Program Featuring Sisters From Historic Brown v. Board of Education to Take Place at Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater

    JAMESTOWN, N.Y., April 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Marking the 50th Anniversary of
 the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education,
 Phillips Lytle LLP is co-sponsoring a historic roundtable discussion featuring
 Linda and Cheryl Brown, whose father Oliver Brown sued the Topeka Board of
 Education over Linda's right to attend an all white school.  The roundtable is
 part of a series of events and activities organized by The Robert H. Jackson
 Center.  These events will take place at The Jackson Center and other venues
 in Chautauqua County in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the historic
 Supreme Court decision, which resulted in the decision of 'separate but equal'
 as unconstitutional and subsequently began the desegregation of the American
 public school system.  Other event co-sponsors include The Cummins Foundation,
 HSBC Bank USA, National Fuel, The New York Bar Foundation and the Northern
 Chautauqua Community Foundation.
     "We are fortunate to have the Brown sisters joining us in celebration of
 this historic decision and we are honored to share in their story," Morgan G.
 Graham, Managing Partner, Phillips Lytle said.  "By sponsoring events such as
 this, our hope is to engage students throughout New York State and guide them
 in understanding what the ruling meant fifty years ago and what it means
 today."
     Due to overwhelming response to the program with sisters Linda Brown
 Thompson and Cheryl Brown Henderson, the program, originally scheduled to be
 held in Elizabeth S. Lenna Hall at the Chautauqua Institution, is now being
 held in the Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater.  The roundtable begins
 Thursday, April 29 at 11:00 a.m. and is free to the public.
     "We are grateful to the Chautauqua Institution for hosting this exciting
 program featuring the Brown sisters," Gregory L. Peterson, Board President,
 Robert H. Jackson Center and a partner at Phillips Lytle LLP said.  "We also
 are equally grateful that so many school officials from throughout the region
 recognize the significance of Brown v. Board of Education and the lessons from
 that historic case that still resonate today."
     Busloads of high school and other students will be traveling to the
 Chautauqua Institution from throughout the region and as far away as Rochester
 to attend the program.  The amphitheater seats approximately 5,000.
     "This is the earliest opening of the Amphitheater in over 130 years,"
 Bruce Stanton, General Manager of the Athenaeum Hotel, Chautauqua Institution
 said.  "Given the historical significance of Brown v. Board of Education, we
 are pleased that the Institution will be able to open its doors to thousands
 of visitors, especially school children from throughout the region."
     Linda Brown Thompson and Cheryl Brown Henderson are two of the three
 children of the late Rev. Oliver Brown.  Along with their mother and sister,
 the family is dedicated to preserving the historic legacy of the landmark U.S.
 Supreme Court decision of 1954, Oliver L. Brown et. al. v. the Board of
 Education of Topeka, et. al.
     Ms. Thompson, a former Head Start teacher, at one time taught private
 music lessons in piano.  She is currently Program Associate with the Brown
 Foundation and serves as director of music for one of the Methodist churches
 in Topeka, where she has chaired several project committees.
     Ms. Henderson has been a sixth grade teacher, university guest lecturer,
 school guidance counselor and state educational administrator.  She is
 currently Executive Director of the Brown Foundation.  Ms. Henderson has held
 memberships in 19 professional and civic organizations, and presently serves
 on various local, state and national boards.  She is past chair of Women Work,
 a national women's network representing some 15 million women.
     For more information about the 50th anniversary events and activities or
 to learn more about The Robert H. Jackson Center please visit
 www.roberthjackson.org or call 716-483-6646.
 
     Phillips Lytle is a full-service law firm with seven offices across New
 York State in Buffalo, Albany, Chautauqua, Garden City, New York City and
 Rochester.  With the farthest geographic reach of any law firm in the state of
 New York, they are well-equipped to meet the needs of their clients.
 
      Contact:
      Rebecca E. Farbo
      Phillips Lytle
      716-847-8307
 
      Gregory L. Peterson
      716-483-5172
 
 

SOURCE  Phillips Lytle LLP