NYSBA Task Force on Racism, Social Equity and the Law To Hold Its First Public Forum
10.8.2021
The New York State Bar Association’s Task Force on Racism, Social Equity and the Law, which has been charged with examining how structural racism permeates and influences all aspects of daily life leading to injustice and inequality among New Yorkers, will hold its first public forum on Monday, Oct. 25.
The live public forum, “How Structural Racism Built Today’s Education, Health and Economic Outcomes,” will focus on the history of systemic racism and its impact on health care, economic opportunities and education.
Journalists, NYSBA members and members of the public are all welcome to attend the webinar, which will run from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The program is free, but preregistration is required. Click here for more information. The speakers are:
- Paula C. Johnson, professor of law at Syracuse University College of Law, who will present a brief history of structural racism in the United States and its impact on Black and brown people in New York and nationwide.
- Samuel K. Roberts, associate professor of history, sociomedical sciences, and African American studies at Columbia University, who will discuss the impact of structural racism on health care.
- Lourdes Zapata, president and CEO of the South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corp., who will speak on barriers blocking access to economic opportunities.
- Daryll C. Dykes, professor and chief diversity officer at SUNY Upstate Medical University and orthopedic surgeon at Upstate Orthopedics, who will speak on efforts to foster diversity and inclusion within the public health sphere.
- Jasmine Gripper, executive director of Alliance for Quality Education, who will speak about the intersection of systemic racism and education.
The task force includes six committees – Criminal Justice, Economic Opportunity, Education, Environmental Justice, Health, and Housing. The breadth of this effort will enable this multidisciplinary body to explore changes in the law and public policy and deliver a report with actionable measures that can be taken to address structural racism and effectuate meaningful societal transformation.
The new task force builds off the momentum of NYSBA’s Task Force on Racial Injustice and Police Reform, which released a groundbreaking 114-page report earlier this year.
Click here for more information about the new Task Force on Racism, Social Equity and the Law.
About the New York State Bar Association
The New York State Bar Association is the largest voluntary state bar association in the nation. Since 1876, NYSBA has helped shape the development of law, educated and informed the legal profession and the public, and championed the rights of New Yorkers through advocacy and guidance in our communities.
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Contact: Susan DeSantis
sdesantis@nysba.org
201-575-5756
