Assembly Resolution No. 836

BY: M. of A. Solages

HONORING Elaine Gross, MSW, upon the occasion of
her designation as recipient of the 2022 ERASE
Racism Abraham Krasnoff Courage and Commitment Award

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to act, in accord
with its long-standing traditions, to honor leaders of social justice
advocacy, whose character and achievements best exemplify the ideals and
values cherished by this great State and Nation; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Elaine
Gross, MSW, upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of the
2022 ERASE Racism Abraham Krasnoff Courage and Commitment Award in
recognition of her exceptional accomplishments; and

WHEREAS, The ERASE Racism Abraham Krasnoff Courage and Commitment
Award honors leaders who have best demonstrated their commitment to
fight against the struggle against racism on Long Island; and

WHEREAS, The Abraham Krasnoff Courage and Commitment Award is the
highest recognition at the ERASE Racism's Annual Benefit; and

WHEREAS, ERASE Racism is a regional organization which leads public
policy advocacy campaigns and related initiatives to promote racial
equity in areas such as housing, public school education, and community
development; Long Island, New York was the site of ERASE Racism's
initial work and continues to be its geographic home and key focus area;
and

WHEREAS, As recipient of this prestigious award, Elaine Gross,
Founder and President of ERASE Racism, truly embodies the influence of
ERASE Racism; and

WHEREAS, Elaine Gross has led ERASE Racism to prominence as a
champion of fair housing, starting the statewide campaign that, in 2019,
led to New York's enactment of a ban on housing discrimination against
people who depend on legal non-wage sources of income for their rent;
and

WHEREAS, Elaine Gross also initiated research on racial
discrimination in the rental housing market on Long Island that led to
successful legal action against discriminatory apartment owners and
managers in both Nassau and Suffolk Counties, providing a model for
Newsday's landmark 2019 study "Long Island Divided"; and

WHEREAS, Elaine Gross has similarly provided the vision and
programmatic leadership for ERASE Racism's Education Equity Initiative,
which works collaboratively with educators, students and parents to take
evidenced-based strategic actions including educational campaigns on the
benefits of diverse learning environments, comprised of diverse students
and teachers, policy advocacy and promotion of culturally responsive
education that can sustain all students, professional development for
teachers, and leadership development for students; and

WHEREAS, Elaine Gross is a member of the Long Island Regional
Economic Development Council and the Board of Directors of the State of
New York Mortgage Agency, as well as other boards; and

WHEREAS, Elaine Gross was hired in 2001 by the Long Island Community
Foundation, where she conceived and launched the ERASE Racism
Initiative, which became an independent not-for-profit corporation in
2004; her previous experience includes serving as Founding Executive
Director of Sustainable America, Program Officer at the Unitarian
Universalist Veatch Program at Shelter Rock, Deputy Director of the
Boston Housing Partnership, and Human Services Director at the Boston
Housing Authority; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to honor Elaine Gross, MSW,
recognizing the value of her accomplishments; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Elaine Gross, MSW, upon the occasion of her designation as
recipient of the 2022 ERASE Racism Abraham Krasnoff Courage and
Commitment Award; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Elaine Gross.