January 28, 2008       

Wade Henderson Named Touro Law Center’s Public Interest Lawyer in Residence
President and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and Counselor to the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund to Speak at Law Center, Tribute Planned

Central Islip, NY – Touro Law Center has named Wade Henderson, President and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) and Counselor to the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund (LCCREF) as the Public Interest Lawyer in Residence. On Thursday, March 6, Mr. Henderson will meet with student leaders, guest lecture in classes and interact with students and faculty. In addition, there will be a community reception and special tribute to Wade Henderson at the Law Center at 5:30 pm. This tribute is free and open to the public.

Through the Distinguished Public Interest Lawyer in Residence program, Touro Law Center recognizes attorneys who have made significant contributions to society by representation of individuals or groups historically denied access to justice. Mr. Henderson is well known for his expertise on a wide range of civil rights, civil liberties, and human rights issues. He works principally in the areas of civil rights enforcement; voting rights; public education reform; fair housing policy; immigration policy reform; media and telecommunication policy; economic and political empowerment for people of color, women, persons with disabilities, and the poor. Under his leadership, the LCCR has become one of the nation’s most effective defenders of federal affirmative action policy and one of the strongest advocates for passage of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

Since taking the helm of the LCCR in June 1996, Mr. Henderson has worked diligently to address emerging policy issues of concern to the civil rights community and to strengthen the effectiveness of the coalition. Mr. Henderson is actively involved with the newly reconstituted National Quality Forum Board of Directors that seeks to improve healthcare quality through performance measurement and public reporting; and the FDIC Advisory Committee on Economic Inclusion, which was created in 2006 to provide the FDIC with advice and recommendations on important initiatives focused on expanding access to banking services by underserved populations. He also leads an effort to pass the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), legislation to revive the right of workers to organize unions.

For more information about this program, or to RSVP to the community reception and tribute, please call Aimee Pearlman at (631) 761-7064.

XXX