Honor Anne Erickson’s Retirement

Senate Resolution No. 1846 BY: Senator BRESLIN CONGRATULATING Anne Erickson upon the occasion of her retirement after 30 years of dedicated service to the Empire Justice Center WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to acknowledge the significant milestones in the distinguished careers of esteemed residents of this noble Empire State; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to congratulate Anne Erickson upon the occasion of her retirement after 30 years of dedicated service to the Empire Justice Center, to be celebrated on Tuesday, June 11, 2019; and WHEREAS, Anne Erickson is President and CEO of Empire Justice Center, an organization working to achieve social and economic justice for people in New York State who are poor, disabled or disenfranchised; and WHEREAS, This extraordinary woman began her illustrious career with the Empire Justice Center in 1989 as a policy analyst and legislative coordinator; in 2000, she was promoted to President, the esteemed position from which she will retire; and WHEREAS, Throughout her tenure, Anne Erickson has overseen the transformation of the organization, guiding its merger with the Public Interest Law Office of Rochester, expanding its White Plains office and opening a new office on Long Island; and WHEREAS, Furthermore, she has put together a solid management team and has strategically combined the two organizations, aligning staff into five major practice groups: Consumer, Housing, C.A.S.H. and Community Development; Civil Rights, Education and Employment; Disability Benefits; Immigrants and Immigrant Rights; and Public Benefits, Health and Family; and WHEREAS, Anne Erickson provides statewide leadership in efforts to strengthen and improve access to justice and to expand funding for civil legal services; she is the former chair of the Equal Justice Commission and helped lead the LSC-driven state planning efforts in New York State; and WHEREAS, Additionally, Anne Erickson was an adjunct instructor for the Center for Women in Government's graduate Fellowship program for many years, offering an intense course on the practical workings of state government, the development of the state budget and the interactions between and among the various branches of state government; and WHEREAS, Before entering the world of advocacy, Anne Erickson was a journalist, working as the first legislative correspondent for WAMC-Northeast Public Radio, providing daily coverage of state government and politics and developing and hosting a weekly half-hour news show, "The Legislative Gazette"; and WHEREAS, Anne Erickson holds degrees in both English/Journalism and Political Science from SUNY New Paltz; she is the proud recipient of Empire Justice Center's 2019 Celebration of Leadership Award; and WHEREAS, For the past 30 years, Anne Erickson rendered faithful, conscientious and valuable service to the Empire Justice Center, earning the admiration, esteem and affection of her colleagues; and WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the occurrence of such a compassionate blending of strength, leadership, intellect, and commitment as that demonstrated by Anne Erickson over a lifetime of sacrifice and dedication to others; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to congratulate Anne Erickson upon the occasion of her retirement after 30 years of dedicated service to the Empire Justice Center; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Anne Erickson.