Arline Santiago to Serve as Co-Chair of the Commission on Racial and Structural Equity (RASE)
Santiago will serve as the Commission’s third co-chair alongside Former Mayor Bill Johnson and Dr. Muhammad Shafiq of Nazareth College
Rochester, NY — Today at a press conference held by County Executive Adam Bello and City of Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren, Arline Santiago, Senior VP, General Counsel, Director, Legal, was announced as the third co-chair of Monroe County and the City of Rochester’s Commission on Racial & Structural Equity.
“It is an honor to co-chair and contribute to this crucial commission as a representative of ESL,” said Arline Santiago, Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Director, Legal, ESL Federal Credit Union. “We cannot help our community thrive and prosper if there are significant inequities that exist among our members and throughout the community due to structural racism. The creation of this commission is the necessary action our community needs to take, and I am excited to be able to work alongside many of our community leaders in the name of building equity for all throughout Greater Rochester.”
According to the original announcement about the Commission from the County and City:
“Mayor Lovely A. Warren and County Executive Adam J. Bello announced…the creation of the Commission on Racial and Structural Equity (RASE) to examine and develop policies and legislation to overcome systemic and institutional inequities, as well as, racism in Rochester and Monroe County. The Commission will meet Governor Cuomo’s mandate regarding a review of policing policies, and go beyond that to review the state of education; healthcare, including mental health and addiction services; job creation, business development; as well as other social services. The Commission will have six months from formation to report back to the community.”
“Arline will be an outstanding and valuable addition to this vital Commission,” said Faheem Masood, President & CEO, ESL Federal Credit Union. “The business community plays a vital role in helping Greater Rochester address the racial inequities that exist today because of structural racism. With her representation and leadership alongside Mayor Johnson and Dr. Shafiq and many of our community leaders, I am confident that the findings and resulting actions from this commission will put our community on the right path toward building equity for all who call Greater Rochester home.”
Santiago will serve as a co-chair, alongside Former Mayor William A. Johnson. Jr. and Dr. Muhammad Shafiq, Executive Director in Hickey Center for Interfaith Studies and Dialogue at Nazareth College.
The Commission will consist of 21 community members handpicked by County Executive Bello and Mayor Warren, with input from the three co-chairs. Deputy County Executive Corinda Crossdale and City of Rochester Chief Equity Officer Dr. Cephas Archie will lead the support team.
