To commemorate Women’s History Month, YW Boston’s President and CEO Beth Chandler sat down with Judge Nancy Gertner to talk about the state of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how we can learn from the past to take courageous action towards more equitable and inclusive institutions. 

Watch the video to hear from Judge Gertner about her forthcoming book exploring how she reconciles carrying out the law with her own views and morals, her perspectives on the rolling back of reproductive rights and the ramifications of the Supreme Court’s decision to gut Affirmative Action, and her advice for how to be courageous in the face of assaults on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Judge Gertner is a former U.S. federal judge who built her career around standing up for women’s rights, civil liberties, and justice for all. She has written and spoken widely on various legal issues and has appeared as a keynote speaker, panelist or lecturer concerning civil rights, civil liberties, employment, criminal justice and procedural issues, throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia. She has received numerous awards, including the Thurgood Marshall Award from the American Bar Association, which recognized her contributions to advancing human rights and civil liberties. The Marshall award has been given to one other woman, the late Justice Ruth Ginsburg. 

Judge Gertner is retired from the federal bench and is now on the faculty of the Harvard Law School and continues to teach and write about women’s issues around the world. 

This interview is part of YW Boston’s Courageous DEI Series—a collection of articles, webinars, and other resources designed to help individuals and institutions build the courage to combat racism and systemic inequities.

YW Boston helps individuals and organizations change policies, practices, attitudes, and behaviors with the goal of creating more inclusive environments where women, people of color, and especially women of color can succeed. For more information on our DEI services and advocacy work, visit https://ywboston.org.