A Bridge to Justice: The Life of Franklin H. Williams

SUNY Erie - Black History Month Program

BIOGRAPHIES AND MATERIALS

Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission

SUNY Erie Community College - Black History Month Program

AGENDA Introductions Dr. Petrina Hill-Cheatom, Dean of Students II and Opportunity Programs and Services, SUNY Erie Welcome Dr. David K. Balkin, President, SUNY Erie Greetings and Remarks Hon. Byron W. Brown, Mayor, City of Buffalo Acknowledgment of Dignitaries Dr. Marvin Wilson, Director of Middle Early College High School and Men of Merit Programs, SUNY Erie Overview of the FHW Commission Mary Lynn Nicolas-Brewster, Esq., Executive Director, FHW Commission Screening of “A Bridge to Justice: The Life of Franklin H. Williams” PANEL DISCUSSION AND QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD Moderator: Tracy A. Archie, Chief Diversity Officer, SUNY Erie Panelists Hon. Craig D. Hannah, Chief Judge of the Buffalo City Court Hon. Lenora B. Foote-Beavers, Acting Erie County Family Court Judge Jacquelyn Archie, President, SUNY Erie Pre-Law Black Law Students Association Closing Remarks Dr. David K. Balkin, President, SUNY Erie Community College

Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission

SUNY Erie Community College - Black History Month Program

BIOGRAPHIES Dr. David K. Balkin, President, SUNY Erie Hon. Byron W. Brown, Mayor, City of Buffalo Dr. Petrina Hill-Cheatom, Dean of Students II and Opportunity Programs and Services, SUNY Erie Mary Lynn Nicolas-Brewster, Esq., Executive Director, FHW Commission Dr. Marvin Wilson, Director of Middle Early College High School and Men of Merit Programs, SUNY Erie Moderator Moderator: Tracy A. Archie, Chief Diversity Officer, SUNY Erie Panelists Hon. Craig D. Hannah, Chief Judge of the Buffalo City Court Hon. Lenora B. Foote-Beavers, Acting Erie County Family Court Judge Jacquelyn Archie, President, SUNY Erie Pre-Law Black Law Students Association

Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission

SUNY Erie Community College - Black History Month Program

Dr. David K. Balkin The SUNY Board of Trustees appointed Dr. David K. Balkin as the 12th President of SUNY Erie effective February 1, 2022.

Dr. Balkin is a strong academic leader who has championed relationships with business and industry. He was previously the Chancellor of the South BendElkhart campus of Ivy Tech Community College in Indiana. In that role, he supported a new, 70 credit hour Smart Manufacturing and Design Integration engineering program; created robust community and industry collaborations that tripled annual gifts and donations to more than $6 million and has supported the significant growth of high-demand academic programs.

Prior to his role at Ivy Tech Community College, he served as associate director of regional development and as the Managing Director of the Center for Nano Science and Technology (NDnano) at the University of Notre Dame. Dr. Balkin has nearly 20 years of experience in senior management positions in business and industry, particularly in the areas of finance, microelectronics, and engineering. His prior roles include President/Chief Operation Officer at Secure Financial Services, Inc.; President/Chief Operating Officer/Chairman of the Board at Genea Energy Partners, Inc., and several director-level positions within IBM, Microelectronics Division. Additionally, he holds two patents (PATENT NO. 5,189,261 and PATENT NO. 5,835,504).

Dr. Balkin earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Science and Engineering, and a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science from the University of Notre Dame.

Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission

SUNY Erie Community College - Black History Month Program

The Honorable Byron W. Brown was reelected to a fourth four-year term as Mayor of New York’s second largest city in November of 2017, extending his stay as the 62nd Mayor of Buffalo.

Mayor Brown has championed Buffalo’s remarkable revival and the significant progress the city has experienced under his leadership, which has resulted in nearly $6.5 billion in new economic development activity which is expected to create over 12,000 new jobs. His continued vision is of a thriving, healthy and innovative Buffalo – a city that embraces inclusiveness, equity and opportunity for all. He is a founding member of the “Racial Equity Roundtable”.

After taking office in 2006, Mayor Brown put in place a bold set of strategic plans that have resulted in high-profile economic development projects and job growth in Buffalo. His goal was and still is to make Buffalo a place “where no one is left out, and no one is left behind.”

He has led a series of strategic investments throughout the City to stimulate new employment opportunities. A key example is the $100+ million Northland Beltline Redevelopment project, which is transforming an idle industrial site into a state-of-the-art workforce training center, combined with new business operations. The project will also enhance the neighborhoods streetscape, creating an attractive, walkable, bikeable corridor with inviting greenspace.

His administration also spearheaded the creation of the Beverly A. Gray Business Exchange Center, on East Utica Street, infusing $2.3 million in City funds into the former library, to create a one-stop center to assist Minority- and Women-owned businesses.

Another example is the City-led remediation and sale of the land along South Park Avenue, where the $900 million Solar City/Tesla Project at Riverbend facility has been constructed. Tesla has partnered with Panasonic to operate the solar panel plant, creating employment opportunities for up to 3,000 people.

Mayor Brown also guided the sale of a city-owned parking lot for the purposes of development which has since been transformed into the Buffalo Sabres organization’s popular $200 million HarborCenter.

Mayor Brown’s career in public service is marked with many historic achievements; he was elected the first African-American Mayor of Buffalo. He has won dozens of awards for his public service, including national recognition for his role in Say Yes Buffalo and breaking new ground in community policing.

Mayor Brown is one of the 13 members of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s New York Works Task Force. He also serves on the Governor’s Regional Economic Development Council. He was named one of 2015’s most influential people in Western New York by Buffalo Business First. Mayor Brown is a Silver Life Member of the NAACP. Mayor Brown’s entire family is dedicated to public service, and he is extremely proud to serve the citizens of the City of Buffalo.

Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission

SUNY Erie Community College - Black History Month Program

Petrina Hill-Cheatom is currently the Dean of Students II and Opportunity Programs and Services at SUNY Erie Community College, City Campus, where she has devoted 30+ years to helping students learn strategies for success and obtaining their college degrees through innovative and supportive programs for at-risk students.

Petrina has extensive experience in student conduct, adjudication, student support services, and the enrollment management areas at SUNY Erie. She also has a passion for improving college systems and developing approaches and initiatives at SUNY Erie to keep students engaged, productive, and motivated to complete their degrees.

Petrina commented, “Working in higher education is rewarding on its own merit. However, when an opportunity arises to help diverse students—particularly students of color—achieve their educational goals and change their family’s trajectory and life chances, it is a dream come true for me. My passion is to make significant contributions to post-secondary education, including advancement of the retention, persistence, and completion rates of diverse students. Constructing programs that serve and support the mission of helping diverse students realize their greatest potential is my personal mission.”

My work can best be summarized by quoting former Representative John Lewis’s motto: ‘Never … ever be afraid to … make some noise and get in good trouble … necessary trouble.’

I hope to continue making impactful contributions and helping even more students achieve their educational objectives by removing impediments and barriers to achieving their dreams.”

Petrina most recently received two awards for her work in education, specifically higher education: the 2021 Minority Bar Foundation Education Award for commitment to minority students and the 2020 Women Touching the World Award from Unlimited Possibilities Overcoming Poverty Ministry, Inc. During Petrina’s tenure at SUNY Erie, she has also received recognition from SUNY for Excellence and Innovation in On-Campus Enrollment Programs, SUNY Erie’s President’s Recognition Award for Excellence in Staff Development, Achievement in Outstanding Efforts to increase Enrollment, and Employee of the Month.

Education and Credentials Petrina holds an Ed.M. from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a BA in communications with a minor in political science from Canisius College. Her credentials also include an ABD in Educational Policy and Leadership from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She holds several certifications in specialized areas, such as policy and systems administration, customer service, enrollment management, student conduct and adjudication, equity, diversity, and inclusion, and mental health services.

Petrina volunteers her time on several boards and initiatives in the community in which she grew up on the east side of Buffalo, New York.

Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission

SUNY Erie Community College - Black History Month Program

Mary Lynn Nicolas-Brewster, Esq., currently serves as Executive Director of the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission, a state-wide commission which seeks to educate and advise decision makers in the New York Court System on issues affecting both employees and litigants of color and to implement recommendations developed to address said issues. The Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission was created in 1988, when it was then referred to as the Judicial Commission on Minorities. Since then, the Commission has been charged with advising court officials on ways to improve the perception of fairness in the justice system for people of color and to ensure equal justice in New York State.

Prior to this position, Ms. Nicolas-Brewster, a former Village Justice with the Village of Spring Valley, has served as Court Attorney-Referee for the New York State Supreme Court, Ninth Judicial District, Associate County Attorney for the Westchester County Law Department, Assistant Solicitor General for the New York State Attorney General’s Office, Senior Appellate Court Attorney for the New York State Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department, and Staff Attorney with the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. She is also a member of the adjunct faculty at SUNYRockland Community College in the Legal Studies Department.

Ms. Nicolas-Brewster holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature from Binghamton University and a juris doctor from New York University School of Law. She is admitted to practice law in both New York and New Jersey. Ms. Nicolas-Brewster is a founding member of the Black Bar Association of Rockland County and is a member of the Rockland County Bar Association and the Westchester Black Bar Association. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the President of her local chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., and a member of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc.

Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission

SUNY Erie Community College - Black History Month Program

Dr. Marvin Wilson currently serves as the Director for Middle Early College High School and Men of Merit Programs at SUNY Erie. Dr. Wilson’s success with Opportunity-Based Programs stems from developing community partnerships with both public and private businesses and organizations within the Buffalo, NY community. With a holistic focus on success, Dr. Wilson works diligently to ensure that students pursue a pathway to success not just academically, but socially, emotionally, and culturally as well.

Dr. Wilson has served in leadership positions in higher education administration for over thirty years with a specialization on promoting programs that increase persistence and retention of students of color. His prior positions include Director of the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) at St. Lawrence University, Vice President for Student Affairs at Voorhees College (SC), Vice President for Student Development & Services at Claflin University (SC) and Dean of Student Services at Bryant & Stratton College. He obtained his BSE Degree in Physical Education from SUNY Cortland, MA Degree in Physical Education from Teacher’s College, Columbia University, Ed.M. Degree in Student Personnel Administration from the University at Buffalo, and Ph.D. degree in Higher Education Administration from the University at Buffalo.

Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission

SUNY Erie Community College - Black History Month Program

Tracy A. Archie is the Chief Diversity Officer and Title IX Coordinator at SUNY Erie Community College in Buffalo, NY. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Health and Human Services and Master of Education in Educational Administration from The State University of New York at Buffalo. She has proudly worked in higher education and for the State University of New York (SUNY) system 25+ years and has a compelling passion for diversity, equity and inclusion work. During her tenure she has served in many capacities from Affirmative Action, Multicultural Affairs, Human Resources, Enrollment Management, Student Affairs and as a Communication and Public Speaking Instructor. Tracy believes in empowering women to be their best self, serving the community and encourages anyone working with students to keep empathy in their forefront. Tracy enjoys reading and playing tennis during her free time.

Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission

SUNY Erie Community College - Black History Month Program

Hon. Craig D. Hannah is the Chief Judge of the Buffalo City Court and the Supervising Judge of the 11 City Courts in the Eighth Judicial District encompassing Western New York. Judge Hannah has risen to national fame as the presiding judge of the first Opioid Intervention Court in the United States, established in May 2017. Judge Hannah has served on the City Court Bench since 2006 and has been appointed an Acting Erie County Court Judge since 2008 where he primarily handled juvenile matters.

He also serves as an Adjunct Professor at the State University at Buffalo Law School where he lectures in Trial Advocacy and Procedure and is proud a member of the prestigious Franklin H. Williams’ Judicial Commission on Racial and Ethnic Fairness.

His honors and achievements are numerous. Craig is active in several community organizations and was recognized in Business First’s Who’s Who in Law in 2002 and 2003. In 2004, he was elected to serve a Vice Chairman of the Erie County Democratic Committee. He was bestowed with the honor of ‘Jurist of the Year’ by the Buffalo Special Police Benevolent Association in 2008 and the Community Service award by the Afro-American Police Association in 2013. In 2016, Judge Hannah was awarded the Legal Service/Lifetime Achievement Award from Medaille College and the Distinguished Alumni Award from City Honors School. In 2017, Craig was bestowed with the Community Service Award by the Westside Business & Taxpayers’ Association and the “Pay It Forward” Award by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo (C.G.L.I.). He is a member of the Board of Trustees of Hilbert College and was awarded its highest honor: The President’s Medal in 2018.

He is a past president of the Minority Bar Association of Western New York and the recipient of its Legal Service Award. Craig is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Committee of the University at Buffalo Law School and a former Vice President of its Alumni Association. In May 2018, he was the recipient of the Law School’s Distinguished Alumni Award and the Outstanding Jurist Award by the Bar Association of Erie County. Also, Judge Hannah was awarded the Outstanding Jurist Award by the New York State Bar Association, Criminal Division in 2018. In May 2019, Judge Hannah was awarded the Distinguished Jurist/Alumni Award by University at Buffalo Law Review and in January 2020, he was bestowed the Transformative Leadership Award by the City of Buffalo for his positive contribution to the community and enhancing the image of Buffalo.

Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission

SUNY Erie Community College - Black History Month Program

Hon. Lenora B. Foote-Beavers began her term in Buffalo City Court on January 1, 2020. She was assigned to the Domestic Violence Part in Buffalo City Court. In September 2021, Judge Foote-Beavers was appointed to serve as an Acting Family Court Judge, handling custody, visitation and family offense cases. She previously served as the Executive Assistant to Presiding Justice Gerald J. Whalen, the first African American and first Buffalonian, to hold this position. She essentially served as the Chief of Staff for the Fourth Department (22 counties) and handled various court management responsibilities.

She is also an adjunct professor in the Paralegal Department at SUNY Erie, teaching Family Law and Constitutional Law. Previously, Judge Foote-Beavers served as a Support Magistrate with Erie County Family Court for 10 years. She handled child support and paternity matters. In addition, she spent 8 years working for the City of Buffalo. During that time she served as an Assistant Corporation Counsel and was assigned to the Housing Court and the Buffalo Common Council. She also served as the first Director of the Save Our Streets Program, and as General Counsel for the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency.

Judge Foote-Beavers also serves on the Western New York Women’s Foundation, True Community Development Corporation, SUNY Erie Foundation, Williamsville Education Foundation, MedLaw Advisory Board, Minority Bar Foundation of WNY, Inc., Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission, and the Diversity Steering Committee for the Eighth Judicial District.

Judge Foote-Beavers received her Juris Doctorate degree from the University at Buffalo School of Law, a Bachelor’s Degree from Canisius College, and an Associate’s Degree from Erie Community College.

Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission

SUNY Erie Community College - Black History Month Program

Jacquelyn Archie is a Paralegal Studies student as SUNY Erie. She is the President of the SUNY Erie Pre-Law Black Law Students Association, a chapter of the National Black Law Students Association, serving the needs and goals of Black Law students. Ms. Archie is the recent recipient of the Blueprint and Northeast Region National Black Law Students Association (NEBLSA) LSAT Pre-Law Scholarship. During NEBLSA’s recent 54th Annual Regional Convention, Ms. Archie was honored as founding member of the SUNY Erie’s Pre-Law Black Law Students Association.

Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission

SUNY Erie Community College - Black History Month Program

ABOUT THE FRANKLIN H. WILLIAMS JUDICIAL COMMISSION

Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission

SUNY Erie Community College - Black History Month Program

Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission “We are proud that the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission, the first permanent commission in the nation dedicated to issues of racial and ethnic fairness in the courts, is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

The Commission serves as a bridge to justice for the dedicated judges and professional staff who strive to deliver equal justice under the law to every person who comes through our courthouse doors, regardless of who they are or where they come from in life.”

New York State Chief Judge Janet DiFiore

History

The Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission (“Williams Commission”) is composed of 28 diverse members, who are judges, attorneys and court administrators appointed by the Chief Judge of the State of New York to develop strategies to make the court system more responsive to the issues faced by people of color in the courts, including litigants and the larger legal community, and to implement recommendations to address those issues.

In the late 1980s, then-New York State Chief Judge Sol Wachtler, increasingly concerned by the lack of diversity in the court system, asked Franklin H. Williams, a renowned civil rights attorney and former Ambassador to Ghana, to undertake an independent and comprehensive study of the court system and its treatment of minorities.

The Williams report, highly critical of the way the New York State court system treated people of color, led to major reforms. In 1991, the New York State Judicial Commission on Minorities, renamed the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission, was established as a permanent entity in the New York State Court System.

The Commission celebrated its thirtieth anniversary last year as a permanent court-based commission committed to racial and ethnic fairness in the courts. The Williams Commission is chaired by New York State Appellate Division Associate Justice Troy K. Webber (First Department) and Hon. Richard Rivera, Supervising Judge of Family Court, Third Judicial District. In keeping with the legacy of its namesake, Franklin H. Williams, the Williams Commission has served as a beacon of racial equity and justice to the legal profession and the community alike. The Williams Commission has been at the forefront in addressing systemic racism and bias in the New York State Courts and ensuring that the judiciary and the court workforce is more diverse and inclusive.

Despite these efforts, persons of color still experience barriers to racial equity in the court system, from overt acts of mistreatment and disrespect to structural racism and bias. The Williams Commission remains unwavering in addressing the treatment of people and communities of color within and without the court system. The Commission has steadfastly continued this work through meetings with court leaders, conferences, training programs and community partnerships to ensure that persons and communities of color receive dignity and fairness in the courts.

Real change and progress require all our combined efforts to ensure inclusion, equity and justice for all.

Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission

SUNY Erie Community College - Black History Month Program

Commissioners of the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission Eighth Judicial District

Hon. Lenora B. Foote-Beavers Acting Erie County Family Court Judge

Francis M. Letro, Esq. The Letro Law Firm

Hon. Craig D. Hannah Chief Judge of the Buffalo City Court

Hon. Mark A. Montour Justice, Supreme Court, Erie County

Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission

SUNY Erie Community College - Black History Month Program

ABOUT FRANKLIN H. WILLIAMS A Bridge to Justice: The Life of Franklin H. Williams - A documentary on civil rights leader, lawyer and Peace Corps organizer.

Franklin Hall Williams was born on October 22, 1917, in Flushing, New York.

He graduated from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania in 1941. After serving in the United States Army, he completed Fordham University Law School in New York City.

He was appointed Assistant Special Counsel to the Legal Defense and Educational Fund of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (“N.A.A.C.P.”) in 1945. He served as a trusted aide to Thurgood Marshall, then-head of the Legal Defense Fund and Special Counsel to the N.A.A.C.P. From 1950 to 1959, Mr. Williams was the Director of the West Coast Office of the N.A.A.C.P and was credited with major inroads in the civil rights movement involving cases on school desegregation and restrictive covenants. Indeed, Mr. Williams played a significant role in battling a once common practice of systematically excluding African Americans from juries. Forty years before the Supreme Court formally ended that practice in Batson v. Kentucky, Mr. Williams was effectively arguing the same issue.

Mr. Williams was also instrumental in the development of the Peace Corps and eventually became the Peace Corps Regional Director for Africa. The Peace Corps currently honors his memory with the Franklin H. Williams Awards given thus far to over 90 outstanding returned Peace Corps Volunteers.

Franklin H. Williams went on to serve as the United States Ambassador to Ghana. His contributions as Ambassador were recognized by the State Department, which presented him with Distinguished Service Award, and he was honored by numerous Ghanaian tribes and communities.

After returning from Ghana, Ambassador Williams assumed the Directorship of the new Urban Center at Columbia University in 1968. The following two years were marked by innovative changes in personnel utilization and curriculum, and the publication of a major study, “The Uses of the University.”

From 1970 to 1990, he served as president of the Phelps-Stokes Fund, promoting educational opportunities for Africans, African Americans, and Native Americans. Ambassador Williams served on the boards of Consolidated Edison, the American Stock Exchange, and many other corporations. He was also a board member of several nonprofit groups, among them the Boys Choir of Harlem, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Foreign Policy Association.

Williams chaired the New York State Judicial Commission on Minorities from 1987 to 1990. The Commission studied the treatment of minority group members in state courts and issued a report in 1991 which revealed a severe lack of diversity on the bench and in management positions and a widespread perception of racial bias in the courts. To address the issues raised in the report, the Commission was established as permanent entity in the courts and renamed the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission in honor of Ambassador Williams.

Williams, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., was married to Shirley Broyard and had two sons.

Williams died in 1990 at the age of 72.

Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission

SUNY Erie Community College - Black History Month Program

Employment Opportunities in the New York State Court System The Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission wishes to inform you of current employment opportunities in the New York State Court System.

Please click on the link below to view current job postings: CLICK HERE TO VIEW JOB POSTINGS – STATEWIDE – CAREERS NYCOURTS.GOV.

Please SHARE these career opportunities widely. Note also that these career opportunities are updated frequently so please visit the New York State Courts Careers website regularly.

Please Note: You may need to refresh your browser to see the latest job postings.

For more information about the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission, please visit our website: www.nycourts.gov/FHW.

Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission

SUNY Erie Community College - Black History Month Program

Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission

SUNY Erie Community College - Black History Month Program

Lesson Plans and Discussion Guide and other resources available at www.wned.org/franklinwilliams

Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission

SUNY Erie Community College - Black History Month Program

www.wned.org/franklinwilliams

Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission

SUNY Erie Community College - Black History Month Program

Contact Information Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission Executive Director – Mary Lynn Nicolas-Brewster, Esq. Deputy Counsel – Karlene Dennis, Esq. Senior Counsel – Alyson Clark, Esq. Brinet Rutherford, Esq. Senior Assistant Counsel – Eric Sun, Esq. Commission Staff – Loriany Gil and Kim Stephens Address: 25 Beaver Street, 8th Floor New York, NY 10004 Phone: 212-428-2790 Email: FHWilliams@nycourts.gov YouTube Channel: FHW YOUTUBE CHANNEL Website: http://ww2.nycourts.gov/FHW

Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission

SUNY Erie Community College - Black History Month Program

Thank you for attending the SUNY Erie Community College Black History Month Program celebrating the life and legacy of Franklin H. Williams. The program was co-sponsored by the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission and WNED Toronto Public Media.

Comments or questions may be submitted to the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission at: FHWilliams@nycourts.gov.

Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission