E.R.A.S.E recognizes that the voices and contributions of people of color have been silenced, limited, ignored, disregarded, patronized, and disrespected throughout our history both locally and nationally. E.R.A.S.E seeks to end these injustices by working to ensure people of color’s voices are heard and serve as leadership across our community including but not limited to holding seats of power in our government, our schools, and our neighborhoods.
Shawn James
Chair / President
I am a Licensed Master Social Worker, and owner of my private therapy practice. For 20 plus years, I have enjoyed my work in Community and Human Services. Serving as a mental health provider and a community activist is a deep passion of mine. I am also a mother of two young men, one school age, and the other serving in the military.
I am dedicated to helping our community be the change that we desire to see. I happily joined the E.R.A.S.E. Organization to advocate, and fight for change. I would like to help foster relationships that builds alliances within our community. I desire to sever the head of racism and discrimination, and eliminate the culture that seeks to keep it alive.
I believe in E.R.A.S.E’s core values and its mission to become our communities change agent, to impact our neighborhood’s policies around equality and equity. I am committed to providing education to our families within our community on social justice so they can continue the work to end racism in their own homes. I support E.R.A.S.E. in being the accountability that our community needs, and that our children deserve.
Latanya Morse
Treasurer
Hello E.R.A.S.E friends! I was born and raised in the City of Rochester but graduated from Irondequoit High School- IHS by way of the Urban Suburban Program. I have lived in Irondequoit for 13 years with my husband and children who attend Rogers Middle School and Dake Jr. High. I enjoy traveling, watching football (go Steelers!) and all things HGTV.
My faith in God has brought me a long way. It is God’s love that inspires my commitment to working on anti-racist education and advocating for the end of violence against black and brown people in our communities. I am especially grateful for this organization and look forward to the work we will achieve together.
Claudette Lowery
Co-Secretary, Co-Leader of Community Engagement Task Force
Having lived in West Irondequoit for over 11 years, I have thus far had two children graduate from the high school and five other children currently attending district schools. Family means everything to me so loving on them, and spending quality time with them is of the utmost importance.
Most of my working career has been in the Human Service field working with children, families and those who were homeless or at risk of being homeless through court advocacy and/or eviction prevention, and operating an emergency food pantry.
Now I am a Licensed Practical Nurse who works private duty cases, and as a School Nurse at a Charter School. As an Evangelist, and Associate Minister of a local church I speak frequently throughout the area. Being a Certified Foster/Adoptive Parent and a Girl Scout Troop Leader for the last 17 years has been extremely rewarding, and fulfilling. I love laughter, nature, children, people, great coffee and conversation, and most genres of music, with The Eagles Hotel California being my all time favorite song. My hobbies include reading, writing and singing. As an Activist I work to be a part of the change I want the world to see for people of color all over the world.
Michael Huntone
Vice Secretary
I am very proud to be working with our E.R.A.S.E. community to end the stain of systemic racism in Irondequoit, and our greater Rochester community. My family has lived in Irondequoit for the past four years, where we have two children in the West Irondequoit school district.
I was born and raised in the Finger Lakes, and have spent time living in LA and NYC prior to moving to the Rochester area. I am an unashamed massive geek, can chat ALL DAY about Star Wars, Marvel comics, books, movies, and 90s hip hop.
I LOVE Rochester, and am proud to be an Irondequoit resident. As a man of faith, I believe in the immediate need for, and righteousness of, actively combatting injustice; in particular the evils of white supremacy which deny true justice and freedom to all the people of color in our community. I am here to stand with and in support of all our Black and Brown neighbors to make Irondequoit and our greater Rochester area the community we know it can be, where all are welcome, empowered, and loved!
Nicholas Robertson
Policy and Research Chair
I live in Irondequoit in the Winona Woods neighborhood with my wife, and two children. We moved from the City of Rochester to Irondequoit in the Fall of 2014. My oldest son is about to be a graduate of Irondequoit High School and my youngest son is completing the third grade at Briarwood elementary. I am originally from Jamaica, West Indies, and have lived in NYC, and Geneseo, NY.
I am passionate about social justice, especially matters of racial justice, and this passion led me to become a sociologist with a focus on race, crime, immigration, urban sociology, and the African diaspora. For most of my adult life I have taught students about these issues at Monroe Community Community, Geneseo, Brockport, and am currently an Assistant Professor in the Criminal Justice department at the Rochester Institute of Technology.
E.R.A.S.E. provides a great opportunity to engage in social/racial justice work in Irondequoit. We are at a historical moment where there is an opportunity to address racial inequality at the local, state and national level in a manner that we have not been able to since the Civil Rights Movement, and my hope is that by working with the Steering Committee and members of the Irondequoit community, E.R.A.S.E will be able to make a significant contribution in reducing inequality and toward social justice.
Chelsea Galvin
Secretary, Co-Leader of Education Task Force
I was born and raised in Rochester and spent many years after graduating high school living in NYC and Los Angeles pursuing a career in the theater/arts. Eventually, I changed my focus and received an advanced degree in education from USC. I spent several years teaching elementary school in Los Angeles and then back at home in Rochester. I moved to West Irondequoit 5 years ago with my husband, and our 5-year-old daughter just started kindergarten in the district.
Like many others, I became frustrated by a system that provides different resources and opportunities solely based on the zip code in which you live. While I cannot fix a broken education system, I realized that I could help to make change in my own community by joining E.R.A.S.E. As the Co-Leader of the Education Task Force, I’m excited to help nurture and uplift the diverse voices in our school district, so that my daughter and all children in the Irondequoit can benefit from the beauty and importance of diversity, equity and inclusion, just as I did growing up in the city of Rochester. I want to fight for social justice on the local level to help create a diverse and welcoming town where everyone deserves to feel safe & seen, protected & valued.
LaTricia Johnson
Director of Operations
I’m a Sr. Director of Business Development for the lab division of a local health system. I’m a native of Rochester, NY and have lived in East Irondequoit for the past 15 years. I have one amazing son who graduated from the East Irondequoit school district and currently attending SUNY Brockport.
It is no secret Irondequoit has a history of systemic racism that has made it unwelcoming to many Black and Brown people. I have a sincere desire to see our community thrive and provide a safe, diverse and equitable experience for all regardless of race or culture.
As a person of great faith I believe all things are possible. We are each responsible for leaving people and places better than how we encountered them. ERASE is a valuable organization providing a voice to the voiceless and representation to those underrepresented. ERASE provides a great opportunity for all of us to join together and fight injustice, inequity and racism within our community.
Noël France
Director of Public Relations and Communications
Born and raised in West Irondequoit, I returned to my hometown after college to raise my own family here. I love this community and have a passion to support positive progress and change within it, so that my own daughters have a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable experience here. My eldest daughter graduated from IHS in 2021 and my youngest is currently attending Dake Jr High. As a West Irondequoit alum, it’s been energizing to see how the curriculum and culture of the school district has advanced since my own school years, creating a more progressive and welcoming atmosphere for BIPOC students.
I am a DE&I leader with 20+ years of experience in leading culture change within organizations, from data analytics and marketing processes to sustainable solutions for employee experience. I joined E.R.A.S.E. as an Education Task Force member and gained tremendous value from the relationships and programs built to support West Irondequoit students and families. I am excited to serve on the Steering Committee as Public Relations and Communications Chair to spread awareness of E.R.A.S.E. and see engagement increase across the community.
In addition to volunteering with E.R.A.S.E., I enjoy spending time entertaining family and friends; couples costumes and holiday outfits with my gracious partner, Joe; living room dance parties and singing circles to all types of music; 5Ks for fun; Peleton rides; reading; and snuggling with my two golden doodles.
E.R.A.S.E. Founders:
