Dr. Seanelle Hawkins: Pioneering Reparative Justice in New York
By Eric Perry
Dr. Seanelle Hawkins, Chair of the New York State Community Commission on Reparation Remedies
In the heart of Rochester, Dr. Seanelle Hawkins is leading a transformative effort as chair of the New York State Community Commission on Reparation Remedies. Celebrating her fifth year as the first woman President and CEO of the Urban League of Rochester, Dr. Hawkins has positioned reparations at the center of a practical, community-driven agenda for systemic change.
Dr. Hawkins chairs a nine-member commission charged with documenting the harms of slavery, segregation, and discriminatory public policy and recommending evidence-based remedies. “Our role is to document the historic harms and outline a path for repair, ensuring that the legacy of slavery and systemic racism is not forgotten,” she says, underscoring the commission’s dual focus on truth-telling and concrete solutions.
From the outset, the commission has insisted that community testimony shape every recommendation. Dr. Hawkins has led multiple public hearings across the state to collect stories and expertise from residents who live with the consequences of historic and contemporary racism. “We cannot do this work without the voices of the community. Their stories and experiences are the foundation of our recommendations,” she explains — a creed that has made public testimony the backbone of the commission’s research.
Beyond Dollars: Systemic Remedies
While financial redress is part of the conversation, Dr. Hawkins and the commission emphasize broader systemic change. “Reparations are not just about financial compensation; they are about systemic change that addresses the inequities that persist today,” she notes. The commission is investigating policies and practices that produced entrenched disparities in housing, education, health, policing, and economic opportunity — for example, the long-term effects of redlining, exclusionary zoning, and unequal school funding — with an eye toward policy remedies that restore access and opportunity.
The commission is compiling historical documentation, quantitative analyses, and community testimony to create actionable policy proposals. Recommendations are slated for delivery to the governor and Legislature by December, 2026 with a full report and community education rollout in January, 2027. “We are on track to deliver recommendations that can transform lives and reshape our communities for generations to come,” Dr. Hawkins affirms, signaling the commission’s commitment to both rigor and impact.
Connection to Local Work
Dr. Hawkins brings to the commission the practical perspective of leading the Urban League of Rochester, where initiatives on affordable housing, workforce development, and youth education demonstrate how policy change and direct services intersect. As she reminds local leaders, “when you see a need in your community, you have the power to respond and to create programs to drive meaningful change,” this commitment informs both her commission work and the Urban League’s programs.
An Approach Rooted in History and Hope
Throughout the process, Dr. Hawkins stresses the necessity of historical clarity as a foundation for repair: “Acknowledging our past is essential to understanding the present. Only then can we truly move forward.” That history-first approach aims to prevent superficial fixes and to build durable policy solutions that confront root causes.
For Dr. Hawkins, the commission’s work is personal and purposeful. “This work is not just my job; it’s my passion. I am dedicated to advocating for those who have historically been marginalized,” she says, reflecting the values that have guided her leadership at the Urban League and now shape a statewide effort toward justice.
Looking Ahead
As the commission moves from listening and research to final recommendations, Dr. Hawkins’ leadership models how careful documentation, community-centered process, and policy ambition can combine to produce reparative strategies with lasting impact. Her work points to a future where remedying historic harms is not symbolic alone, but leads to measurable improvements in housing access, educational opportunity, health equity, and economic inclusion.
With Dr. Seanelle Hawkins at the helm, New York’s reparations effort aims to be rigorous, accountable, and grounded in the people it seeks to serve — a blueprint for transformative change that other states may watch and learn from.