When you read about this woman and her contributions, you can’t help but think, “Can a single woman do so much for war victims, refugees and migrants? Has anyone else founded organizations that strive to end violence caused by religious hatred?’ and so on. What makes Georgette Bennett an extraordinary woman is the fact that while she is Jewish, the millions who benefit from her compassion and commitment are mostly Muslims.
Bennette was born in 1948 in Hungary to Jewish parents. Her family migrated to the U.S. in 1952 and thereby escaped what she calls “the worst of two worlds; both fascism and communism.” After completing her B.A. in Sociology, and several post graduate degrees in various subjects, she obtained her Ph.D. in Sociology from New York University, in 1972.
She worked with the Center for Policy Research in New York and the Center for Investigative Reporting in San Francisco. She became a television and radio commentator, and, for a while, was a correspondent for NBC News. She came up with three of her own syndicated radio programs and was a regular commentator for several TV networks.
As Deputy Assistant Director for Administration of Justice and Personal Consultant to the Police Commissioner of the New York City Police Department, she became interested in crime prevention. Using her expertise in financial management, she managed a $1.3 billion budget for the New York City Office of Management and Budget as the head of its Criminal Justice Task Force.
Fr Joe Antony SJ
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