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Lanessa L. Owens, Esq. (Attorney) currently leads the NewStart/ Reentry program at the Volunteer Lawyers Project of Onondaga County. In her current role, she supervises and coordinates volunteer attorneys with assisting clients that have been denied employment because of their criminal history record. Ms. Owens, works closely with community organizations and local businesses to mitigate the barriers of employment. Previously Lanessa worked for the NYS Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie where she held the position of Deputy Secretary of Intergovernmental affairs, she specialized in policy writing and implementing new policy initiatives in the upstate region. Ms. Owens is also former Chief of Staff and Legal Counsel to the 128th District Assembly member Samuel D. Roberts in which her primary role was to write legislation, supervise both staff offices in Albany and Syracuse NY. Lanessa is a native of Syracuse NY, graduate of Henninger High School, she received her AAS from Onondaga Community College in 2003, and she received her Bachelors of Arts in 2007 where she majored in Economics, Politics and Law. Ms. Owens received her Juris Doctorate in 2012 From St. Thomas School of Law in Miami Florida. Shortly after law school graduation Lanessa moved back to Syracuse. After her return to Syracuse Lanessa was the founder & Executive Director of The William Herbert Johnson Bar Association of CNY, the only minority bar association in region. Lanessa is Board Legal Chair to the NAACP Legal Committee, Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee and a board member of the Onondaga County Bar Association. Lanessa is honored be a part of this panel discussion.
