LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Jocelyn C. Cooper posthumously for her
distinguished community service on February 23, 2016, in conjunction
with the observance of Black History Month

WHEREAS, It is with profound intent that this Legislative Body is moved
to pay homage to a woman of indomitable faith and dedication whose
purposeful life and accomplishments will forever stand as a paradigm and
inspiration for others; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to give acclaim to
individuals of great character whose lives exemplify the highest ideals
of humanity; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Jocelyn C. Cooper posthumously for her distinguished community service
at a Memorial Tribute held in her honor on Tuesday, February 23, 2016,
at St. Francis College, Brooklyn, New York, in conjunction with the
observance of Black History Month; and
WHEREAS, Jocelyn C. Cooper, an ardent Civil Rights leader and journal-
ist, passed away on December 21, 2015, at the age of 86; and
WHEREAS, Jocelyn Elaine Clopton was born in Jersey City, New Jersey,
on January 27, 1929, to Robert Clopton and the former Lina Sullivan;
after her parents separated, she was generally raised by her grandpar-
ents, who were college educated; and
WHEREAS, Jocelyn E. Clopton attended Lincoln High School in Jersey
City, and then moved to Brooklyn as a teenager to live with her future
husband's aunt and step-uncle; she joyfully married Andrew W. Cooper in
1949; and
WHEREAS, Jocelyn C. Cooper earned both her Bachelor's and Master's
degrees in Social Work from Adelphi University, Long Island; after grad-
uation, she worked for New York City's Community Development Agency,
which later merged with the Department of Youth Services; and
WHEREAS, Through grass-roots organizing in the 1960s, Jocelyn C. Coop-
er and her husband, helped shift New York's black political center of
gravity from Harlem to Brooklyn, and established an alternative voice in
journalism by confronting the social injustice issues in their communi-
ty; and
WHEREAS, Immersed in the Civil Rights Movement and heavily involved
with politics, Jocelyn C. Cooper, recruited her husband to politics and
encouraged him to start THE CITY SUN in Brooklyn in 1984; it was an
independent weekly newspaper which wrote editorials about both white and
black public figures alike for more than 20 years; and
WHEREAS, In 2003, in loving tribute to her husband, Jocelyn C. Cooper
co-founded The Andrew W. Cooper Young Journalists In Training program
(YJIT) at St. Francis College, Brooklyn, to preserve his legacy in the
Civil Rights Movement and for his role as leader of THE CITY SUN; and
WHEREAS, YJIT program strives to provide today's students with the
education, tools, and access needed to follow in its founder's foot-
steps; this dynamic program assists aspiring journalists and others
interested in careers in media in a variety of ways which include class-
room lessons, presentations and opportunities for interaction and
networking with industry leaders along with an internship; and
WHEREAS, Throughout its 13 year history, the YJIT program has placed
150 St. Francis College students in exceptional internships opportu-
nities at notable organizations such as WABC-TV, WCBS-TV, ABC Television
Network, NY1 News (NY1 Noticia), CBS Radio, and THE DAILY NEWS; and
WHEREAS, As the current leader of YJIT, Jocelyn C. Cooper's daughter,
Andrea Cooper Andrews, formed the Jocelyn C. Cooper College Connection

(JCC College Connection) in loving memory of her remarkable mother's
passion and steadfast commitment to her community; and
WHEREAS, JCC College Connection strives to link college juniors and
graduating seniors who have earned a 3.0 GPA or better, with decision
makers who offer solid full-time employment opportunities, in careers of
their choice; this vital program will be officially launched at The
Jocelyn C. Cooper Memorial Tribute; and
WHEREAS, In addition to her stellar work with YJIT, Jocelyn C. Cooper
served as a Trustee of both the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the Brooklyn
Children's Museum; and
WHEREAS, Predeceased by her husband in 2002, Jocelyn C. Cooper is
survived by her two daughters, Jocelyn and Andrea, and one grandson, as
well as one great-grandson; and
WHEREAS, Our society is greatly benefited by the purposeful efforts of
individuals who unite for the cause of improving the quality of life for
others, and who proactively work toward the goal of dignity for all; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, it is appropriate to publicly proclaim and commend those individ-
uals for the edification and emulation of others; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Jocelyn C. Cooper posthumously for her distinguished community
service on February 23, 2016, in conjunction with the observance of
Black History Month; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Jocelyn C. Cooper.