About
The Human Rights Commission (HRC) was established in 1969. It is comprised of 11 voting members and 1 non-voting student member, 18 years old or under. Commissioners must live in Howard County and represent the diversity of county residents.
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, as well as having the authority to conduct surveys and studies concerning civil liberties in order to promote equality in the community. The HRC's duties also include engaging and educating the community, studying and investigating human rights issues, proposing and improving policies on human rights, and interpreting and enforcing the Howard County Human Rights Code. In addition to hosting the annual HRC awards, they support OHRE outreach activities.
A Public Guide to the Authority of the Human Rights Commission
Commission Information
Commissioners
The Human Rights Commission is comprised of 11 voting members and 1 non-voting student member.
| Name & Role (if applicable) | Term Expiration |
|---|---|
| Tiffany Releford, Acting Chair | 9/8/2024 |
| Nina Basu | 4/4/2025 |
| Shannon Beasley-Tait | 7/29/27 |
| Bianca Chang | 3/1/2025 |
| Cristiana Little | 3/1/2026 |
| Robert (Bob) Ford | 3/6/2026 |
| Scott Markow | 3/6/2026 |
| Valerie Montague | 7/29/27 |
| Kui Zhao | 3/1/2025 |
| Sakshi Vineet Tirodkar, Student Member | 6/30/2025 |
Howard County Government Staff
- Yolanda F. Sonnier, Executive Secretary
- Marita Grant, HRC Legal Counsel, Howard County Office of Law
- Liv Alanis Myers, Case Manager
- Monica Simon, Recording Secretary
Rules of Procedure
The Howard County Human Rights Commission (the "Commission") has adopted amended Rules of Procedure (the "Rules") by unanimous vote during a virtual public hearing that took place on Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at 7:00pm.
To see the amended Rules, click the link below.
Meeting Schedule
The Human Rights Commission (HRC) meets on the third Thursday of every month at 7:00pm, except for the month of August. All HRC meetings are open to the public. Please see the Commission's meeting agendas for information on how to attend in person or virtually.
2024 Meeting Dates:
- Thursday, January 18, 2024
- Thursday, January 25, 2024 – Special Meeting
- Saturday, January 27, 2024 – 2024 HRC Retreat
- Thursday, February 15, 2024
- Thursday, March 21, 2024
- Thursday, April 18, 2024
- Thursday, May 16, 2024
- Thursday, June 20, 2024
- Thursday, July 18, 2024
- Thursday, September 19, 2024
- Thursday, October 17, 2024
- Thursday, November 21, 2024
- Thursday, December 19, 2024
Opportunities for Partnerships & Engagement
As part of its outreach efforts, the Human Rights Commission is interested in partnering with organizations and community groups to support events focused on bringing our citizens together for beneficial and/or enlightening purposes. We welcome opportunities to share information on services supported by the HRC and to assist and educate county residents. The level of support offered may vary based on the type of event and its focus.
If you are interested in partnering or seeking co-sponsorship with the Human Rights Commission, please provide the following information, and submit a request to HRC@howardcountymd.gov.
- Name
- Phone Number
- Event Name
- Event Date/Time
- Event Location
- Event Description
- Type of Participation Requested of HRC
Please share this information with your friends and other organizations you may participate with. We are here to serve the community and welcome any opportunities to become an event partner.
Meeting Agendas & Minutes
2024
The Office of Human Rights and Equity strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. To request an accommodation to access a Public Commission meeting or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact Liv Alanis Myers at lamyers@howardcountymd.gov. Accommodations requested less than five business days before a meeting are not guaranteed, though every effort will be taken to provide said accommodation.
December 19th
- Agenda
- Minutes
November 21st
- Agenda
- Minutes
October 17th (Virtual Meeting)
- Agenda
- Minutes
September 19th (Virtual Meeting)
- Agenda
- Minutes
July 18th
June 20th
May 16th
April 18th
March 21st
February 15th
January 27th – Annual Planning Retreat
January 25th – Special Meeting
January 18th
2023
December 20th – Date Change
December 13th – Public Hearing Re: the Adoption of Amended Rules of Procedure
November 16th
October 19th
September 21st
September 12th – OHRE Commission Gathering
July 20th
June 15th
May 18th
April 20th
March 16th
February 16th
January 19th
January 7th – Annual Planning Retreat
2022
December 15th
November 17th
October 20th
September 15th
July 21st
June 16th
May 19th
April 21st
March 17th
February 17th
January 20th
January 8th
2021
2020
December 17th
November 19, 2020
October 15th
September 17th
July 16th
June 18th
May 21st
April 16th
March 19th
February 21st
January 16th
2019
2018
December 20th
November 15th (Meeting Canceled)
October 25th
September 20th
July 19th
June 21st
May 15th
April 19th
March 15th
February 22nd
January 18th
2017
2016
2015
Public Statements
The Howard County Human Rights Commission Statement of March 22, 2024 condemning reported increase in anti-Muslim, anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, and anti-Semitic hate bias incidents in Howard County
Hate Has No Place: Reporting Hate Crimes & Hate Bias Incidents
The Human Rights Commission hosted Hate Has No Place on Wednesday, November 8th at Oakland Mills Interfaith Center - The Meeting House.
This event provided an opportunity for community members to ask questions about reporting hate crimes and HBIs, learn how these reports are investigated by law enforcement, and speak to law enforcement and other critical stakeholders who investigate, report, and litigate these incidents in Howard County, MD.
Through this collaboration, we hope to build trust between the community and law enforcement and to increase the reporting rate of hate crimes and HBIs in our county.
Watch a recap of the forum, as reported by Sue Kopen Katcef on Maryland Public Television, State Circle.
Co-sponsored by: The Office of Human Rights & Equity, Howard County State's Attorney's Office, Howard County Police Department, Howard County Sheriff's Office, Howard County Police Accountability Board, Howard County Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission, Howard County NAACP, Howard County Muslim Council, and Jewish Federation of Howard County
2023 Human Rights Commission Awards
The 2023 Human Rights Commission Awards Ceremony took place on Tuesday, October 17th at the Owen Brown Interfaith Center. Thank you to everyone that attended this ceremony. The recipients of the 2023 Human Rights Commission Awards were:
James E. Henson, Sr. & Jean W. Toomer Award: Sandy Cos
Colette Roberts Organization Award: Howard County AAPI Youth Ambassador Program Advocacy Taskforce & Ohana of Howard County
Dr. Murray Simon Student Award: Lily Peng
Please take a look at the 2023 HRC Award Ceremony's program book. Nominations for the 2024 Awards will occur in August 2024.
