Urban League of Rochester President/CEO Dr. Seannelle Hawkins Named To NY Commission To Study Reparations & Racial Justice

The president of the Urban League of Rochester, Dr. Seannelle Hawkins, has been named to the state’s commission to study reparations and racial justice. Governor Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders announced appointments to the nine-member commission. Dr. Hawkins is a native of Brooklyn. In 2019 she became the first woman CEO of the Urban League in Rochester. News 8 spoke to Hawkins when the bill was signed into law last December. “My hope is that Rochester will have some representation on that commission so we can really learn specifically what can we do here in Rochester and what funding is available to help in our community,” she said. The commission is charged with examining the legacy of slavery and its lingering negative effects on people living in New York. The panel is expected to hold public hearings and is required to provided a report with recommendations to state leaders within a year.

Source: Rochester First