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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
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

Founder, RePair Consulting
Amy Meek

Civil Rights Bureau Chief, Illinois Attorney General’s Office
Mona Noriega

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

Note that the Commission on Hate Crimes and Discrimination will include 21 members total. Additional members are currently completing the appointment process and will be announced soon.