The Human Rights Commission was established in 1969, and is composed of 11 members and a non-voting member, who is a student under 18 years old. Commissioners must live in the county and they represent diversity of Howard County citizens.
The duties and responsibilities of the Commission are prescribed by law, and include recommending a civil rights policy to the County Executive and the County Council concurrently; the authority to make surveys and studies concerning human rights, conditions and problems; as well as, the authority to file a complaint when there is reason to believe a pattern or practice of discrimination exists.
TO CONTACT US, CALL OR WRITE:
Human Rights Commission
c/o Office of Human Rights
9820 Patuxent Woods Drive, Suite 237
Columbia, MD 21046-3137
Tel. 410-313-6430 Fax 410-313-6468
TTY 410-313-6401
MEMBERS OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
BOB FORD, CHAIR
Term expires: 3/1/23
CHUEN-CHIN BIANCA CHANG, VICE CHAIR
Term expires: 3/1/20
HECTOR GARCIA
Term expires: 3/1/22
JOAN HASH
Term expires: 6/1/21
PETER HWANG
Term expires: 6/1/21
SCOTT MARKOW
Term expires : 3/1/23
LESLIE SALGADO-TAMAYO
Term expires : 4/1/24
KUI ZHAO
Term expires: 3/1/20
MABROOKA CHAUDHRY
Term expires: 3/1/22
JOSH KAUFMAN
Term expires: 3/1/20
LYNDA EARLE
Term expires: 3/1/24
STUDENT COMMISSIONER
MUSA ABDUL-AZIZ JAFRI
Term expires : 6/30/20
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION STAFF
MELISSA GOLDMEIER, HRC LEGAL COUNSEL
Howard County Office of Law
YOLANDA F. SONNIER
Executive Secretary
CHAUNTA TAYLOR
Recording Secretary
The Howard County Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission was established by order of the Howard County Executive to “…encourage and coordinate appropriate ceremonies and activities honoring Martin Luther King, Jr...”
The Commission meets the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in Room 212 at 9820 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia, MD, at which time, plans for the annual commemoration of Dr. King's birthday are made.
County residents are continually sought to fill Commission vacancies, as well as fill positions on various subcommittees. Commissioners are appointed by the County Executive to serve an initial term of five years and student Commissioners serve for one year.
Persons interested in serving on the Commission should contact the Office of Human Rights at (410) 313-6430.
MLK COMMISSION MEMBERS:
Helaine M. Jeffers
Term expires: 3/1/2020
Namrata Nagarajan
Term expires: 3/1/2020
Maryam Elhabashy
Term expires: 3/1/2020
Yetta Harper
Term expires: 3/1/2021
Bert Hash, Jr.
Term expires: 3/1/2021
Kurt W. Wall
Term expires: 3/1/2021
Caroline Harper, Ph.D.
Term expires: 3/1/2022
Tracey L. Williams
Term expires: 3/1/2023
STUDENT COMMISSIONERS:
Hunter Craig
Term expires: 6/30/2020
OHR SUPPORT STAFF:
Yolanda F. Sonnier
Administrator
Evelyn Boulware
Recording Secretary
Revised 10/28/2019