Janelle Farris becomes 1st Black president of Brooklyn Community Services
News 12 Staff
Updated on:Mar 11, 2021, 7:59pm EST
It’s been 150 years since the start of Brooklyn Community Services and Janelle Farris is paving the way as the organization’s first Black executive director. I m proud to be here in this position. When young people tell me how excited they are to see me in this role, it is life-affirming,” said Farris.
She says BCS faced massive budget cuts in 2020 and had to adapt to the coronavirus pandemic, turning most of their programs virtual.
She says the organization has managed to push through those challenges and continue its efforts to help people in need.
(Image Credit: Facebook/National Society of Black CPAs)
In 1929, General Wilmer F. Lucas made history as the first Black person to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in New York. Lucas was also the fifth Black person in the entire country to receive the CPA designation.
This time period was a pivotal moment in history, marking the beginning of the Great Depression (1929-1939) and a decade of regulatory reform. Massive stock market losses, unemployment increases, and debt challenges led to the worst economic strain during the 20th century. Despite being in the center of the market meltdown, Lucas positioned himself to create opportunities by investing in various forms of education.