(ALBANY, NY)- On Wednesday March 18, Senator Webb was proud to honor Phoebe Brown during the 2026 New York State Legislative Women’s Caucus Women’s History Month celebration in Albany. Brown is a former Alderwoman, advocate, and community leader, who resides in Ithaca and was recognized for her decades of work uplifting marginalized communities and strengthening local institutions. 

Brown joined Senator Webb in Albany for a ceremony hosted by the Legislative Women’s Caucus, an organization of women elected to both houses of the New York State Legislature. Later in the day, Senator Webb introduced a resolution on the Senate floor celebrating women’s history month and honoring all of the women in the chamber for the occasion.

“When I think of unstoppable, I think of Ms. Phoebe Brown,” said Senator Lea Webb. “As an alderperson on the Ithaca Common Council, coordinator for the Alliance of Families for Justice, and a lifelong advocate from Harlem to Ithaca, Ms. Phoebe has never stopped fighting for people who are too often unheard. Her leadership is rooted in service and love for her community. She not only shows up but creates opportunities for others.”

“I am honored to receive this recognition from Senator Webb,” said Phoebe Brown. “I’ve been a lifelong champion of policies focused on equity and public safety reform. Being named Senator Webb’s Honoree for this year is a testament to my advocacy, and the steadfast commitment to serving my community.” 

Brown’s career has consistently centered on community engagement and mentorship. She served as Alderperson on the Ithaca City Council from 2022 through 2025 and serves as the central regional coordinator for the Alliance of Families for Justice, a nonprofit supporting families and individuals impacted by the criminal justice system. Previously, Brown served as a Coordinator for the Ultimate ReEntry Opportunity (URO) Mentor Program from 2015 to 2016, helping formerly incarcerated individuals reconnect with their communities and build pathways toward stability. 

Prior to that, Brown spent more than a decade at Cayuga Medical Center (2001–2015) as a Community Outreach Liaison, where she connected residents with health resources and strengthened relationships between the medical system and local neighborhoods.

Brown has aided several community boards and initiatives such as Alternative Credit Union, GreenStar Community Projects, and Rainbow Healing. She’s worked as a community advocate and liaison with Tompkins County Showing Up for Racial Justice and Tompkins County Mutual Aid. Brown is the recipient of the Social Justice Leader Award from Business Leaders of Color, the Cornell Civic Fellowship, the Laura Holmberg Award from the Community Foundation, and the Rere Hassett Award from the Multicultural Resource Center.

Brown describes her educational journey as “Streetology,” a lifelong study of community, resilience, and lived experience that began in Harlem and continues in Ithaca. She studied substance abuse counseling at Tompkins Cortland Community College from 2004 to 2006. In addition, Brown is a graduate from Louis D. Brandeis High School in New York City in 1974.

Above all, Brown considers her greatest accomplishment to be her family. She is the proud mother of Abdul, Rasheedah and Lester and grandmother of Armus, Destiny, Eugene, LaeJean, Jurney, Abdul, Jr., Sami and Mekhai.

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