J. B. Afoh-Manin

Bediaku Afoh-Manin, known to friends and colleagues as J.B., hails from a truly diverse background. Raised in Michigan, British Columbia, California, and New York, J.B.’s life experiences have truly been global. Tapped with the love for education and travel early in life, J.B. has strived to incorporate an international perspective into everything he does.

J. B. earned a Bachelors of Arts degree from Michigan State University (James Madison College); his primary concentration was that of American Public Affairs, specializing in African Affairs. He went on to earn a Masters degree from UCLA, focusing in African Affairs and specializing in History and Political Science. . After graduating from UCLA he became a community organizer helping to improve, amongst other issues, community/police relations in South Central Los Angeles.

Afoh-Manin earned his law degree from the City University of New York at Queens College, with a special interest in International Affairs and Criminal law. He is a member of the New York State Bar.

He currently serves as an Assistant Public Defender with the Monroe County Public Defender’s Office. He also serves as an adjunct professor between Monroe Community College, in the Criminal Justice and Political Science departments, and The State University of New York at Geneseo in the Political Science/International Relations department. He also serves as the president of the 19th Ward Community Association and on numerous boards of non-profit organizations in the greater Rochester area.

J. B. married his college sweetheart, NanaEfua, a medical doctor and graduate of the University of Rochester School of Medicine. They reside in the Nineteenth Ward.