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Human and Civil Rights Commission

Upcoming meeting

Date: Wednesday, February 18th, 2026

Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Teams Meeting Link

https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/2293409838121?p=45ugslDX1HxBmh33eW

Meeting ID: 229 340 983 812 1

Passcode: Ng73b85Z

Public Comment

Individuals and organizations must register in person or by email to hcrc@kingcounty.gov to provide public comment by 5:55 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Public comment will occur at the start of the meeting.

  • Individuals: Up to three (3) minutes
  • Groups of five (5) or more: Up to ten (10) minutes total

Comments must be directed to the Commission, not individuals, and must be respectful and germane to the Commission’s work and agenda.

About the Commission

The Human and Civil Rights Commission (HCRC) plays a pivotal role in advising the King County Executive, King County Council, and the public on implementing policies that advance human and civil rights. Our mission is to strengthen antidiscrimination ordinances, support equity goals, and ensure that all county residents are treated fairly and justly.

The HCRC was established by King County in June 2024 by Ordinance 19770 (codified at K.C.C. 2.31.020). This Commission is a continuation of the County’s work and dedication to equity and justice, evolving from King County Affirmative Action Committee that was established in 1976 to the King County Civil Rights Commission in 1995.

Key Duties

  • Advising on Policy – Recommend ways to strengthen anti-discrimination policies and address historical inequities.
  • Engaging with Communities – Gather input from historically disadvantaged groups to inform county decisions.
  • Reviewing Civil Rights Protections – Assess the effectiveness of current laws and recommend improvements.
  • Monitoring Policy Impacts – Ensure County policies promote fairness and do not disproportionately harm marginalized communities.
  • Supporting Equity Efforts – Provide input on legislation, equity plans, and resource allocations to advance justice.
  • Crafting Annual Reports – Prepare annual reports for the Executive and Council on commission activities, progress, and plans including recommendations on commission independence, Civil Rights Program compliance analyses, and the Program’s placement within the Executive branch.

Members

Name Position  Contact Information
Betelhem Michael Vice-Chair HCRC1@kingcounty.gov
Emily Huynh Commissioner HCRC2@kingcounty.gov
Allison Hastings Secretary/Historian HCRC3@kingcounty.gov
Jacob Joens-Poulton Commissioner HCRC4@kingcounty.gov
Jennifer Karls Co-Chair HCRC6@kingcounty.gov
Mona Jaber Commissioner HCRC7@kingcounty.gov
Bishop Steven Sawyer Commissioner HCRC8@kingcounty.gov
Daisy Wong Co-Chair HCRC9@kingcounty.gov
Vanessa Sanchez-Mexicano Commissioner HCRC10@kingcounty.gov

Term

For the initial commission formation, five commission positions shall have initial terms of three years, three positions shall have initial terms of two years, and the remainder of the positions shall have initial terms of one year; terms will be determined by randomized methods.

At the conclusion of the initial term of each appointment, all subsequent terms of each position shall be for three years.

Time Commitment

Commissioners can expect a time commitment of about five (5) hours per month for the first year as it develops its annual report and recommendations to the Executive Office and Council. Meeting cadence is once a month.

Compensation

Non-government-employed commissioners receive a $75 stipend provided for each monthly commission meeting monthly to reduce financial barriers for involvement in the commission as well as travel expense reimbursements (e.g. mileage, bus ticket, etc.).