Chairman JEFFREY E. POINDEXTER, ESQUIRE

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CHAIRMAN JEFFREY E. POINDEXTER, ESQUIRE

Attorney Jeffrey E. Poindexter and Kirk Smith, CEO YMCA
Attorney Jeffrey E. Poindexter and Kirk Smith, CEO YMCA

—By Frederick A. Hurst —-

Attorney Jeffrey Poindexter
Attorney Jeffrey Poindexter

Congratulations to Attorney Jeffrey E. Poindexter for breeching a barrier that I never expected would be breeched in my lifetime. When I was growing up, the Greater Springfield YMCA board membership was off limits for Black folks with the occasional exception. The title itself projected a sterile, white male image that for Black folks, read “keep out.” Lists of its all-white, male Board of Directors had always read like a who’s who in area power circles. And until recently there had never been a significant effort to change things. That is until its Chief Executive Officer Kirk Smith arrived on the scene. Kirk came prepared to do what nobody had ever dared to do, which is to insist that the YMCA and its board be a reflection of the community in which it is located. And he had the gall to make his intentions clear to the old boy network which placed him at odds with many who would have preferred to see him removed as CEO rather than accept the changes he proposed. And some of the opposition came with a racial tint which Kirk confronted with unusual directness and candor and, above all, courage. And with the help of the more enlightened board members, he was able to accomplish his diversity goals, which culminated with the recent election of Jeffrey E. Poindexter as the first African-American chairman of the Greater Springfield YMCA Board of Directors.
And what an excellent appointment it is. Attorney Poindexter is the first African-American partner with the law firm of Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas, L.L.P., which is considered one of the most prestigious law firms in the region. He started out as an associate in 1995 and became partner in 2000, which is a quick rise by anyone’s standards, especially from a man from such humble beginnings.
“Jeff” was born and raised in Springfield along with his three brothers. He attended Springfield schools and graduated from Springfield Central High School after having started high school at the now-defunct Classical High School. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Western New England University from where he graduated summa cum laude, which is why he was easily accepted at the prestigious Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. from where he earned his Juris Doctorate in 1994. He clerked for a year at the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court of Norfolk, Virginia with the Honorable John C. Morrison, Jr. and in 1995 was hired by his current law firm as an associate during which time he clerked for a period with our favorite U.S. District Court Judge Michael A. Ponsor.
Jeff’s oldest brother works for Columbia Gas in Springfield. His youngest brother is a nephrologist at Springfield’s Western New England Renal Transplant Associates. The brother just below Jeff, who is a lawyer with Proskauer Rose, L.L.C., came to the legal profession the hard way. He dropped out of high school; at some point thought better of a bad move, earned a GED, enrolled in STCC, transferred to Wesleyan University and after graduation, was accepted by Harvard University where he earned his Juris Doctorate. I think it’s fair to say that Jeff’s parents did well by him and his siblings. His father is a well-known, now-retired Springfield police officer and his mother worked at home. Theirs was a close-knit family which is why Jeff, who could have gone to a law firm anywhere in the country, chose to return home. And how lucky we are.
I got a kick out of interviewing Jeff in my office. Kirk Smith was the third guy in the room. He tried his best to remain quiet and let me and Jeff interact. He did well but anybody who knows Kirk at all knows that he was coming into the conversation sooner or later. And when he did, I received a treat watching Jeff and Kirk interact. It was clear to me that the two have bonded in a way that the YMCA can only benefit from. And for me it was a personal pleasure to watch two highly qualified and competent Black guys joining together seamlessly to promote the goals of a much valued organization that impacts the entire Pioneer Valley. They will make a good team.
In response to a question from me, Jeff expressed his appreciation for how expertly Kirk handled the Dunbar’s transition into the YMCA and how highly regarded Kirk is nationally.  He capped his praise off by pointing out how important it is that we actively encourage Kirk, who is always being actively recruited, to stay with our YMCA.  We certainly agree and are pleased that with Jeff as chairman, Kirk has one more good reason to stay.
Attorney Poindexter’s election as Chairman of the YMCA Board of Directors sends an important message, which is that racial progress in Springfield is “moving forward.”  Jeff’s wife, Stephanie Barry Poindexter, a reporter for The Republican and their daughter must be as proud of him as are we all.  ■

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