The Community Affairs Unit

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 over 1,400 meetings each year and do hundreds of presentations for community members to raise awareness of guns, gangs, drugs, domestic violence and other issues threatening our communities.

Representatives from Community Affairs meet with 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 review our website and learn about the ways that the District Attorney's Community Affairs Staff can assist you and your community. We look forward to working with you. Below please find the biographies of the members of the Community Affairs Unit.

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 2001 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.

Jenu Brar, Community Coordinator/Educational Programs Coordinator. (Precincts: 1st, 6th, 18th, 14th, 24th, 114th)
Ms. Brar joined the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in 2008. She came to the DA’s Office from the New York City Law Department Corporation Counsel’s Office, where she was a Paralegal from 2007 to 2008. Prior to her tenure in the Corporation Counsel’s Office from 2005 to 2007, Ms. Brar served as a Complaint Room Community Assistant for the Bronx District Attorney’s Office. Mr. Brar is an un-admitted attorney, having earned her B.A. in Comparative Literature from Queens College and her Juris Doctorate from Southern New England Law School. While in law school, she held an internship with the International Tribune for the Former Yugoslavia.

Linara J. Davidson, First Deputy Director (Precincts 28th, 32nd)
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. Ms. Davidson is currently working on her Master’s Degree in Counseling at Seton Hall University. 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.

Maria E. de la Rosa, Deputy Director of Community Affairs. (Precincts: 10th, 23rd, 25th, Police Service Areas: 4, 5, 6)
Ms. De la Rosa has served in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for 14 years. In 2009 she was recognized by President Obama as the recipient of the President’s Call to Service Award for her work in Community Affairs. She joined the Office as a Community Coordinator and was promoted in 2005 to her current position. Prior to joining the DA’s Office, Ms. De la Rosa worked for Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY). She served on the team that founded service of this kind in New York City. From 1980-1995 Ms. De la Rosa was also worked as an Accountant Assistant to the Comptroller at Sterling Winthrop. She is a graduate of Marymount Manhattan College’s Certificate Program and holds Dual Certification in Parent Advocacy and Children with Special Needs.

Linda Jones-Janneh, Principal Community Affairs Coordinator. (Precincts: 5th, 7th 9th, 13th, 17th, 19th, 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.

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).

See the Community Affairs Unit brochure (.pdf file opens in new window). The Community Affairs Unit also administers the Office's Legal Bound educational program for youth.