PRESIDENT

 

Dr. Alisa Warren, Ph.D., Executive Director, Missouri Commission on Human Rights. ​The advancement of equality in our society has been a career cornerstone for Dr. Alisa Warren. Since January 2008, Dr. Warren has served as the Executive Director for the Missouri Commission on Human Rights (MCHR), a state agency with four offices statewide. Under her strategic leadership, MCHR works diligently to prevent and eliminate discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations. Her dedication to fighting racism and bias against women and other marginalized communities is in her DNA. Promoting inclusion manifests itself in her extensive efforts, through education and outreach initiatives, to bring greater understanding about anti-discrimination laws to the four corners of her home state of Missouri and the nation. Building networks between government, business, and advocacy groups is a main focus for Dr. Warren; she believes that vibrant community partnerships are key to advancing social justice — and she strives to foster and strengthen those vital connections as a means to broaden fundamental freedoms.

 

Throughout her 20-year career, Dr. Warren has worn many hats, all fashioned after a common theme of equal opportunity for all. She has appeared as a subject matter expert on human rights and social justice on numerous television and radio programs, virtual webinars and podcasts, trained many thousands of people on human rights, racial justice and women’s issues, diversity and inclusion, and served as a keynote speaker at local, state, and national events. As a change agent, her executive level experience also includes such distinguished roles as: Director of Diversity Initiatives for the University of Missouri-College of Engineering; Executive Director for the Missouri Community Service Commission; Missouri Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity; and Director of the State of Missouri Supplier Diversity Program.

 

Dr. Warren has been actively involved over the years with a number of organizations such as the: International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies Board of Directors as 1st Vice President; St. Louis-FOCUS Board of Directors; the Missouri Supreme Court Commission on Race and Ethnic Fairness in the Courts- Public Engagement Co-Chair, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Fair Housing Task Force; U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Missouri State Advisory Council; U.S. President’s Initiative on Race; Missouri Human Rights Conference Chair; Governing Board for Central Missouri United Way; Girls Scouts of the Missouri Heartland Board of Directors; Strategic Leadership for State Executives at the Duke University Governor’s Center; the State of Missouri Diversity Council Chair; the Ferguson Community Forward Initiative; and the Governor’s Diversity and Inclusion Initiative.

 

A proponent of education for the advancement of civil rights, her own education uniquely establishes a strong basis for her expertise in the field. Dr. Warren holds a Ph.D. in Applied Social Sciences in the area of Community Development and Social Disparities; a Master of Public Administration; and a Bachelor of Science degree all from the University of Missouri- Columbia.

​

 

 

1ST VICE PRESIDENT

​

Diane Clements Boyd was appointed Executive Director of the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Human Relations Commission in January of 2004. Prior to joining the Human Relations Commission, she served as a Program Manager at the Evansville Black Coalition, Inc., from 1995 to 2004.

​

Diane has been in the forefront of advancing social justice and advocacy efforts in the city of Evansville for over 20 years. In addition to being responsible for enforcing municipal civil rights laws, Diane is responsible for administering several advisory boards. In 2009, she worked with disability advocates to create the city’s first Advisory Board on Disability Services. The board provides guidance to the City of Evansville and Vanderburgh County in matters concerning individuals with disabilities and offers a public forum for members of the community to raise issues of concern. Diane advised city officials on the need for civil rights protections for the LGBT community. In 2011, the Evansville City Council passed an ordinance to include protections for LGBT individuals. Diane also advises the Evansville Commission on the Social Status of African Males, whose mission is to create practical proposals and workable remedies in the areas of employment, education, health and criminal justice to reduce problems that African American males face. Under her direction, the Evansville Commission on the Social Status of African American Males spearheads the Indiana Black Barbershop Health Initiative, the Million Father March and criminal record expungement workshops.

​

Diane serves as chairperson of the Indiana Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights; Past president of the Indiana Consortium of State and Local Human Rights Agencies; member of the Evansville Commission on Homelessness; and the Evansville Women’s Equality Day Committee. Diane received the 2011 Freedom Award from the State of Indiana Martin Luther King Commission, the 2009 Black Women’s Task Force Community Service Award, and the Evansville Chapter of the NAACP Lifetime Community Advocate Award. Diane is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and serves as the Indiana Social Action Coordinator. Diane is a graduate of the University of California Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology.

​

 

2ND VICE PRESIDENT

​

Tamie Tatum-Dixon, Department Head, City of Anderson Human Relations. Tamie Dixon-Tatum has extensive experience in the fields of Office Management, Office Policies, Procedures, Payroll, Marketing, Human Resources, Public Relations, Radio & Television Broadcasting, Teaching, and Municipal/Community Partnerships. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Telecommunications and a master’s degree in Public Affairs.   Ms. Dixon-Tatum is a former employee of both DRA and Guide Lamp, as well as a former Union Member of Local 662 and Local 663. Her experience, expertise, and education make her a well-rounded individual and professional.

​

Tamie is currently involved in numerous community programs such as the Strengthening Families Program through Intersect, and she is a youth, community, education, and equal opportunity advocate.   Currently, she works for the City of Anderson as the Human Relations director, and a guest radio personality for Vision for Success and the Bill Jackson Show for WHBU 1240AM/103.7FM. Previously, Tamie worked in Madison County Superior Court 2’s Juvenile Division as the Juvenile Case Manager for the Reclaiming Futures Program and the Madison County Prosecutor’s Office as Office Manager under Thomas Broderick Jr.  She has also worked for The Crossing Education Center as the Community & Business Development Coordinator which helped to match youth with job training and community service opportunities.

​

In addition to her extensive employment and educational background, she has spearheaded the Ollie H. Dixon Back-To-School Picnic and Parade for nearly 25 years.  This program has provided school supplies for thousands of disadvantaged children throughout Madison County for over two decades.

​

Tamie Dixon-Tatum works tirelessly to serve the community as a youth, education, community, and equal opportunity advocate as well as a multi-media professional.

​

 

SECRETARY
 

Kenneth Gunn, First Deputy Commissioner, Chicago Commission on Human Relations. Kenneth (Ken) Gunn is a lifetime resident of the City of Chicago.  He is a graduate of the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana where he received his B.A. in History and his J.D. 

​

While in law school, Ken began his legal career with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office where he investigated and assisted in the resolution of consumer fraud complaints.  Upon obtaining his law license he joined the Office of the Cook County Public Guardian where he represented abused and neglected children.

​

In 1990, Ken’s interest in civil rights law led him to the Chicago Commission on Human Relations.  The Commission serves as the city’s civil rights agency responsible for investigating and adjudicating complaints of discrimination, providing assistance to hate crime victims, mediating racial and ethnic tensions, and providing anti-bias training.

​

Ken first served as the Assistant to the Commissioner helping to develop and implement procedures and protocol for the newly revamped Commission following the passage of the new Chicago Human Rights and Fair Housing Ordinances.  He is currently the department’s First Deputy Commissioner where he is responsible for the day-to-day management of the agency, which includes development and oversight of fiscal, personnel, and departmental policies. In this role, he also serves as the department’s Ethics Officer, Public Information Officer, and Legislative Liaison to the Mayor’s Office.

​

Ken is also a certified court mediator and serves as a volunteer mediator for the Center for Conflict Resolution. He is on several boards and committees including the Cook County Commission on Human Rights (President), Housing Choice Partners of Illinois Inc. (Treasurer), Center for Conflict Resolution Board of Directors, United Way of Metropolitan Chicago Diversity Committee, Chicago Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Committee, Chicago Bar Association Civil Rights and Constitutional Law Committee, and the Emmanuel Baptist Church Board of Trustees (Vice-President).

​

 

TREASURER

Angela Rush is the Assistant Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the City of Fort Worth (City). Ms. Rush joined the City in 2001 after working in executive management in the private sector for ten years. During her tenure with the City, Ms. Rush has performed in many different roles. She has served as the City’s Neighborhood Education & Outreach Manager, Assistant Director of Community Relations, and the City’s Human Relations Administrator. Ms. Rush currently serves as the Assistant Director of Diversity and Inclusion, with oversight over the City’s civil rights enforcement programs.

Ms. Rush also serves as the executive advisor to the Mayor’s Committee on Persons with Disabilities (MCPD) and the staff liaison to the Fort Worth Human Relations Commission (FWHRC). The MCPD works to ensure that all persons with disabilities have the opportunity to enjoy full and equitable access to lives of independence, productivity and self-determination.

​

ASSISTANT TREASURER​

​

Carrie R. Peace-Simmons is the Executive Administrative Assistant and Agency Procurement/Purchasing Coordinator for the PA Human Relations Commission, who provides discreet, confidential, and administrative support to all senior Management staff of PHRC. Carrie Peace Simmons has been involved in introducing and supporting The CROWN Act during legislative sessions and the PHRC CROWN Conference held in October 2022. The current House Bill 1394 was passed on Friday, July 7, 2023. The CROWN Act has updated Pennsylvania’s anti-discrimination law and prohibits discrimination based on hair type, hair texture, or hairstyle in places of employment, schools, and other public settings, ensuring all Pennsylvanians have greater and equal opportunities. Carrie Peace Simmons, on behalf of the PHRC CROWN planning committee, secured a Social Justice Contract to work hand in hand for the PHRC CROWN Conference with Adjoa B. Asamoah, a trusted advisor to local, state, and federal officials. Adjoa currently serves as the first Black woman to serve as a Senior Advisor for Racial Equity to a U.S. Secretary. Carrie has secured Social Justice procurement contracts with the following: Dr. Eddie Glaude, JuJu Chang, John Quinoes, Anita Hill, Olga E. Custodio, Melissa Harris Perry, Dr. Bernice A. King, Deloris E. Jordan and so much more. Carrie also assists in the areas of HR while professionally assisting PHRC and suppliers choosing to do business with the Commonwealth. Carrie holds an Associate of Applied Science degree in Business Administration Marketing, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management and Accounting, and a Certificate in Professional Leadership Development. Carrie spent Five years in the
Banking Industry as a Bank Teller and Customer Services Representative before joining the Commonwealth of PA in May 2011 (Fulton Bank, Sovereign Bank, and TD Bank). Before joining the PA Human Relations Commission, Carrie's career path with the Commonwealth consists of being an Accounting Assistant under Audits for the PA Office of Budget-Bureau of Payable Services, a lateral position as an Accounting Assistant for PA Exec. Offices, Bureau of Payable Services, Vendor Data Management unit. In 2015 Carrie moved on to Audits and Processing for the Commonwealth, under the Office of Administrative Services-Executive Offices Purchasing and Payment Accounting Division, where she first became associated with the PHRC Agency as a partner. As of October 2019, Carrie Peace Simmons is the Executive Administrative Assistant to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. 

Carries Educational background also surrounds 15+ yrs. around the medical profession as a licensed CNA, Certified Adult Phlebotomist, and Med-Tech (Currently holds a casual position within UPMC to date). Ms. Peace Simmons was Born and raised in Paterson, NJ; moved to the State of Pennsylvania in 2008, Proud Alma mater of John F. Kennedy HS, Katharine Gibbs College, University of Phoenix, and Penn State Harrisburg.   

Outside of PHRC Carrie enjoys life with her two sons (Amir Peace and Amar Simmons), Volunteer’s within youth sports (Football), Caring for others through the Medical Field, Writing, Fashion Photography/modeling, Family time, and Cooking. 

My goals in life is to every day continue to lead by example; not by a title given and to continue to encourage myself and others to be better person than we were the day before, both personally and professionally.                  

My greatest achievement is my Education, balancing two careers while being a Mom.

​

​

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
 

Robin S. Toma is Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations Commission, appointed in 2000. He also serves as the head of the Human Relations Branch holding the position of Assistant Director of the Department of Community and Senior Services, County of Los Angeles. Under his leadership, the agency is working to transform prejudice into acceptance, inequity into justice, and hostility into peace. By building community capacity and focus in key areas, racialized gang violence has been lessened. Through demonstration projects in high schools, the power of integrating human relations strategies into school campuses has brought about greater inclusion, harmony, reduced fighting and conflict, and improved academic performance. The Commission’s signature annual report on hate crime in the county has shown a long-term trend downward in hate crime until recent years, while the Commission has invested in hate violence prevention community partnerships and training peacemakers through the countywide dispute resolution program.

​

His published writings include A Primer on Managing Intergroup Conflict in a Multicultural Workplace, Day Laborers Hiring Sites: Constructive Approaches to Community Conflict (co-author with Jill Esbenshade), and he contributed a piece on racialized gang violence in the book Uncommon Common Ground: Race and America’s Future.

​

Robin serves as First Vice President on the board of directors of the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies (IAOHRA), and was President of and is on the Board of the California Association of Human Relations Organizations (CAHRO). He’s been a Senior Fellow at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs since 2009 and had the privilege to be part of Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government’s Executive Session on Human Rights Commissions and Criminal Justice (2006-2008), and the Kellogg National Fellowship/Leadership Program (1994-97). He was appointed by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to serve on the California State Advisory Committee (2012 to present) and helped create and serve on the L.A. Unified School District’s Commission on Human Relations, Diversity, and Educational Equity. He served three years on the national interim leadership team of the Within Our Lifetime Network for Racial Equity and Healing.

​

In August 2014, Robin spoke in Geneva on the review of the U.S. Government’s compliance with the treaty to eliminate racial discrimination (CERD) and was an invited adviser to the Obama Administration’s delegation to the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva, for the U.S. first-ever presentation on its human rights record as part of the United Nations’ Universal Periodic Review process in November 2010. He was also invited to serve on the official U.S. Delegation to the U.N. World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa, in 2001.

​

Robin is the son of Americans of Japanese and Okinawan ancestry; his mother and her family spent World War II imprisoned in the U.S. internment camps solely because of their Japanese ancestry. Robin’s paternal grandfather was an immigrant Okinawan sugar cane plantation worker in Maui. Robin grew up in the Echo Park/Silver Lake neighborhoods of L.A., attending LAUSD public schools. He received a B.A. with highest honors in Sociology and honors in Economics from the University of California at Santa Cruz, and a J.D. degree and M.A. degree in Urban Planning from UCLA. Robin is fluent in Spanish, having studied and worked in Barcelona for two years, and was a teacher in L.A.’s public schools.​

​

Prior to working at the Commission, Robin was a staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Southern California for almost 7 years and litigated a wide range of human rights and civil liberties cases in federal and state courts.

​

 

MEMBERS-AT-LARGE​

 

Paul M. Booth is a seasoned public sector manager with extensive public policy and legislative experience. 

Booth has extensive knowledge of local government operations having served in several positions for the city of Cincinnati. He is currently division manager in the City of Cincinnati Office of Human Relations and formerly served on the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission and sat on Cincinnati’s City Council. 

​

He also worked for more than 20 years in property management before he was appointed by the then-Governor of Ohio to the State Personnel Board of Review. In 2009, he was appointed vice-chair of the State's Liquor Control Commission and previously served as a special assistant in the First District Congressional Office of Ohio.

​

Booth is committed to community service and improvement, serving on numerous boards and holding a variety of appointed leadership positions with agencies across the Cincinnati region.

​

Some of these organizations include the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, the Dan Beard Council, Boy Scouts of America, and the Ronald McDonald House. He currently sits on the Board of Trustees of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and on Interact for Health's Community Innovation Committee.

​

Booth earned a Bachelor of Arts in business administration from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga.

Booth and his wife, Cynthia, have two sons and one granddaughter.

Cleveland Horton serves as Deputy Director of the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights, serving the citizens of the State of Maryland as one of the leaders of the state’s leading civil rights agency.  In this capacity, Mr. Horton is responsible for establishing and maintaining strategic partnerships and overseeing MCCR’s investigative efforts throughout the state. 

 

Throughout his years of experience as a leader in civil rights and fair housing, Cleveland has gained a keen understanding of the importance and impact that civil rights and equity for all individuals has on the community at large.  Most notable his recent work with the Baltimore Regional Partnership on the Regional Assessment of Fair Housing.

​

Cleveland Horton is a graduate of the Community College of Baltimore County with an Associates of Arts Degree in Business Administration Specializing in Human Resources Management. Mr. Horton went on to continue his education at the University of Baltimore obtaining both a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and a Master’s Degree focusing on Human Resources Management.  

 

Mr. Horton is the owner of The Homes by Horton Group, a real estate consulting firm that assists potential buyers and sellers achieve their financial goals and dreams of homeownership. He is also the owner and CEO of Venture Property Management which helps individuals and organizations develop and maintain residential real estate portfolios. 

​

A strong connection to his community is extremely important to Cleveland as he participates in various civic and community groups. Mr. Horton is currently working on establishing a non-profit that will help transition homeless families out of homelessness and into hopefulness.  

Jean Kelleher has been Director of the City of Alexandria’s Office of Human Rights since May 2000. Before that, she was a Managing Attorney at Legal Services of Northern Virginia, the region’s legal aid program.  Ms. Kelleher graduated from Connecticut College, did postgraduate work at Georgetown, and received her law degree from the Washington College of Law at American University. She has been a litigator and an administrator of pro bono, lawyer referral, and chil¬dren’s law programs. In 2007 she became a Certified Public Manag¬er through the George Washington University/COG (Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments) Institute for Excellence in Public Leadership. She serves on the City Manager’s Management Team and on the City Council’s Legislative Committee. She is a Past President of the Alexandria Bar Association, served on the board of directors of the Bar Foundation, and has represented Alex¬andria on the Virginia State Bar Council and Executive Committee.  Ms. Kelleher currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria.  In 2021 she was selected as a Fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation, recognized for the promotion of public understanding of the law, the encouragement of excellence in the delivery of legal services and the improvement of the administration of justice.

 

JoAnn Kamuf Ward is the Deputy Commissioner for Policy and External Affairs at the NYC Commission on Human Rights. Prior to joining the Commission, Kamuf Ward directed the Human Rights in the U.S. Project at the Columbia Law School Human Rights Institute, where she focused on promoting the use of a human rights framework to strengthen racial, gender, and socio-economic justice, and strengthening government accountability.  She has written about U.S. human rights policy on Just Security, the Human Rights at Home Blog, and Politico, and co-authored How the Trump Administration's Efforts to Redefine Human Rights Threaten Economic, Social, and Racial Justice for the Columbia Human Rights Law Review in 2019. JoAnn lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and two daughters.

 

 

REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES
 

Atlantic Region

 

James L. Stowe serves as the Executive Director of the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights. Mr. Stowe is a native of Belmont, North Carolina.  Jim and his family relocated to Montgomery County Maryland to serve as the 4th Director of the Office of Human Rights. The agency, established in 1960, provides leadership to the people of Montgomery County and works toward eliminating racism/discrimination; identifying and resolving community tensions; and educating the citizens about cultural diversity.  These efforts culminate in our goal of Creating a Culture of Service and a Climate of Fairness and Inclusion.

The office has a rich legacy of human rights advocacy and professional competency and continues today as one of the premier civil and human rights agencies in the nation. Under Jim’s leadership the Office has set it sights on even greater engagement in the community and heightening professional standards for all involved with the office. 

 

Jim has been instrumental in developing new program initiatives and re-positioning the office for success in the 21st Century. These programs include increased emphasis in enforcement productivity and competency which led to the agency becoming fully certified with the EEOC Fair Employment Practices Agency Program, renewed emphasis in fair housing which led to fair housing continuing educational credit program for realtors, apartment managers and other housing providers as well as increased enforcements efforts through the Interagency Fair Housing Coordination Group to insure that all barriers to fair accessible housing for everyone are removed; new initiatives to combat the incident of hate violence activities through the Committee on Hate Violence and the convening of a county wide symposium on "Bullying in Schools" and a forum on Post 911 Issues and Concerns within the Muslim and Sikh Community; the Community Friendship Picnic and an increased effort in outreach activities with the Montgomery County Human Rights Commission to convene public forums on Racial Profiling, the Criminal Justice System and The Digital Divide, a response to the Trayvon Martin shooting; and an increase in programming for youth with an expansion of the Human Rights Youth Camp for 5th Graders, Human Rights Day Observance for all school levels and the Civil Rights Educational Freedom Tour which is for the entire community. Mr. Stowe is a member of several community organizations and works with these programs and activities throughout Montgomery County. The agency continues to evolve as the needs and demands of a growing diverse county shift and change. The agency remains however committed to the long-held principles of fairness and equal justice under the law.
 

Midwestern Region Representative 
 

Mitzi Bolaños Anderson is the Director of the Des Moines Civil and Human Rights Commission. New to the Midwest, Mitzi moved to Des Moines from Anchorage, Alaska, where she was the Executive Director and Staff Attorney at the Anchorage Equal Rights Commission. Prior to that, Mitzi served as an Attorney and Mediator at the Alaska State Commission for Human Rights. Mitzi is passionate about creating systemic change, and specifically working with employers to update policies that create more inclusive workplaces for all employees. 

​

Mitzi received her J.D. from Florida International University, with a certificate in Latin American and Caribbean Studies. She is originally from Miami, Florida, of Cuban descent, and a native Spanish speaker. Mitzi also has an LL.M. degree in Animal Law and served on the Anchorage Animal Control Advisory Board for several years, contributing to significant changes in local law to strengthen animal welfare provisions, and has a TEDx talk on breed neutral legislation. 
 

​

Southern Region Representative

​

Jeffery D. Lorick serves as Director of the Pinellas County Office of Human Rights, where he has been employed since July 2016. As a dedicated Civil Rights Leader, Mr. Lorick serves as a confidential point of contact for employees to communicate with management, identifies clarification on issues or dilemmas, reports irregularities, identifies compliance issues that require follow-up or investigation, and conducts diversity and inclusion training for Pinellas County. Mr. Lorick has demonstrated a fierce commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion.

​

Mr. Lorick has been the keynote speaker for national and international civil rights conferences speaking on topics such as Fair housing as well as cultural diversity. He currently provides a safeguard for the civil violation as well as the social, and economic liberties of the citizens of Pinellas County and surrounding communities. 

Before joining the Office of Human Rights in Pinellas County, Jeffery served as Director of the Human Rights Commission in Terre Haute, Indiana for ten years.

​

Mr. Lorick is a highly respected human rights leader, characterized as having strong entrepreneurial skills, and leadership team-building skills.  He is a great leader who possesses a clear vision, is courageous, and has integrity, honesty, humility and a clear focus.
 

Updated March 2023