Pace Law School to Honor Lois Bronz and Winston Ross
During Annual Social Justice Award Dinner

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - The Pace Law School Social Justice Center will honor two outstanding Westchester citizens at its annual Social Justice Award Dinner, Friday, March 31, 2000, at 6:30 p.m. on the Law School's campus at 78 North Broadway in White Plains, N.Y. Tickets for the dinner are $75 per person and can be purchased at the door. Reservations can be made by phone at (914) 422-4245 or (914) 422-4172.

Lois Bronz, vice chair of the Westchester County Board of Legislators, and Winston Ross, executive director of the Westchester Community Opportunity Program, will be honored for their lifelong commitment to social justice. "Lois Bronz and Winston Ross are extraordinary community leaders who have worked tirelessly to help shape the new civil rights agenda," said Randolph Scott-McLaughin, director of Pace's Social Justice Center.

A highly respected figure in the Westchester political scene, Lois Bronz was elected to the 17-member Westchester County Board of Legislators in November 1993 and took her seat on January 1, 1994. She represents parts of the cities of New Rochelle and White Plains as well as the towns of Greenburgh and Scarsdale. Bronz is the first black woman elected to serve on the County Board, and, in 1998, was unanimously elected vice chair of that body.

In 1990, Bronz was named Westchester County's Woman of the Year. She is also listed in "Who's Who Among American Women" and "Who's Who in Black America." She is a founding member of the Westchester Black Women's Political Caucus and is affiliated with the Westchester Black/Jewish Leaders Dialogue and the African/Italian American Leaders Dialogue. In 1997, she received the Carter G. Woodson Award from Mercy College.

The Social Justice Center honors Legislator Lois Bronz for her dedication and perseverance in the struggle to enact a human rights law in Westchester County.

Winston Ross has been an advocate for the poor of all ages throughout his distinguished career of public service. Since 1984 he has been executive director of the Westchester Community Opportunity Program, a community agency which works to alleviate poverty and its adverse effects by helping people to help themselves. He is the recipient of several awards, including, in 1988, the Peace and Justice Award from the Westchester People's Action Coalition.

Ross has a longtime affiliation with the NAACP. Regional Director of the state organization, he served as president of the Yonkers' branch from 1971-78. During this time the city was in a bitter desegregation battle, and he fought for equality and social justice.

Among other current affiliations, Ross is treasurer of AIDS-Related Community Services, vice president of the Westchester Residential Opportunities Program, and president of Westchester Public Health Education and Research. He sits on the boards of various other local agencies and has been active in the leadership of national and state community-action organizations.

The Social Justice Center honors Winston Ross for his many years of community service and steadfast work with the NAACP in the County of Westchester.

The Social Justice Center provides practical legal training to Pace Law students who want to address civil and human rights issues through a career in public interest law. The Center and its cooperating attorneys and student interns are involved in public interest litigation on a national level.

Supported by a grant from the Ford Foundation, the Center is engaged with various communities in exposing police abuse of minorities and facilitating civilian oversight of the police. In the City of New Rochelle, the Social Justice Center is engaged with local citizens to oppose the IKEA mega-store. In November, activist actor Danny Glover requested the assistance of the Center after he experienced what he perceived to be discriminatory treatment by several yellow taxi cab drivers in New York City. More recently, the Social Justice Center has been retained by the County of Westchester to assist in the creation of the Westchester County Human Rights Commission.

Founded in 1976, Pace Law School has nearly 5,000 alumni/ae throughout the country. It offers full-time and part-time day and evening J.D. programs on its White Plains, New York, campus. The Law School, which has one of the nation's top-rated environmental law programs, offers the master of laws and the doctor of juridical science degrees in that field. The School also offers the LL.M. in Comparative Legal Studies. The Law School is part of Pace University, a comprehensive, independent and diversified University with campus in New York City and Westchester County.