By Northern Westchester Moms
Meet Cindy Kanusher the Executive Director of the Pace Women’s Justice Center (PWJC). Let’s learn more about about faves, the PWJC and the amazing event on October 24th!
Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in town?
I was born in New York but moved to Miami Beach when I was nine years old, so I consider that where I grew up. I later returned to New York to attend law school in 1985, and eventually settled in Irvington, where I’ve lived for the past 32 years.
Child(ren) and Age(s)?
I have two children – ages 31 and 28, and will be becoming a grandma in December of this year.
One thing people would be surprised to know about you….
I’ve spent my entire legal career in just two roles. I began as a prosecutor at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, where I started right out of law school and stayed for 10 years. For the past 27 years, I’ve been at Pace Women’s Justice Center, where I’ve had the privilege of doing work I’m deeply passionate about. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have spent the majority of my career at PWJC, surrounded by dedicated, hardworking, and supportive colleagues who inspire me every day.
Anyone special you’d like to thank for helping you through parenthood?
I feel incredibly fortunate to have a supportive family and wonderful friends. When my children were younger, my in-laws generously babysat for them every Saturday night for years. This was such a gift—not only did it give my husband and me valuable time to reconnect and unwind, but it also fostered a deep and lasting bond between our children and their grandparents. To this day, they still talk about the special memories they created together. I also feel incredibly fortunate to have a wonderful partner in my husband. Even while working long hours during our children’s early years, he was a steady presence and always there for all the highs and lows that come with raising a family.
In addition, having close friends to lean on made all the difference. Being able to share both the joys and the challenges of parenthood with people who truly understood helped me navigate the journey with a sense of perspective and a lot of laughter.
Favorite things to do with your child/children?
When my kids were younger, one of our favorite spots was Matthiessen Park in Irvington. We could spend hours there just playing, exploring, and taking in the beautiful river views—they never wanted to leave! We also loved peaceful walks around Halsey Pond with our dog, as well as strolls along the Old Croton Aqueduct, which became a regular family activity.
Now that my children are older, our shared love of food has taken center stage. We’re all passionate foodies, so we really enjoy discovering and trying out the many new restaurants popping up around the County.
How has this community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?
I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of a community like Westchester, where the commitment to supporting survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse is both deep and long-standing. The Westchester County government, through the leadership of the County Executive and the Board of Legislator, has played a pivotal role in enabling organizations like PWJC to thrive and grow.
Over 25 years ago, with critical support from the County, PWJC launched its courthouse-based legal program in the White Plains and Yonkers Family Courts. This initiative allows survivors to walk into our offices and receive immediate legal assistance, including help with filing emergency petitions for orders of protection. Five years ago, we expanded this program to serve clients in the New Rochelle Family Court. Today, we assist nearly 900 individuals annually through this program.
This work would not be possible without the generosity and dedication of our volunteer attorneys, who work side by side with our staff to ensure that we can serve as many people as possible. PWJC’s ability to deliver high-quality legal services is deeply rooted in the strength and commitment of this broader legal community.
We are also proud to be affiliated with Pace University and the Elisabeth Haub School of Law. Our partnership with Pace has been instrumental to our success. We engage law students in many of our programs, allowing us to extend our reach and maximize our limited resources. Additionally, the university provides us with space on its White Plains campus, offering a stable and professional environment from which to operate.
PWJC’s growth and impact have been made possible by the unwavering support of our community—from government leaders and volunteers to academic partners—and we are deeply grateful for it.
Tell us about PWJC and the work that they are doing for the community.
The Pace Women’s Justice Center (PWJC) is a nonprofit legal services center offering free civil legal support to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse. PWJC is the largest provider of domestic violence legal services in the region, serving more than 3,500 survivors annually through a team of over 30 attorneys, professional staff, and dedicated volunteers.
For many survivors, the legal system is intimidating and difficult to navigate. PWJC bridges that gap with compassionate, multilingual advocacy that centers safety, dignity, and justice, especially for those in our community who cannot afford quality legal services. Our free services include help with safety planning, orders of protection, custody, divorce, support, and advanced directives. We maintain offices in every Westchester County Family Courthouse, providing survivors with immediate access to emergency protection and legal support. But’ our work doesn’t stop in the courtroom. Abuse affects more than individuals; it ripples out to families, workplaces, schools, and entire communities. When survivors are able to access safety and support, their children are more secure, their jobs more stable, and their communities are stronger. Safer families make safer communities, and legal advocacy plays a key role in disrupting the cycle of violence.
PWJC also leads more than 140 education, outreach, and training programs each year. We train law enforcement officers, judges, and legal professionals, as well as educate high school and college students on personal safety and knowing their rights. We provide scam prevention and elder abuse education at senior centers and community spaces. We also work with faith communities, medical providers, and more, helping them recognize signs of abuse and respond with informed compassion.
Tell us about your mom life and how do you balance it all?
I began my journey at PWJC when my children were 3½ years old and 8 months old. At that time, I worked part-time,two days a week, which provided a healthy balance between my professional responsibilities and my role as a mother.
As my children grew and PWJC expanded its work, I was able to gradually increase my time at the Center and take on new projects. By the time my youngest was in high school, I was working full-time. Looking back, I realize I eventually learned how to prioritize what truly needed to get done, and to accept that, sometimes (or even often), I simply wouldn’t get everything done. And that was okay. A piece of advice from a friend with older children stuck with me then and still stays with me today: “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” It couldn’t have been more true.
I was fortunate to have a strong support system; particularly, my husband’s parents were incredibly helpful, especially when I needed to travel for trainings. As my children reached middle school, they began attending the Irvington Children’s Center after school three days a week. This was a wonderful resource for our family: the kids enjoyed being there with their friends, and I had the peace of mind knowing they were in a safe, supportive, and engaging environment.
How can someone learn more abot the PWJC and how can they support?
You can learn more about our work, as well as ways to get involved, by visiting our website, www.law.pace.edu/wjc.
An important way to support PWJC is by donating. As organizations like ours face growing funding cuts across the country, we rely more than ever on the generosity of our community to help fill the gaps. The funds we raise directly support free legal services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse—services that often make the difference between fear and safety, between silence and justice.
If you’re looking for a way to give back that’s also a great night out, please join us on October 24th at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester for Raising the Bar, PWJC’s benefit concert featuring Colbie Caillat & Shawn Colvin. The evening, deemed Westchester’s “Best Nonprofit Event,” brings together advocates, community leaders, and supporters to honor changemakers and raise vital funds for our work. Any form of support is meaningful, and we’re counting on the community to raise your voice for justice. To learn more about tickets and sponsorships, visit: pwjcraisingthebar.com.
Tell us your faves
Favorite date night spot- Harvest on Hudson
Favorite restaurant to go as a family– Lefteris, Tarrytown
Favorite place to go out with friends- MP Taverna
Favorite place to go to have fun as a family- we love walking around Manhattan and exploring different neighborhoods and finding new places to eat . We also love going to the Jacob Burns Film Center