Photos and Text By Dawn Leguerre
InterFaith Works and El Hindi Center for Dialogue, honored Oneida County Magistrate Jawwaad Rasheed with the prestigious Catalyst Award, in recognition for his work in advancing social and racial equity.The award was presented at the 2017 Racial Justice Award Ceremony, held on Wednesday, March 1, 2017, at the Syracuse Stage.
The Honorable Jawwaad Rasheed holds a number of distinguished positions in the community as a Board member of the Syracuse Academy of Science, Vice President, 100 Black Men of Syracuse, Co-Director Junior Frontiers, President, Mohawk Valley Frontiers, United Way of Utica, A Better Chance of Clinton, the Boy Scouts of America, and many more.Jawwaad Rasheed is a native of Buffalo, NY and is one of 14 children born to A.C. and Beatrice Williams, former sharecroppers from Mississippi. Rasheed was the recipient of a scholarship through A Better Chance Program, which allowed him to attend Amherst Regional High School. From there, went on to complete a Bachelor’s degree from Amherst College and a Law degree from Georgetown University Law Center, both with honors and distinction.
Jawwaad began his law career working for the Judge Advocate General Office of the US Army, the US State Department, and various corporations both in the United States and abroad.His primary focus is helping prepare children for college and a successful career. Through the Junior Frontiers of the Mohawk Valley, Jawwaad works tirelessly to help students achieve this goal.Judge Rasheed has said on many occasions, “Civic service is the rent we pay for the life we are blessed to have.”
