Areva Martin wants all women to have what she calls “a red pump day” – a day so empowering that it earns a woman the right to wear a handsome pair of stylish red pumps.

Areva D. Martin is Managing Partner of Martin & Martin, LLP, one of the largest African American owned law firms in Los Angeles. She practices civil litigation with an emphasis on employment, education and business. A syndicated columnist, author and sought-after public speaker, Ms. Martin is regularly featured in the media as an expert on issues of employment, special needs advocacy and women’s empowerment. She has been featured in local and national newspapers and electronic media including the New York Times and the National Law Journal.

Ms. Martin is also the CEO of the ArevaMartin Companies, which are dedicated to the empowerment of women. She speaks to thousands of women around the county through her online newsletter the AM Report and her website www.arevamartin.com. Her book and CD program, Journey to the Top, a step-by-step career guide for women, is available through her website. Soon to be released on DVD is Real Leaders Wear Pink, essential leadership principles for women, based on one of Ms. Martin’s signature seminars by the same name.

Ms. Martin is the co-founder and President of Special Needs Network, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides resources to underserved families who are raising adults or children with disabilities. Ms. Martin is also active on multiple corporate and non-profit boards. She is the only African American female and attorney appointed to the Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism. The Cities of Los Angeles, Inglewood, Long Beach and various non-profit organizations have honored her for her work on behalf of children and families. In 2006, she was awarded a Neighborhood Excellence Award by Bank of America for her work on behalf of families and children with disabilities. In March of this year, she received the prestigious Women of the Year Award by the Los Angeles County Commission for Women at its 22nd Annual Awards Luncheon for her work on behalf of women’s issues.

An honors graduate from the University of Chicago and Harvard Law School, Areva resides in Los Angeles with her husband, Ernest, also a graduate of Harvard Law School and their three children: Michael, Morgan and Marty.