New York State Bar Association and Albany Law School To Hold Symposium To Address the History of Structural Racism in New York
3.11.2024
The history of discriminatory laws and policies that have exacerbated disparity in almost every area of life will be the focus of an upcoming forum that is being presented by the New York State Bar Association and Albany Law School.
The event, which is being held in conjunction with the bar association’s Task Force on Racism, Social Equity and the Law and the Government Law Center at Albany Law School, will take place March 20 at the law school.
“We are bringing together a distinguished group of individuals to discuss systemic racism policies that have allowed unjust practices to become embedded in our society,” said Richard Lewis, president of the New York State Bar Association. “Sixty years after the Civil Rights Act was passed, we must make sure that we eliminate discriminatory practices that are preventing equal access to education, voting rights, medical care and employment opportunities.”
The day’s program consists of these topics:
- The History of Structural Racism and its Impact On New York.
- Racism, Wealth Equity, and Housing.
- Racism, Wealth Equity, and Health.
- Racism, Wealth Equity, and Education.
The recommendations of the New York State Bar Association’s Task Force on Racism, Social Equity, and the Law will also be explored.
Prof. Ciji Dodds, associate professor of law and peace & conflict studies scholar at Albany Law School, will deliver an opening keynote address. Dodds will discuss the history of structural racism and its impacts in New York. Kapil Longani, senior vice chancellor for legal affairs and general counsel State University of New York, will deliver an afternoon keynote address. Longani is a member of the association’s Task Force on Advancing Diversity.
Lewis will introduce Longani while T. Andrew Brown, a past president of the New York State Bar Association, will offer concluding remarks. Judge Leslie E. Stein, director of the Government Law Center at Albany Law School, and Clotelle L. Drakeford, associate attorney for special litigation and program counsel at The Legal Aid Society of Westchester County, will provide opening remarks.
The event’s panelists include:
- Richard Lewis, president of the New York State Bar Association, Hinman Howard & Kattell.
- Cinnamon P. Carlarne, 19th president and dean, Albany Law School.
- Judge Leslie E. Stein, director of the Government Law Center at Albany Law School.
- Dr. Julia Iyasere, senior vice president, health justice and equity at New York – Presbyterian; executive director, Dalio Center for Health Justice.
- Kapil Longani, senior vice chancellor for legal affairs and general counsel State University of New York.
- Nelson Mar, senior staff attorney, Legal Services of New York City – Bronx.
- Professor Ciji Dodds, associate professor of law and peace & conflict studies scholar, Albany Law School.
- Keisha A. Williams, Neighborhood Legal Services, Buffalo, N.Y.
- Henry Louis Taylor, Jr., professor in the department of urban and regional planning, University at Buffalo.
- Mishka Woodley, associate counsel, State University of New York – System Administration.
- Daniel Morton-Bentley, counsel and deputy commissioner, New York State Education Department.
- Caroline Nagy, senior policy counsel for housing, corporate power, and climate justice, Americans for Financial Reform.
- Johanne E. Morne, executive deputy commissioner, Office of Health Equity and Human Rights, New York State Department of Health.
- Heather M. Butts, associate professor of health policy and management, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.
- Hasna Muhammad, visual artist, writer, and educator, Birthmark Media.
- Jamaica Miles, co-founder and executive director, All of Us Community Action Group.
- T. Andrew Brown, past president of the New York State Bar Association; founder and principal, Brown Hutchinson.
- Clotelle L Drakeford, associate attorney for special litigation and program counsel, The Legal Aid Society of Westchester County.
Registration is required for all participants. Media members who wish to cover the event should reach out to New York State Bar Association Chief Communications Strategist Susan DeSantis at [email protected] or (518) 487-5780.
Go here to register for the event.
