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United States Commission on Civil Rights
February 2025 Newsletter
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U. S. Commission on Civil Rights to hold Public Briefing on Language Access for Individuals with Limited English Proficiency | |
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The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will hold a briefing on Friday, March 21, 2025, to examine the extent to which language barriers impact access to government services and healthcare for individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP). The investigation will explore how government agencies and recipients of federal funding provide language access, the challenges of language access, and best practices for improving language access.
“The Commission is dedicated to ensuring that all individuals can access the resources they need to thrive. Millions of Americans rely on government services and federally funded programs, yet too many face barriers simply because English is not their first language. This briefing will help identify solutions and reinforce our commitment to breaking down language barriers so that no one is excluded from access to essential services.” - Chair Rochelle M. Garza
"Today, 25.7 million or 8% of people ages five or older living in the U.S. are LEP. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects LEP Americans and longstanding federal guidance has helped to ensure equitable access to government services and federally funded programs for all Americans, including LEP persons.” - Commissioner Glenn D. Magpantay.
At this public briefing, the Commission will hear from subject matter experts such as language access researchers and attorneys, federal and state government officials, community advocates, and impacted persons. The Commission will accept written materials from the public for consideration as we prepare our report; submit to languageaccess@usccr.gov no later than April 21, 2025.
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ADVISORY COMMITTEE HIGHLIGHTS | |
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U.S. Commission on Civil Rights appoints Members for State Advisory Committees
On February 21, 2025, the U.S Commission on Civil Rights held a business meeting where the Commissioners voted on and approved the new appointments of members for eight State Advisory Committees. The Advisory Committees that were appointed are Maryland, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Virginia.
The following are the newly appointed members in their respective Advisory Committees.
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Maryland:
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Kendra Brown, Chair
- Shawna Bray
- GianCarlo Canaparo
- Debra Carr
- Tamara Chisler
- John Dreiband
- Jonah Daniel Hornum
- Abbe Jolles
- Lewan Jones
- Jennie Bradley Lichter
- Melinda Maddox
- Caroline Moore
- Delano Squires
- Angela (AJ) Swinson
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Michigan:
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Roland Hwang, Chair
- Nedra Campbell
- Adam Candeub
- Dan Corrigan Grano
- Donna Harrison
- Jon Hoadley
- Brandy Lovelady Mitchell
- Shant’l Olovson
- Matthew Preston
- Thomas Rheaume
- Brett Swearingen
- Ravi Yalamanchi
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Montana:
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Kendall Cotton, Chair
- Christian Corrigan
- Josh Denniston
- Joan Hoff
- Emily Jones
- Darrell LaMere
- Jordann Lankford
- Twila Old Coyote
- Dale Schowengerdt
- Jessica Wilkerson
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New Jersey:
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Robert George, Chair
- Daniel Di Martino
- Kevin Jackson
- Erica Jedynak
- Nathan Link
- John Londregan
- Chanel Porchia-Albert
- Glenn Ricketts
- Miranda Safir
- Saulo Santiago
- Amol Sinha
- Sherrod Smith
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New York:
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Stephen Pogue, Chair
- Wai Wah Chin
- Heather Crosley
- Jamil Dakwar
- Sania Khan
- Rafael Mangual
- Hannah Meyers
- Peter Nguyen
- Irene Villaseñor
- William Wagstaff
- Randy Wayne
- Lawson Wright
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Oklahoma:
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Andy Lester, Chair
- Logan Churchwell
- Sharica Cole
- Adam Doverspike
- Moises Echeverria
- Brett Farley
- Robert Gifford
- Stephen Henderson
- Jennifer Lepard
- Charity Marcus
- Mbilike Mwafulirwa
- Joshua Stockton
- Anh Tran
- Joy Turner
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Rhode Island:
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Elena Shih, Chair
- Alero Akporiaye
- Donnie Anderson
- Ramona Bessinger
- Luigi (“Lou”) Bradizza
- Robert Chiaradio
- Giovanni Cicione
- Kevin DeJesus
- Lucia Delaroca
- Faith Jean
- Patricia Morgan
- Gregory Mundy
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Patricia Sarantakes
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David Strachman
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Virginia:
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Alison Somin, Chair
- David Bernstein
- Brandon Butler
- Lacette Cross
- Maureen Edobor
- Daniel Greenberg
- Timothy Griffin
- Brandon Hasbrouck
- Eric Lin
- Nelson Lund
- Princess Moss
- Beth O’Connor
- Linda Oh
- Marlene Sallo
- Adam Schulman
- Raul Danny Vargas
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State Advisory Committees Actively Recruiting
for Members
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The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is currently seeking to recruit Members for its bipartisan State Advisory Committees, who serve as the Commission’s eyes and ears on the ground across the country. Our Advisory Committees conduct investigations, hold fact-finding hearings, and produce reports that advise the Commission on pressing civil rights issues specific to their jurisdiction. Recommendations from Advisory Committee reports often affect policy change at the state or local levels.
The Commission is actively recruiting for members from:
The Commission is especially interested in appointing individuals who have a demonstrated interest in civil rights, and the equal protection of the law in the administration of justice. We seek individuals who can approach these issues from diverse personal and professional experiences and from various points of view. Diverse perspectives provide members with the opportunity to work on various civil rights issues such as voting rights, algorithmic discrimination, mental health services in the juvenile justice system, employment discrimination, property seizure, and many more. To view the complete lists of Advisory Committee reports, visit: Advisory Committees Reports | U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
Interested applicants can learn more about the State Advisory Committees on the Commission’s website: Advisory Committees | U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
To submit an application, visit: Advisory Committee Membership | U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
For additional questions about membership on an Advisory Committee, please contact David Mussatt, Supervisory Chief of Regional Programs, at dmussatt@usccr.gov.
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Puerto Rico Advisory Committee Virtual Panels on Access to Federal Programs and the Role of Race in Relationship with U.S. Government | |
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The Puerto Rico Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will hold a series of virtual panels focusing on access to federal programs and the role of race and ethnicity as part of its study on the Insular Cases and the Unincorporated Territory Doctrine and its effect on the civil rights of residents of Puerto Rico. The events will include testimony from experts on this topic from diverse perspectives.
Panel 1: Perspectives on the Structure and Organization of Federal Programs in Puerto Rico
Date/Time: Thursday, March 6, 2025, 3:30 p.m. AST
Zoom Details: https://tinyurl.com/yrn6nuzt; To join by phone: 1-833-435-1820; 161 520 5472 #
Panel 2: Perspectives on the Access to Federal Programs in Puerto Rico
Date/Time: Thursday, March 13, 2025, 3:30 p.m.
Zoom Details: https://tinyurl.com/4tw79h3v; To join by phone: 1-833-435-1820; 161 507 0797 #
Panel 3: Perspectives on the Role of Race and Ethnicity in the Relationship between Puerto Rico and the Federal Government
Date/Time: Friday, March 14, 2025, Noon AST
Zoom Details: https://tinyurl.com/57zxdw69; To join by phone: 1-833-435-1820; 160 855 2315 #
Event Page:
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/cu/eqWg8mF/PRAdvisoryCommittee
NOTE: Spanish interpretation will be available via Zoom.
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UPCOMING COMMISSION MEETINGS
The Commission meets to conduct agency business on civil rights matters. Pursuant to the Sunshine Act, meetings of official business of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights are open to the public, with the exception of executive sessions, which may be closed pursuant to the exemptions of the Sunshine Act.
Click the link for more information and view documents under heading Commission News:
View Commission Events
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UPCOMING STATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS
The Commission establishes Advisory Committees in every state, the District of Columbia, and the five U.S. territories. These committees serve as the Commission’s eyes and ears on the ground and advise the Commission regarding civil rights matters in their locales. All Advisory Committee meetings are open for public attendance.
Interested in attending an Advisory Committee meeting?
View Meeting Notices
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U.S. COMMISSION ON THE SOCIAL STATUS OF BLACK MEN AND BOYS | |
February is Black History Month, and this year’s theme is, “African Americans and Labor” | |
Research conducted by the U.S. Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys (CSSBMB) shows continued economic disparities affecting Black men’s equal participation in the labor market. Employment disparities, inequitable wages, racial inequalities, and increased unemployment rates are a few of the challenges still impacting Black men’s ability to succeed in the workforce. CSSBMB identifies and promotes innovative solutions to address these inequities, expand access and opportunity for Black men and boys, and grow the nation’s economy to better compete in domestic and global markets. Learn more: bit.ly/4dyyd2z. Celebrate Black History with CSSBMB. | |
U.S. Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys (CSSBMB) Links to Know: | | |
The Civil Rights Act of 1957 created the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Established as an independent, bipartisan, fact-finding federal agency, our mission is to inform the development of national civil rights policy and enhance enforcement of federal civil rights laws. We pursue this mission by studying alleged deprivations of voting rights and alleged discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin, or in the administration of justice. We play a vital role in advancing civil rights through objective and comprehensive investigation, research, and analysis on issues of fundamental concern to the federal government and the public.
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