She Brings Vast Grassroots Experience in Voting Issues

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 20, 2008

CONTACT:
ACLU Communications Office, 786-363-2737 or media@aclufl.org

MIAMI, Fla. – The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida recently announced that it has named Joyce Hamilton Henry, Ph. D., Director of the ACLU’s Central Florida Regional Office located in Orlando.

Hamilton Henry brings experience in election reform, voting rights restoration and immigration issues as well as experience in grassroots and community organizing following six years with DemocracyWorks, a Connecticut nonpartisan organization dedicated to making democracy work fairly, vibrantly and inclusively for all. Hamilton Henry worked to increase civic participation, particularly for disenfranchised and underrepresented individuals and communities.

“Joyce’s expertise in public policy issues and her extensive background bringing together diverse groups and individuals to work on important constitutional issues will enhance the ACLU’s work in Orlando and central Florida,” said Howard Simon, Executive Director, ACLU of Florida.

The ACLU of Florida has experienced significant growth in the last few years, opening staffed regional offices in Pensacola, Tampa, Jacksonville, Melbourne in addition to Orlando. The ACLU Florida headquarters are in Miami, and the organization maintains a legislative office in Tallahassee.

During her tenure with DemocracyWorks, Hamilton Henry successfully created and implemented initiatives to increase the representation of people of color and women in local and state government bodies and in the democratic process. For the past three years she served the organization as Executive Director.

Hamilton Henry, a native of Jamaica, was awarded a doctorate degree in social policy from Brandeis University, and earned her bachelor’s and master’s of Social Work degrees from the University of Connecticut. She worked in higher education as the director of the office of multicultural programs and a national college retention initiative, and for over twenty years as an adjunct professor at the University of Hartford.

About the ACLU of Florida
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida is freedom's watchdog, working daily in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend individual rights and personal freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. For additional information, visit our Web site at: www.aclufl.org.

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2008 Press Releases