A. Ms. Ali committed to providing each and every client with an exceptional level of legal service and representation that their case needs and deserves. Due to her zealous representation of her clients, she was recognized by the Association of American Trial Lawyers as being within the Top 40 lawyers under the age of 40 and was the only immigration attorney in the State of Mississippi to receive this honor. This recognition is given to less than 1% of attorneys in the United States. She has also received the Avvo’s Client’s Choice award. Ms. Ali understands that immigration can be a complicated and cumbersome process and her goal is to try to simplify and ease it for her clients. Ms. Ali has experience working in the fields of Immigration, Family and Criminal law. She worked at an immigration firm where she handled detained and non-detained cases. She prepared and filed petitions with USCIS and filed various motions with Immigration Court. She also attended interviews with her clients at USCIS and with ICE. While working in Immigration, Ms. Ali became a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and was selected to be the DMV AILA Liaison for the state of Mississippi. Prior to working for a private immigration firm, in law school, Ms. Ali interned for an Immigration Office where she was exposed to a wide array of immigration cases, including asylum, adjustment of status, and VAWA. Ms. Ali also prepared motions and assisted with translating documents from English to Arabic. Prior to that, she interned for the Hinds County District Attorney’s office where she worked with a Hinds County Assistant District Attorney, representing youth at their court hearings. Ms. Ali interned for a private Criminal Defense firm in Rankin County, where she gained most of her criminal law experience. She has also interned for a Madison County Chancery Judge at the Madison County Chancery Court. While interning for the judge, Ms. Ali was exposed to a wide variety of cases relating to wills, estates, and family law. Ms. Ali is widely involved in the community. She is a member of the Jackson Rotary Club, Jackson Public School Dictionary Project, and the Stop Hunger Now Committee. She is passionate about her community and volunteers within different school districts around Mississippi and has volunteered in many Know Your Rights Presentation within the State of Mississippi. Ms. Ali is also a proud member of the following organizations: the American Bar Association, the Mississippi Bar, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Association of American Trial Lawyers, Top 40 under 40, Arab Lawyers Association, Jackson Young Lawyers Association, and the National Association of Muslim Lawyers.

Founded in 1976 in Jackson, MS, the Mississippi Women Lawyers Association emerged from the vision of thirty dedicated women attorneys committed to advancing their profession and community. Today, MWLA stands as a cornerstone organization for the approximately 1,500 women lawyers practicing throughout Mississippi, united by shared values of excellence, fellowship, and social responsibility. The association represents women at every stage of their legal careers—from law students beginning their journey to seasoned practitioners in private firms, corporate offices, government agencies, and the judiciary. Beyond professional networking and peer support, MWLA is deeply committed to giving back to the Jackson community and beyond. The organization prioritizes philanthropy and community involvement through charitable projects, scholarship programs for outstanding law students, and pro bono legal work that serves those in need. MWLA emphasizes that attorneys have a meaningful role to play in strengthening their communities through service and generosity. By combining professional advancement with community engagement, MWLA creates a culture where women lawyers support one another while making a positive impact on Mississippi society.

Women's Foundation of Mississippi, headquartered in Jackson, represents a bold commitment to transforming opportunities for women and girls across the state. The organization's board and staff are inspired, determined leaders who have refused to accept the status quo for women in Mississippi, instead choosing to create new solutions through strategic philanthropy and community partnership. With a mission centered on economic security for women, the Foundation stands alone in Mississippi as the state's only grantmaker exclusively focused on women and girls. This unique positioning allows the organization to conduct research, facilitate community engagement, and provide educational opportunities that center women's voices and experiences. The Foundation's team brings deep expertise in nonprofit management, community development, and gender equity, working daily with determination and compassion alongside Mississippi's politicians, schools, and communities. Operating from Jackson, the organization recognizes that real change requires collaboration across sectors and constituencies. Women's Foundation of Mississippi believes that when women achieve economic security, entire families and communities flourish. The organization's guiding principles reflect this holistic vision, emphasizing that supporting women isn't just about individual advancement—it's about strengthening the social fabric of Mississippi itself. Through grants, programs, and advocacy, the Foundation continues building the coalition of leaders and resources necessary to ensure Mississippi's women and girls can thrive.

Founded over twenty years ago in Jackson, Mississippi, the Mississippi Black Women's Roundtable carries a legacy of activism and community leadership rooted in the work of pioneering organizers Stephanie Parker Weaver and Deborah Robinson. After a period of transition, MSBWR was relaunched and formalized in 2018 under Executive Director Cassandra Welchlin, receiving 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in 2019. The organization's mission centers the experiences and leadership of Black women and girls while welcoming participation from all individuals committed to equity and empowerment. MSBWR's history reflects the resilience of Black women in the South, who have always been central to movements for economic, political, and social justice. The organization is built on four priority goals: strengthening intergenerational networks and coalitions, educating policymakers about solutions to economic and social justice concerns, creating pipelines for emerging leadership, and establishing forums where Black women are valued and affirmed. Operating as an affiliate of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation's Black Women's Roundtable, MSBWR prioritizes Black women-led organizing with deep connections to grassroots movements. The organization's work is rooted at the intersection of race, gender, and economic justice, engaging low-income women of color and building leadership infrastructure for long-term movement building throughout Mississippi and beyond.