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Commission Composition

The fully-appointed CDHC consists of a chairperson and 20 additional members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Commission is complemented by an Executive Director and other CDHC staff positions housed within the Illinois Department of Human Rights.

Leadership

Elana Kahn

Executive Director, Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes 

Appointed Leadership

James (Jim) Bennett (Chair)

Director, Illinois Department of Human Rights
Hilda Bahena

Associate Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County
Marcia Balonick

Ex-Officio, Senior Advisor for Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs (JACPAC)
Anita Banerji

Senior Director of Strategy and External Relations, Funders’ Committee for Civic Participation
Cindy Buys

Professor of Law, Southern Illinois University School of Law
Mitchell R. Davis III

Chief of Police for the Village of Hazel Crest, IL
David Goldenberg

Midwest Regional Director, Anti-Defamation League
Melineh Kano

Executive Director, RefugeeOne
Brendan Kelly

Director, Illinois State Police
Rabbi Seth M. Limmer

Director of Public Affairs, PERIL

Founder, RePair Consulting
Amy Meek

Civil Rights Bureau Chief, Illinois Attorney General’s Office
Jenan Mohajir

Vice President of External Affairs, Interfaith America
Mona Noriega

Community Activist,

Former Chair, Illinois Human Rights Commission
Grace Pai

Executive Director, Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Chicago
Channyn Lynne Parker

CEO, Brave Space Alliance
Jason Rosensweig

Director of Legislative Affairs and Policy, Illinois Department of Human Rights
Dr. Dilara Sayeed

President, Illinois Muslim Civic Coalition
Marvet Sweis

Trial Attorney, Taxman, Pollock, Murray & Bekkerman, LLC
Karen Tamley

President and CEO, Access Living
Molly Uhe-Edmonds

School Principal, North Mac School District #34

According to the Illinois Compiled Statutes (20 ILCS 4070/), the CDHC consists of a chairperson and 20 additional members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The membership may include, but is not limited to, persons who are active in and knowledgeable about the areas of law enforcement, the criminal and civil justice systems, education, human rights, business and industry, arts and culture, social services, and religion.

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