The Board
John W. Kozyak Foundation Founder and Managing Director Founder of Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton, PA John W. Kozyak is a founding partner of Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton and co-chairs the firm’s bankruptcy practice. John regularly plays a major role in bankruptcy courts across the nation, representing business owners, lenders, creditors’ committees, and major creditors, and he has been appointed a trustee and receiver in major cases. John grew up in southern Illinois outside of St. Louis and moved to Miami in 1977. His wife, Barbara Silverman, is also a lawyer and Director of the foundation. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Detra P. Shaw-Wilder Associate Managing Director Former President of the Gwen ...
PHOTOS
2011 Picnic Photos 2010 Picnic Photos 2009 Picnic Photos 2008 Picnic Photos 2007 Picnic Photos 2006 Picnic Photos
Online Payments
Sponsor Level Platinum Plus . . .$10,000.00 USD Platinum . . .$7,500.00 USD Gold . . .$5,000.00 USD Silver . . .$2,500.00 USD Bronze . . .$1,500.00 USD Supporting . . .$750.00 USD Bar Association: 101 or more members . . .$750.00 USD Bar Association: 100 or less members . . .$500.00 USD Sponsor Name Your Name ______________________________________________________________________________________ Tents are ONLY available with a sponsorship and cannot be purchased alone. Tents are on a first come first serve basis as only a limited amount are permitted by the park. All tents are 10' x 10'. TENT PACKAGE 1 tent, 1 table & ...
The Founder
John W. Kozyak Foundation Founder and Managing Director Founder of Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton, PA For more than twenty years, John W. Kozyak has been promoting black law students and minority lawyers. He has worked to create new relationships, new opportunities and financial sources to help minorities succeed. John designed the mentoring program to take minority law students and connect them with a mentor in the area of law that they are interested in pursuing. Each year, John pairs hundreds of potential mentees with established lawyers and judges who have offered their time and resources to provide mentorship opportunities to their mentees. Mentors help guide ...
MENTORING WORKS
We hope these comments from mentors and mentees will help further explain the program and give you some ideas for being a better mentor or mentee. ______________________________________________________________________________________ Jennifer Cornwell, Esq. Student at Florida Coastal School of Law, 2L March 2012 - I am writing to ask you to support Mr. Kozyak's foundation and annual picnic. Not only does Mr. Kozyak talk the talk, but he walks the walk. I am a minority student who completed a brief form at the picnic. As a result, Mr. Kozyak contacted me himself: he actually wanted to help. He gave me honest feedback about my resume and answered ...
THE FOUNDATION
For the past seventeen years, John W. Kozyak and the law firm he co-founded, Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton, have played a major role in the promotion of minority law school students in the community. The Foundation provides minority students the opportunity to be mentored by some of the best and most respected lawyers in the mentee’s field of interest. The foundation hosts several networking events. The 7th Minority Mentoring Picnic attracted more than 3,000 judges, attorneys, guest and minority students from every law school in every Florida and some from as far as California and New York. The Foundation helps set ...
PARTICIPATE
The Foundation relies on participation by its sponsors, mentors, and others who donate their time, money and skills in order to make the Foundation and all of its events successful. We are looking for mentors who are interested in mentoring young minority law students. Many lawyers have found the mentor/mentee relationship personally and professionally satisfying. Unfortunately, we need to raise money to put on the annual picnic and other events. Sponsorship opportunities are available and John Kozyak or Detra Shaw-Wilder would be delighted to put interested parties in contact with law firms, accounting firms and bar associations, which have previously been sponsors, to disuss the ...
THE PICNIC
The Kozyak Minority Mentoring Picnic is an annual event which is currently in its 8th year. The picnic has grown exponentially each year and is well attended by many judges, established lawyers and law students from every school in Florida. The picnic is sponsored by many businesses, multiple voluntary bar associations, a bank and numerous law firms. Many sponsors rent tents where it is easy for students to meet lawyers, judges and potential employees. We have a “Leaders and Legends” tent where some of the very best lawyers in the country have shared their experiences. For example, former Attorney General ...
The Mission
The Kozyak Minority Mentoring Foundation’s mission is to provide assistance and support to minorities interested in pursuing legal careers, mentoring programs, networking opportunities and limited financial aid. The Foundation takes primary responsibility for finding experienced lawyers and judges to mentor black law students at every law school in Florida and working with other voluntary bar associations to find mentors for all minority law students. John Kozyak, the Foundation’s founder, grew up in a totally segregated, community and was in high school when the 1974 Civil Rights Legislation was implemented. He has had a long-time commitment to creating opportunities for minority students. He ...
Minority students are encouraged to complete and submit an application to be assigned to an outstanding judge or lawyer. Mentorships are extremely valuable not only to guide you through selecting the appropriate coursework, but setting a direction and roadmap for after you graduate. Mentors can help teach you things that are not typically taught in school such as networking.
We recommend that you sign up to become a mentee during your 1st year of law school, but it is never too late. You will typically find that you will get out of the mentoring program what you put into it. Download our Mentee Application:
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A mentee should first identify his or her desired goals and develop a plan to achieve them. The mentee must know what it is he or she wants from the mentoring relationship and must take responsibility for his or her development by organizing a plan of action.
1. Initiate and Prepare.
Do not fear initiating contact with your mentor. Take the first step to contact your mentor and schedule a meeting date and time. Make a list of areas you would like to cover at your first meeting. Let your mentor know your educational and professional objectives and ask about his/her experiences. Identify your needs and communicate them. You should always remember that though a mentor-mentee is a professional relationship, a mentor can serve as a friend.
2. Honor your Commitment.
Your mentor probably has a very demanding job and has volunteered to take on the added responsibility of mentoring. Please be considerate of your mentor’s time and investment. You should realize that a mentor is doing this for you. Don’t be too busy when your mentor calls.
3. Stay in touch by phone or email.
When you cannot meet in person, keep in touch electronically. Check in from time to time, leave a brief progress report, or just say hello. Continued communication is vital to the success of your mentor/mentee relationship. Always return communications promptly.
4. Stay informed about your mentor’s work and clients.
You were paired with your mentor because of areas of interest you share in common. Take an active interest in your mentor’s work. Be familiar with your mentor’s clients or projects and the ways your mentor serves them.
Although this relationship is paired, you should look for a mentor you can relate –to – (e.g. age, gender, race, neighborhood, schools, etc.).
5. Seek Advice.
Be willing to learn new things and obtain another perspective. When offered by your mentor, be responsive to suggestions and constructive criticism. Seek advice when the going gets tough – before taking drastic action. Ask for help when needed, as a mentor is not mind reader and needs to be made aware of your situation. Even though your mentor will be discrete and confidential, keep the relationship professional and within ethical rules of your law school.
6. Expect support, not miracles.
A mentor serves to offer guidance based on his or her experiences. You can expect a certain level of support from a mentor, but he or she cannot solve your problems for you. A mentor can offer feedback or serve as sounding board. Always appreciate your differences – you are not your mentor’s clone, daughter, son, or responsibility.
Mentees should understand that mentors are human and make mistakes. Mentors should be upfront that they are not perfect and should share with their mentees some of the things they have done that have not worked so that the mentee can learn from the mentor’s experience.
7. Help your mentor help you.
Let your mentor know how much you appreciate his/her help. Ask questions (even if you think they might be basic). You should know that your mentor truly cares. Therefore, feel free to ask for feedback and advice as there is no need to feel shy or be afraid, This is your opportunity to learn.
8. Keep up your end.
Work hard at being a good law student and mentee. You should be an active manager of your mentor/mentee relationship. Since you directly benefit from a successful relationship, it is to your benefit to take the lead and direct the course of the relationship.
9. Follow through.
When you decide to act on your mentor’s suggestion, report back to him/her. Keep your mentor informed of your progress.
10. Plan for the next meeting.
Prepare to discuss your progress from your last meeting. Develop a list of areas you wish to discuss at your next meeting. Contact your mentor to schedule a date and time for your next meeting.
Note: This list was initially prepared by the Cuban American Bar Association (“CABA”) for its Annual Mentoring luncheon on April 15, 2010. It has been slightly edited. CABA has been a big supporter of mentoring.
