The arc of the moral universe may bend towards justice, but it takes the courage and sacrifice of activists and freedom fighters to obtain and maintain justice for our communities. Center for Law and Social Justice Founding Executive Director Esmeralda Simmons, Esq., embodies these principles and has been on the frontlines of the fight for civil and human rights for her entire storied career.
With an activist worldview shaped in childhood, Esmeralda committed herself early to advancing progress for people of African descent. Her brilliance and dedication marked her as a leader. She quickly rose through the public sector ranks and was chosen for an array of high-level roles, including: serving as
the First Deputy Commissioner for Human Rights for New York State, and as a Civil Rights Attorney for the US Department of Education, a New York State Assistant Attorney General, and a New York City Assistant Corporation Counsel. Despite her professional accomplishments, Emeralda felt pulled by the urgency for justice, joining forces with other prominent activists and organizers to create the Center for Law and Social Justice at Medgar Evers College, CUNY (CLSJ), the first and only racial justice law center focused on the needs of New Yorkers of African descent.
Under her dynamic leadership, CLSJ became a hub for transformation and empowerment, offering its community critical support across an array of challenges. These challenges included: immigration, police brutality, red-lining, community advocacy training, education, voting rights and more. CLSJ won landmark victories, including hard fought battles against the NYC Board of Elections, and state and congressional voter redistricting cases. In the process, CLSJ bolstered representation and political power for Black and Brown communities. CLSJ’s community forums and programs helped thousands of vulnerable parents navigate the DOE and foster care systems, providing resources and knowledge that empowered them to effectively advocate for their children. CLSJ also supported immigrants and incubated the Medgar Evers College Immigration Center which provided legal services for undocumented New Yorkers at a time when such comprehensive support did not exist. This effort laid the foundation for the development of the prolific “CUNY Citizenship Now!” programs which are now housed across City University of New York campuses. CLSJ’s most current battle revolves around census justice and ensuring that New Yorkers of African descent, a historically hard to count demographic, participate in Census 2020 and get their fair share of federal dollars and political representation.
Esmeralda’s love for her community, her passion for civil rights, community empowerment and her dogged determination earned her the respect of New York’s political establishment, and eventually her own seat at the table. She has served on several major public boards in New York City government, including the NYC Board of Education, the NYC Districting Commission, among others.
After thirty-four years of leading the fight for justice at CLSJ, Esmeralda Simmons, Esq. publicly announced her retirement on January 20, 2020. We will miss her indefatigable spirit and zeal, but we know her legacy shines brightly around us as CLSJ continues to tackle our community’s current challenges. We look forward to celebrating her momentous career with our community, family and friends at a grand celebration later this spring (details forthcoming).
We are deeply grateful for Esmeralda’s bold and tenacious stewardship. Her voice and vision are our foundation. We will continue to lift and climb with her legacy of service as inspiration. Thank you to Esmeralda Simmons, Esq., for setting an example for what it means to be both a general and a foot soldier for equal justice.
Thank you for a job well done.
