May 24, 2011
JUDGE HELENA HEATH-ROLAND RECEIVES STATE BAR’S
LAW, YOUTH & CITIZENSHIP AWARD
ALBANY -- Albany City Court Judge Helena Heath-Roland is the
recipient of the 2011 Distinguished Service Award by the Law, Youth and
Citizenship Committee of the New York State Bar Association.
"Judge Heath-Roland's outstanding record as a tireless volunteer and
advocate for the youth of her community made her selection by our
committee a natural one,” said Committee Chair James Hanlon.
Heath-Roland collaborated with the Albany Police Department and
helped establish the Albany Youth Police Council to facilitate
communication and foster mutual respect between inner-city teenagers and
police officers. The council created a "Know Your Rights" training video
to increase student and community understanding of the role of police
officers and the judicial system.
"I am deeply honored to be recognized by my peers with this award
that holds such great personal meaning for me," said Heath-Roland. "I
have been fortunate in my life to have been inspired by great lawyers
and jurists to pursue a career in law. I believe a little encouragement
goes a long way, and I am committed to helping young people as others
have helped me."
Heath-Roland currently serves as co-chair of the Capital District
Black and Hispanic Bar Association's Youth and the Law Committee. As
past co-chair of the Capital District Women’s Bar
Association’s Lawyer in the Classroom Committee, Heath-Roland
spearheaded a program where CDWBA members made law-related presentations
to students in Capital District area middle and high schools.
"Judge Heath-Roland has planted the seeds of possibility and
self-confidence in the youth for them to believe they can pursue a
career in law, become a lawyer, a judge, and be our next generation of
leaders," wrote Harris Oberlander, chief executive officer of Trinity
Alliance of the Capital Region, in his nomination letter of support.
Heath-Roland received the award on May 23.
Since 1990, the Law, Youth and Citizenship (LYC) Committee has
presented its distinguished service awards to recognize teachers,
attorneys and judges who have made an outstanding contribution to
law-related education and fostered understanding of the values of our
legal and judicial systems.
The 77,000-member New York State Bar Association is the largest
voluntary state bar association in the nation. It was founded in
1876.
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