Camara Stokes Hudson ‘16, J.D., is deeply committed to justice. As the current Racial Justice Counsel at the New York Civil Liberties Union—a state affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union—her work encompasses litigation, public education, and policy initiatives aimed at dismantling systemic injustices affecting New Yorkers of color.
Stokes Hudson’s professional journey is deeply rooted in her experiences at UVM, where she majored in Human Development and Family Studies, an experience that, she says, “has always driven my interest in working to improve systems which touch the lives of young people and their families.”
Stokes Hudson’s career has given focus to issues of education equity including exclusionary discipline, school governance, student freedom of speech and expression, and issues related to bullying and harassment. Recently, she’s begun working on infrastructure justice issues as well.
Prior to studying law at NYU, Stokes Hudson advocated and lobbied at a Connecticut child advocacy organization, where her work centered on education issues. In 2019, Stokes Hudson was named Woman of Inspiration by the Connecticut Women’s Legal and Education Fund for her work with Connecticut Voices for Children; in 2020, she was named the Derrick Bell Scholar for Public Service by NYU Law Alumni of Color Association. Just this past year, Stokes Hudson was recognized as a 30 Under 30 Alumni by the UVM Alumni Association for her professional contributions.
She was initially drawn to UVM by the university’s Lawrence Debate Union, a group recognized as one of the premier college-level debate teams, that has been training UVM students since 1899. It proved a vital training ground for her then-burgeoning passion for advocacy. Through the LDU, Stokes Hudson cultivated fundamental skills in argumentation and public speaking – skills she still leans on daily. Through the LDU, she also participated with the SPEAK Vermont Initiative, a program that teaches incarcerated people professional public speaking and presentation skills.
“Debate is really good training to be a lawyer,” Stokes Hudson reflects. “Very often I work with people and have clients who have wholly different experiences and beliefs from me, and debating prepared me really well to bridge those gaps and see things from multiple perspectives.”
Although Stokes Hudson had several beloved classes and professors, those who stand out the most include the late Professor Alfred C. “Tuna” Snider, director of the LDU for the majority of Stokes Hudson’s time. Professor Sue Dinitz’s work at the Writing Center also made an impact during Stokes Hudson’s time as a student. And HDFS Professors Lawrence Shelton and Jackie Weinstock not only provided important personal support but gave her “an incredible foundation in human development,” which she uses to this day.