Linda R. Ervin

Linda R. Ervin has spent her life advocating for her community, its people, and its institutions.

Ms. Ervin initially came to Central New York to attend and graduate from Syracuse University. Eventually, she and her husband established their home in Syracuse. Since then, she has devoted her time and talents for the betterment of her community. We are all the better for her efforts and stalwart leadership.

Ms. Ervin spent decades in real estate before turning her passion, expertise, and dedication to elected positions in the public and private sectors. She served as an elected member of the Board of Education for the Jamesville-DeWitt School District, eventually serving as President, the first African American to hold this title.

Ms. Ervin recently retired after 14 years from the Onondaga County Legislature representing District 17, during which time she was the Democratic Floor Leader and the first Black woman to serve as Minority Leader.

The list of her positions, memberships and volunteer roles is lengthy. One highlight includes being a Governor-appointed member of the Upstate Medical University Advisory Council. She was President of Jubilee Homes of Syracuse, and during her tenure, she states with pride that, “We took the slum blighted area dominated by absentee landlords, cleared it, and built homes for families, transforming the area back into the neighborhood it once was.” She went on to say, “Today, there are families and needed services in the area again. This has been one of my greatest pleasures.”

Ms. Ervin has been involved with numerous organizations, including the Rotary Club of DeWitt, Nascentia Health (managed long-term care), Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse (network advocating for social justice), InterFaith Works of CNY (affirming dignity of all people), National Action Network (fighting for justice for people of color and underserved populations), and Lambda Kappa MU Sorority (especially as it relates to its scholarship and youth recognition programs). She is a member and past President of Syracuse Chapter of Links, Inc. and is on the board of FAHNN (Food Access Healthy Neighborhoods Now). She has earned numerous accolades for her extensive work on behalf of all. 

She and her husband, Marion, reside in Jamesville, New York. Time permitting, Ms. Ervin adds to her collection of memorable or souvenir bells. Last known, her collection was nearing 200 and “includes bells of the places I’ve traveled, those that have meaning for my life’s experiences and those that are gifts, for which I am very thankful.”