LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Marsha Weissman upon the occasion of
her retirement from the Center for Community Alternatives

WHEREAS, It is the custom of Legislative Body to recognize those skilled
and dedicated individuals within our midst whose professional and
personal achievements merit the recognition of their local communities
and this Empire State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Marsha Weissman upon the occasion of her retirement from the Center for
Community Alternatives, where she has served as Founder and Executive
Director for nearly 35 years; and
WHEREAS, The Center for Community Alternatives (CCA) is a leader in
the field of community-based alternatives to incarceration; the organ-
ization's mission is to promote a reduced reliance on incarceration
through advocacy, services and public policy development, and it serves
at-risk youth, families in crisis and individuals who are struggling
with various issues, such as drug use; and
WHEREAS, Marsha Weissman received her bachelor's degree in Political
Science from Syracuse University, her master's degree in Public Adminis-
tration from New York University and her Ph.D. in Social Science from
the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at SU; and
WHEREAS, Marsha Weissman first became interested and experienced in
the criminal justice system in the early 1970s, when she was asked to
work on behalf of the defendants charged in the Attica prison uprising;
and
WHEREAS, In 1980, Marsha Weissman decided to launch the Center for
Community Alternatives with a staff of three which included herself; the
CCA was one of the first voices in the State of New York calling for
alternatives to incarceration; and
WHEREAS, Today, the Center for Community Alternatives employs more
than 90 talented and dedicated staff members, and serves thousands of
individuals every year in three different locations across New York; and
WHEREAS, As a leader in the field of community-based alternatives to
incarceration, Marsha Weissman has developed pioneering services and
innovative policy analysis and training to focus on the impact of incar-
ceration on communities statewide; and
WHEREAS, Over the course of her tenure, Marsha Weissman has estab-
lished model programs for youth and young adults in the juvenile and
criminal justice system, including New York's only alternative to incar-
ceration program for juvenile offenders;
WHEREAS, In addition to her leadership role at the Center for Communi-
ty Alternatives, Marsha Weissman has served on various boards and asso-
ciations on the state and local level; currently, she serves on the New
York State Council on Community Re-Entry and Reintegration; is a member
of the Boards of the New York State Defenders Association and the
National HIRE Networks; testified before the United Nations Committee to
End Racial Discrimination, along with youth from the CCA's juvenile
justice programs; and participated in a unique collaboration with the
Syracuse City School District to reduce suspensions and expulsions of
high risk youth; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, Marsha Weissman has authored several publica-
tions on the issue of alternatives to incarceration, including PRELUDE
TO PRISON: YOUTH PERSPECTIVES ON THE SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE, which
was published by Syracuse University Press in 2014; and
WHEREAS, For her significant contributions, Marsha Weissman received
the 2015 YWCA Diversity Achiever Award, the Sara Tusoldt Leadership &

Humanitarian Award, the 2010 NYCLU Kharas Award for Distinguished
Service in Civil Liberties, the 2006 Onondaga County and Syracuse
Commission on Human Rights Award, and the 2002 New York State Division
of Parole Linda Mills Memorial Award for Public Service; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the quality of life in their community and have shown a long and
sustained commitment to the maintenance of high standards in their
profession, certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all
the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Marsha Weissman upon the occasion of her retirement from the
Center for Community Alternatives, and to wish her well in all her
future endeavors; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Marsha Weissman.