For the past 25 years, the New York County District Attorney's Community Affairs Unit has been a critical link between the District Attorney's Office and the community at large. We are committed to helping local residents and businesses solve crime problems and develop strategies to prevent crime. The staff of Community Affairs attends more than 1,400 meetings each year and conducts hundreds of presentations for students and community members to raise awareness of guns, gangs, drugs, domestic violence and other issues threatening our communities.
Representatives from Community Affairs meet with schools, block associations, tenants' groups, landlords, social service providers, community coalitions, hospitals, site managers, parent associations, senior citizen groups, gay, lesbian and transgender organizations, business improvement districts, major corporations, community boards, libraries, and other community-based organizations seeking to solve neighborhood crime problems. In addition to direct work with citizens, the Community Affairs Staff meets on a regular basis with precinct commanders, narcotics officers and other governmental officials to deal with particular criminal problems or target locations. The Community Affairs Unit also administers the Office's Legal Bound educational program for youth.
Please take the time to read our brochure and learn about the ways that the District Attorney's Community Affairs Staff can assist you and your community.
Community Affairs Bios:
Lillian “Lee” Llambelis serves as Special Assistant District Attorney for Community Affairs. Ms. Llambelis most recently served as Director of Intergovernmental and Community Affairs for New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Before her appointment, she served as Litigation Director for the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund where she engaged in litigation, advocacy and policy development on Civil Rights issues affecting Latinos nationwide, litigating federal and state court actions challenging anti-immigrant laws passed by states and localities. Ms. Llambelis served from 1992 to 2002 as an Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan, where she was assigned to the Trial Division; the Special Prosecutions Bureau, where she investigated and prosecuted white-collar crimes, including embezzlement, fraud, bribery, and the financial exploitation of the elderly; and the Official Corruption Unit where she investigated and prosecuted police corruption. Ms. Llambelis is a graduate of the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and received her law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center. She was also a Coro Foundation Fellow in Public Affairs. Prior to attending law school, Ms. Llambelis served as an Assistant Press Secretary to former Mayor Edward I. Koch.
Linara J. Davidson, First Deputy Director
Ms. Davidson joined the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in January 2010. She came to the office having served on District Attorney Vance’s campaign as the Northern Manhattan Political Director. Ms. Davidson previously served as the Community Liaison for Central and West Harlem in the Office of Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. In 2006, Ms. Davidson served as Volunteer Coordinator for Velmanette Montgomery’s State Senate Campaign. She is a graduate of New York University, and holds a B.S. in Humanities with a concentration in Literature. Ms. Davidson was raised by a family with a long history of community advocacy in Harlem.
Linda Jones-Janneh, Principal Community Affairs Coordinator (Precincts: 5th, 7th 9th, 13th, 17th, 19th, 114th, Police Service Area 4)
Ms. Jones-Janneh has been a Principal Community Affairs Coordinator since joining the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in 1996. Prior to joining the office, Ms. Jones-Janneh worked in constituent and housing services in the Northern Manhattan District Office of City Council Member Stanley E. Michaels. Ms. Jones-Janneh accepted that position in 1994, after working as a community organizer in the 30th Precinct. Prior to her work in community relations, she worked with Eastern Airlines, first as a flight attendant and later working her way up to recruitment and quality assurance officer. Ms. Jones-Janneh holds a Paralegal Certificate from New York University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies. She has taken courses at SUNY Stonybrook, FIT and Wagner College.
Joselinne Minaya, Principal Community Affairs Coordinator. (Precincts: 20th, 26th, 30th 33rd, 34th, Central Park, Police Service Area 6)
Ms. Minaya joined the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in 2001, first serving as a Domestic Violence Coordinator, and later as a member of the Community Affairs Unit. Prior to joining the office, Ms. Minaya served for three years as a Victim Advocate for the Domestic Violence Program of the Dominican Women’s Development Center. Ms. Minaya graduated Magna Cum Laude from John Jay College with a B.A. in Forensic Psychology.
Hildalyn Colon, Press Office & Community Coordinator
Ms. Colon joined Manhattan District Attorney Office in November 2010. Prior to joining the District Attorney’s Office, Ms. Colon was a Lead Organizer for the New York/New Jersey Regional Joint Board Workers United. She worked and managed different campaigns in the hotel and lodging industry in New Jersey. Ms. Colon also served as the Political Coordinator for SEIU 32BJ in Long Island and Westchester. She has also worked labor organizations and non-profits in New York, New Jersey, and Puerto Rico including: United Health Care Workers East (1199 SEIU), Alianza SEIU Puerto Rico, Sindicato Puertorriqueño de Trabajadores (SPT), and Union General de Trabajadores (UGT). She has a Masters in Labor and Employment Relations from the School of Management and Labor Relations from Rutgers University where she was awarded with the Alfred and Eleanor Lowenthal Memorial Scholarship.
Wendy Cedeno, Educational Coordinator
Ms. Cedeno joined the Manhattan District Attorney's Office in October, 2007. She is currently serving as the Educational Coordinator for areas north of 42nd Street in Manhattan. Prior to coming to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, Ms. Cedeno volunteered as a Sunday School Teacher at St. Mathew Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn where her interest for community education was sparked. Ms. Cedeno graduated from SUNY Empire State College with a B.S. in Business Management with a concentration in Human Resources. Ms. Cedeno has recently applied to New York University to pursue her Master's in Early Childhood Education.
Katie A. Doran, Advisor to the District Attorney for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Issues
Ms. Doran joined the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in September of 1988. She came to the District Attorney’s Office after completing a dual Masters Degree Program at Yale University; she holds a Masters in Divinity and Social Work. While completing her degree she served as the first student intern for the NYC Gay & Lesbian Anti-Violence Project. Ms. Doran was an active member of the Mayor’s Police Council for Gay & Lesbian Concerns during the Koch, Dinkins and Giuliani administrations and currently serves on the NYPD Police Commissioner’s LGBT Advisory Board. Throughout her tenure she has worked as an educator and advocate with the LGBT community and the Criminal Justice community. In addition to her role as advisor, she is currently an EEO coordinator within the office and an active member of the District Attorney’s Diversity Committee. She also serves as President of the DANY Association (a fraternal organization within the Office).
Famod Konneh, African Immigrant Outreach, and Community Coordinator (Precincts: 28th & 32nd)
Mr. Konneh joined the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in June 2010. Before joining the District Attorney’s Office Mr. Konneh worked for the Office of the New York State Attorney General’s Bureau of Intergovernmental and Community Affairs as a community liaison. Currently, he chairs the Bronx Borough president’s newly constituted African Advisory Council, and is also the president of the Organization of the New York Mandingo (ONYMA). Mr. Konneh graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics with emphasis in International Economics at the University of Liberia in 2001. In May of 2008 Mr. Konneh graduated with a Master in Public Administration (MPA) at Baruch College School of Public Affairs.
Teresa Ye, Community Coordinator. (Precincts: 1st, 5th, 7th)
Ms. Ye joined the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in June 2010. Prior to joining the DA’s Office she attended Hamilton College in upstate New York, where she graduated with a B.A. in Chinese Studies and is a member of Hamilton College’s Phi Sigma Iota chapter. Ms. Ye previously volunteered at Gouverneur Hospital in downtown New York and provided English and Chinese translations for doctors and patients.
Edgar J. Yu, LGBT & Community Affairs Coordinator (Precincts: Midtown North, Midtown South, 10th & 6th Precincts)
Mr. Yu joined the New York County District Attorney’s Office in July 2010. Prior to relocating to New York City from California in 2009, Mr. Yu worked several years for the Victim Witness Assistance Program in Orange County; serving under various capacities including Restitution Specialist and Victim Advocate before moving into management. Prior to joining the Community Affairs Unit as the LGBT Community Coordinator, Mr. Yu was employed by a Manhattan HIV/AIDS primary care clinic as a Navigator, administering mental health assessments to HIV clients. Mr. Yu is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine where he completed his undergraduate studies in Criminology and English. He also attended graduate school at California State University, Fullerton in the Master of Public Administration program.
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