Senate Resolution No. 1468

BY: Senator PARKER

HONORING Cassandra Harris Lockwood upon the
occasion of receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award
in Community Service and Outreach from the Young,
Gifted, & Black Entrepreneurial Awards

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend individuals whose lives exemplify unwavering commitment to
service, creativity, justice, and the uplifting of communities through
visionary leadership and sustained civic engagement; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Cassandra Harris Lockwood, distinguished artist, activist, cultural
architect, and community servant, upon the occasion of receiving the
Lifetime Achievement Award in Community Service and Outreach from the
Young, Gifted, & Black Entrepreneurial Awards on Wednesday, February 25,
2026; and

WHEREAS, Established in 2006 by founder Carl Gray, the Young,
Gifted, & Black Entrepreneurial Awards is a nonprofit organization
dedicated to recognizing and celebrating distinguished individuals of
color across the Americas, the Caribbean, and Africa, whose leadership,
perseverance, and service have made meaningful and lasting contributions
across business, education, the arts, philanthropy, and community
development; and

WHEREAS, Born in Washington, D.C., in 1951 and raised in rural
Upstate New York, Cassandra Harris Lockwood emerged early as a leader
and advocate, attaining state-level student leadership and class
presidency during the transformative social movements of the 1960s which
profoundly shaped her lifelong commitment to justice, equity, and
cultural expression; and

WHEREAS, A graduate of Kirkland College with a degree in fine arts
and dance, Cassandra Harris Lockwood was a founder of the campus Women's
Center and distinguished herself as a barrier-breaking trailblazer,
becoming the first female construction worker in New York State and
advancing gender equity in labor at a time of entrenched institutional
exclusion; and

WHEREAS, Cassandra Harris Lockwood's artistic excellence earned her
scholarships and advanced training at the Alvin Ailey Dance Studio, the
Dance Theatre of Harlem, and the George Faison School of Dance, and
during this period, she further shattered barriers as the first woman
licensed to drive a Hansom cab in New York City, reflecting both courage
and determination in the face of systemic limitation; and

WHEREAS, Cassandra Harris Lockwood's professional career began on
Broadway, where she served as a production assistant for "Raisin," the
Tony Award-winning musical adaptation of "A Raisin in the Sun," and
contributed to acclaimed productions, including "Bubbling Brown Sugar"
and "The Wiz" while also starring off Broadway in Alice Childress's
"Wine in the Wilderness"; and


WHEREAS, Alongside her theatrical work, Cassandra Harris Lockwood
cultivated a multidimensional artistic practice, encompassing voice,
acting, playwriting, metaphysics, healing arts, and martial disciplines
and embracing creativity as both personal expression and a vehicle for
collective healing; and

WHEREAS, Music has remained the enduring heartbeat of Cassandra
Harris Lockwood's life, from early choral performance and instrumental
study to folk and protest music inspired by artists such as Joan Baez,
Odetta, and Buffy Sainte-Marie and later, to children's music,
celebrating nature, imagination, and social awareness, which she
continues to perform through "The Hummingbirds and Friends" and as a
member of the choir at Historic Old St. John's Church; and

WHEREAS, Returning to Utica, New York, in 1979, Cassandra Harris
Lockwood united her artistic vision with direct community action,
serving as Lead Organizer for Corn Hill People United and dedicating her
life to empowering individuals and families to overcome poverty through
self-determination, advocacy, and grassroots organizing; and

WHEREAS, In 2002, Cassandra Harris Lockwood founded For The Good,
Inc., a nonprofit organization devoted to arts, education, community
development, and self-sufficiency, and in that same year, she launched
"Utica Phoenix," the city's first Black newspaper which provided a vital
platform for underrepresented voices and continues today as a leading
independent online news source in Central New York; and

WHEREAS, Cassandra Harris Lockwood's creative legacy further
includes producing Utica's first independent Black theater production,
"A Raisin in the Sun," authoring and producing the community-based
musical, "The Wizard of Was," and creating video productions for
Christmas and Juneteenth, marking the first Black television broadcasts
in Utica and expanding cultural representation in local media; and

WHEREAS, Guided by a profound love for the natural world, animals,
and spiritual wholeness, Cassandra Harris Lockwood has woven artistry,
healing, faith, and stewardship of the land, embodying a life of
balance, resilience, and service that continues to inspire across
generations; and

WHEREAS, Through more than five decades of leadership in the arts,
journalism, activism, and community development, Cassandra Harris
Lockwood has demonstrated that culture is not merely expression but a
powerful instrument for justice, unity, and human dignity; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Cassandra Harris Lockwood upon the occasion of receiving the
Lifetime Achievement Award in Community Service and Outreach and to
commend her extraordinary legacy of service, creativity, and advocacy
that has enriched the cultural and civic life of New York State and
beyond; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Cassandra Harris Lockwood as a lasting expression of the
highest esteem and appreciation of this Legislative Body.