Anti-Defamation League New Mexico Board Member and National Civil Rights Committee Member Janice Paster shares how her experience in public service has impacted her views on ADL’s timeless mission.

How did you first become involved in ADL? How are you involved now?

I was recruited to the ADL New Mexico Regional Board by Suki Halevi, the last NM Regional Director for ADL.  My current involvement includes serving on the national Civil Rights Committee and attending Mountain States Regional board meetings by phone, now that New Mexico has been incorporated into the Mountain States Region.  I am looking forward to participating in Regional Director Scott L. Levin’s plan for New Mexico as the transition continues in the coming months.

What do you do in your professional life?

Although I am now retired, in my career I was an attorney, a non-profit activist, a former co-trustee of our family trust, and a former State Senator.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? 

I wanted to have adventures in places far from my home town.

Where were you born? From where do your ancestors hail?

I was born in St. Louis, MO.  Most of my ancestors were from the Ukraine, Kiev and several towns close to Lviv.  One great-grandfather was from Romania.

What’s your favorite holiday?

My favorite holiday is Passover because my children and my grandson come to Albuquerque to celebrate together.

What’s your favorite food?

Exotic cheeses.

What are you reading?

And After the Fire by Lauren Belfer, which won a 2016 National Jewish Book Award.

What’s a special place you have visited?

Northern European countries around the Baltic; Mexico City; Hong Kong and China.

What’s one thing every person should know or experience?

Loving and supportive family and friends.

What teacher or class stands out to you the most in your education and why?

Boy, that was a long time ago.  A friend of mine was teaching at the University of New Mexico Law School when I was a student there in my early 40s.  She went on to become the second woman on the NM State Supreme Court and sadly, died quite young from breast cancer.  I admire her because she did not view the law in an adversarial manner.  She focused on fairness.  I tried to keep her positive example in mind during my political and legal career.

What are you passionate about personally? What can’t you stop talking about?

I am passionate about being involved in government actions and decisions because I know it is essential to have a place at the table when decisions are made.  I try to urge younger friends and associates to run for public office to get there.

Where can we find you when you’re not working?

I enjoy tennis and golf and hope to return to both when I recover from a recent surgery.  In the meantime, you can find me doing physical therapy or swimming.  I like to travel.

What would be impossible for you to give up?

Looking in on my adult children’s lives, even though they live far away and are in their 40s.

If you had to teach something, what would you teach?

In a former life, I did teach college level English and writing.  Now I would teach advocates for issues that matter to me how to pursue government decision-making and to impact outcomes.

Tell me a story that immediately pops into your mind that was a defining or significant moment for you.

When I served in the NM State Senate, the Senate Pro Tem was a flamboyant and talented Hispanic man who tried to control everyone and everything.  He was very bright and good at whatever he put his hand to.  He later was convicted of skimming from a publicly funded construction project and spent several years in federal prison.  Of course I was disappointed to learn about his misdeeds, but the experience taught me how important it is to hold all elected officials to the highest standards and to exercise extreme diligence.

Complete this sentence: For me, the ADL is …

For me ADL is a reliable advocate for its mission.  It is present and visible in public controversies.  It organizes quietly behind the scenes and then acts to protect the interests of the Jewish community and others who are jeopardized by prejudice, hate, and intolerance.

Why do you choose to make a financial investment in ADL?

I support ADL because of the organized, professional and effective manner in which it pursues its mission to end anti-Semitism and secure justice and fair treatment for all.