Closing Plenary Address: Elaine Gross, ERASE Racism

Elaine Gross is founder and president of ERASE Racism, a regional civil rights organization based on Long Island, NY. ERASE Racism is exposing and addressing the devastating impact of historical and continuing institutional and structural racism, especially in public school education, housing, and community development. It utilizes research, legislative and policy advocacy, legal action, and educates and organizes the public.

Ms. Gross presented her perspectives on these topics in ten opinion articles in 2020 and six articles thus far in 2021 (including an opinion published in The Hill in September 2021), published in local, regional, and national publications. Additional media coverage of Ms. Gross’s opinion, accomplishments, and numerous speaking engagements reflect the broad respect for Ms. Gross’s expertise and successful implementation of critical campaigns.  For example, Ms. Gross’s activism has elevated the continuing problem of housing discrimination by organizing a statewide coalition that successfully advocated for amendments to the New…