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Key Influencers • Arts, Community and Business Leaders • Bay Area Personalities • Industry Experts. What makes them tick? Find out . . .
In 25 Words or Less
Posted: March 13, 2016 —
ORGANIZATION LEADER | MARIN AFRICAN AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL NETWORK (MAAPN)
THE BASICS
| Name: Otis Bruce, Jr. |
| Age: 50s • Status: Married • Kids: Yes |
| Place of Birth: Laurel, Mississippi • Raised: SoSo, MS |
| Professional Background: Otis is a Senior Deputy District Attorney with the Marin County District Attorney’s Office. He is assigned as a trial attorney prosecuting all criminal cases: felonies, misdemeanors, elder/financial fraud, domestic violence and drug cases. He have served as a Supervisor/Team Trial Coordinator in all Marin County Criminal Courtrooms. |
| What achievement or position is he most known for? First African-American Prosecutor-Marin DA’s Office; first African-American President-Marin Bar Association; founder Marin African-American Professional Network. |
| Contact/Follow: Website • Email |
| Editor’s Note: Otis is currently a candidate for Judge – Marin County Superior Court. |
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25 WORDS OR LESS: WORK
| Job(s) held that is most unlike what I currently do now: Worked in quarter horse stables after school (high school-Mississippi); meat/cheese packaging plant local grocery store chain(Oakland); gas service station attendant (Marin). |
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| Field #1: Diversity & Inclusion |
| Years of Experience: 2 |
| Title: Founder |
| Organization: Marin African-American Professional Network (MAAPN) – North Bay/San Rafael, CA |
| What it does and what I do: MAAPN – professional network – private, business, government, educational and community members. Mission: work together to development a network for professional, career, leadership opportunities in the North Bay. |
| Current Big Project: Creating opportunities for MAAPN’s members to expand their professional network and resources throughout the North Bay and the Bay Area with other AA Professional Groups. |
| Staffing/Resource Needs: Internship opportunities! |
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| Field #2: Government / Law |
| Title: Senior Deputy District Attorney |
| Yrs of Experience: 25 |
| Company: Marin County – San Rafael, CA |
| What it does and what I do: Public safety-prosecution, protection and prevention in consumer and criminal cases. |
| Current Big Project: Helping to develop the collaborative justice system in Marin: drug court, mental health, restorative justice and education about human trafficking. |
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| Additional Positions: Senior Deputy District Attorney (Trial Attorney); first Marin DA Office Community Justice Coordinator. |
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| Additional Organizations: Marin Bar Association; Charles Houston Bar Association; Calif. State Bar Criminal Law Executive Committee; Rotary Club of San Rafael, Marin Symphony Board. |
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25 WORDS OR LESS: PROFESSIONAL PERSPECTIVE
| Significant Challenge: Educating professionals and organizations about the importance of diversity and inclusion on all levels of opportunities and leadership in our American Justice System. |
| Significant Mistake/Regret: None |
| Significant Accomplishment: Making the decision to run as a 2016 candidate for Judge for the Marin County Superior Court. |
| Biggest Strength(s): Mentoring, organizing, empowering those who think that opportunities for success and happiness are not accessible for them-giving back and paying forward. |
| Biggest Weakness(es): Saying no to giving back and paying forward. I always try to find time to help others if I can. |
| Career Advice: Be humble, smart and tenacious in pursuing career goals! |
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25 WORDS OR LESS: PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE
| Significant Challenge: Overcoming challenges to my life goal since I was 14 years old-to become a lawyer. |
| Significant Accomplishment: Achieving the goal of becoming a lawyer while maintaining a humble spirit! |
| Life Advice: Reflecting on my life up to this point, my advice to others: “true faith, belief, tenacity, education, networking and commitment, that’s it.” |
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25 WORDS OR LESS: OFF THE TOP
| Trait(s) most admired in others: People who give back and pay forward-sincerely and genuinely! |
| Some causes/organizations I support: Organizations that support and provide real development and training opportunities for our youth and young professional to accomplish education, career and leadership opportunities. |
| Hours of “personal” downtime/week: 25 |
| Favorite activity(s) in my personal downtime: Exercising, attending interesting/educational cultural events in the Bay Area (e.g. theatre performances) and just simply having a good time with family and friends. |
| Some of my favorite local hangouts: I enjoy all fine dining experiences (e.g. Spinakers-Sausalito) as well as supporting local family restaurants (e.g. Everett & Jones-Oakland). |
| Some of my favorite TV shows: Actually, I don’t watch much television. I like documentaries, American justice system related programs and programs by African-American producers. |
| What news outlets or media sources do you most rely on?: New York Times, CNN, other Professional Publications. |
| Favorite Vacation Spot(s): Hawaii, New Orleans, Miami and other Gulf Coast Cities. |
| Place(s) I would like to visit: Tanzania, Italy, Dubai, Spain. |
| Favorite Pastime/Hobby(s): Traveling, experiencing and learning about different cultures and societies; reading; empowering young people – giving back and paying forward. |
| Favorite Book(s): To Kill a Mocking Bird |
| Something about me that may surprise you: I enjoy the outdoor experience-nature walks, farm life and traveling. I really enjoy life and people! |
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