On October 3, 2016, Chair and Commissioner Mona Noriega and the staff of the Chicago Commission on Human Relations (CCHR) welcomed Attorney Matthew Lango as the new Deputy Commissioner of the Adjudication Division. In this capacity, Lango will oversee the investigation and adjudication of discrimination complaints filed with CCHR. Lango previously worked as a Supervisory Attorney for LAF (formerly the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago) where he supervised and directed LAF's employment practice group. Lango currently serves as the Executive Board President of the Illinois Chapter of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA/Illinois).

Noriega stated, "We are very happy to have Matt join our team. His experience in employment law and background in representing clients most affected by bias and discrimination will be key in helping the CCHR develop and implement new strategies to fight discrimination and educate the public about the protections offered under the Chicago Human Rights and Fair Housing Ordinances. His commitment to serving the most vulnerable in our city will further enhance the CCHR's efforts to protect the civil rights of all of our residents."

The CCHR is also pleased to announce the appointment of Michelle Shang to its Board of Commissioners effective October 5, 2016. Commissioner Shang is the President and CEO of the education management firm, Asian American Advisory Council. All board and advisory council appointments are made by Mayor Emanuel and confirmed by the City Council. The following board members were also approved for reappointment:

• Julio Rodriguez, Director of Program Services, Illinois Office of Employment and Training
• Ray J. Koenig III, Member (Equity Partner), Managing Member, Clark Hill P.C., Chicago Office
• Rochelle Grimbau, Principle, Law Office of Rochelle Grimbau
• Joanna Borowiec, Network Director, Allied Health Care Career Network

In addition to the appointments to the Board of Commissioners, two new members were appointed to the CCHR's Advisory Council on Equity:

• Shaan Trotter, Director of Administration, Lurie Cancer Center of Northwestern Hospital
• Ricky Lam, Manager of Employment and Training, Chinese American Service League

The following members of the Equity Council were also approved for reappointment:

• Mark Rodriguez (Chair), Chief Operating Officer, Elements Holdings Group, and Subsidiaries
• Okab T. Hassan, Principal, Peck Elementary School
• Julianna Gonzalez-Crussi, Director of Housing Counseling, LUCHA
• Edwin Chandrasekar, Deputy Director, Center for Asian Health Equity
• Alia J. Bilal, Director of Community Relations, Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN)
• Darlene G. Attiah, Associate Professor of Biology, Wilbur Wright College
• Hicham Zerhouni, Translator, Cross Cultural Trainer and Consultant, TransCultures LLC
• Rev. Zaki L. Zaki, District Superintendent, Chicago Northwestern District, United Methodist Church
• Maurice A. Sone, President, Law Offices of Maurice A. Sone
• Lilliam A. Perez, Lead Learn and Excel Senior Implementation Advisor, The Ounce of Prevention Fund
• Grace Okorie-Eric, Principle, Law Offices of Grace Okorie-Eric

Noriega commented, "We are very grateful to Mayor Emanuel for these important appointments. Our board and advisory council members bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and most of all community input to the work of the CCHR and enhance our efforts to reach out to all of the city's diverse communities."

The CCHR enforces the Chicago Human Rights and Fair Housing Ordinances by investigating and adjudicating complaints of discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodations, credit, and bonding. Persons who feel they have been discriminated against in Chicago because of membership in one or more of the following sixteen (16) protected classes may file a complaint with the Commission: race, sex, color, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, parental status, military status, source of income, credit history (employment complaints only), and criminal history (employment complaints only). A complaint must be filed within 180 days of the alleged discrimination, and may be filed in person at the Commission on Human Relations located at 740 N. Sedgwick, 4th Floor, by mail, or by email. Complaint forms may be downloaded from the Commission's web page at www.chicago.gov/humanrelations. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. New complaints are taken until 3:00 pm.

Under the City's Hate Crimes Law, the CCHR also advocates for victims of hate crimes. The agency also employs pro-active programs of education, intervention, and constituency building to discourage bigotry and bring people from different groups together. For more information, contact the Commission at 312.744.4111, or go to www.chicago.gov/humanrelations.

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