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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 15, 2002
PR-267-02
www.nyc.gov


MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENTS
TO THE NEW YORK CITY COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS


Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced 11 new appointments to the New York City Commission on Human Rights. Joining the Commission are Reverend Dr. Calvin O. Butts III, Matt Foreman, Dr. Edison O. Jackson, Rabbi Haskel Lookstein, Grace Lyu-Volckhausen, William Malpica, Omar T. Mohammedi, Bryan Pu-Folkes, Lisa Quiroz, Jenny Rivera and Susan R. Scheer. They join Commissioners Derek Bryson Park and Marta B. Varela who are currently serving on the panel. The New York City Commission on Human Rights is charged with enforcing Title 8 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York, the New York City Human Rights Law, which prohibits discrimination and bias. Commissioner Patricia L. Gatling serves as the Chairperson.

"This City has one of the nation's most comprehensive civil rights laws," said Mayor Bloomberg. "These distinguished Commissioners will play a vital role in protecting New Yorkers from all forms of discrimination and assist Commissioner Gatling in vigorously enforcing the law and underscoring my Administration's commitment to human rights."

"I am proud to live in a City where our Mayor is such a powerful advocate for eradicating discrimination," said Commissioner and Chair of the Commission on Human Rights Patricia L. Gatling. "These appointees are truly representative of the City's diversity and are well recognized leaders in their respective communities. The Commissioners will bring new energy and ideas that will be an important part of our mission."

Reverend Dr. Calvin O. Butts III is the Pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church and one of the founders of the Abyssinian Development Corporation as well as the President of the State University of New York College at Old Westbury. He is President of the Council of Churches of the City of New York and Vice-chair of the Board of Directors of the United Way of New York City. Dr. Butts received an M.A. from Union Theological Seminary and his Ph.D. from Drew University.

Matt Foreman is an attorney who specializes in nonprofit organizations and is currently a graphics consultant for FADesign. Foreman was Executive Director of the Empire State Pride Agenda from 1997-2001. He recently served on Mayor-elect Bloomberg's Transition Committee. Previously, he was Executive Director of the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project. Mr. Foreman received his B.S. from West Virginia Wesleyan College and earned his J.D. from the New York University School of Law.

Dr. Edison O. Jackson is currently the President of Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn. Previously, he was President and Superintendent of Compton Community College in California. Dr. Jackson received his B.S and M.A. from Howard University and earned his Ph.D. from Rutgers University. Dr. Jackson formerly served on the New York City Board of Education.

Rabbi Haskel Lookstein has been Rabbi of Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun since 1959 and Principal of the Ramaz School since 1966. Rabbi Lookstein is a Professor of Homiletics at Yeshiva University, Vice President of the Beth Din of America and a member of the Board of Directors of the Joint Distribution Committee. He received his B.A. from Columbia College and earned his Ordination, M.A. and Ph.D. from Yeshiva University.

Grace Lyu-Volckhausen is President of the Tiger Baron Foundation and currently serves as Senior Advisor to City Council Member John Liu. Lyu-Volckhausen is a founding member of Koreans for Civic Action (KALCA), Coalition of Korean American Voters (C-KAV) and Black-Korean American Mediation Project. She earned both her M.A. and Ph.D. from New York University.

William Malpica is an attorney at Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw, where he practices corporate and securities law. Malpica counsels the National Board of the NAACP on a pro bono basis. Malpica received his B.A. from SUNY Albany and his J.D. from Fordham University.

Omar T. Mohammedi is an attorney who specializes in employment discrimination and corporate and real estate transactions. Previously, he worked as an attorney with the National Muslim Merchants Association, and the law firms of Anderson, Kill, & Olick and Sherman & Sterling. He serves as President of the 9/11 Coalition for Constitutional & Human Rights, President of the New York Area Muslim Bar Association and serves as General Counsel to the Council on American-Islamic Relations. He received an LL.M. from Fordham University School of Law and from Cambridge & Warwick University School of Law in England.

Bryan Pu-Folkes is the Director of the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest's Private Bar Involvement Programs and Founder and President of New Immigrant Community Empowerment. He is a Board Member of the Coalition for Asian American Children & Families and Queens Community Planning Board #8, as well as a New York State Independent Judicial Screening Panelist. Pu-Folkes received his B.A. from Queens College and his J.D. from the New York University School of Law.

Lisa Quiroz is the founding publisher of PEOPLE en Español magazine. Previously, she successfully launched and planned two award-winning classroom news periodicals including Time for Kids. Quiroz has been named one of the "100 Most Influential Hispanics" by Hispanic Business and serves on the board of the Hispanic Federation and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund Institute. She received both her B.A. and MBA from Harvard University.

Jenny Rivera is an Associate Professor of Law at the CUNY School of Law and is a lecturer at the New York County Lawyers Association Continuing Legal Education Institute. Previously, Rivera served as an Administrative Law Judge at the New York State Division on Human Rights and was Associate Counsel for the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund. She received her B.A. from Princeton University, her J.D. from New York University and her LL.M. from Columbia University.

Susan R. Scheer is the Director of Disability Services for Columbia University. She has served as Executive Director of the Center for Independence of the Disabled in New York Independent Living Services, Assistant Deputy Advocate for Research and Investigations in the Office of the Public Advocate as well as Deputy Director/Chief of Staff for the Office for People with Disabilities in the New York City Office of the Mayor. Scheer received her B.A. from Yale University.

The commissioners, who are appointed to a three-year term and serve in a non-salaried position, will assist the Commissioner and Chair of the New York City Commission on Human Rights in addressing issues of discrimination citywide.

 

www.nyc.gov

Contact: Edward Skyler / Lark-Marie Antón
(212) 788-2958
Betsy Herzog (Human Rights Commission)
(212) 306-7530