County Executive’s Nominees For Human Relations Commission Confirmed By Council

UPPER MARLBORO, MD – Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson’s nominees for the Human Relations Commission won unanimous approval by the County Council during a confirmation hearing today.  Two members were reappointed, while nine new members were confirmed.

“The blend of dedicated public service and expertise demonstrated by these individuals will prove to be an asset to the commission and I am pleased that they have agreed to serve in this capacity,” Johnson said.

People chosen to work on the Human Relations Commission investigate complaints of discrimination and work towards eliminating discrimination in the county through advocacy, education and mediation.

Samuel Fontaine and Claudette Bennett are being reappointed to the commission, while  Jennifer Harris, Brenda Bennett,  Martha Crenshaw,  Kimberly Alsobrooks,  Kwon Hu,  Matthew Puracken, Robert McGrory, Cela Gomez-Showell and Jamel Franklin are new appointments.

Fontaine resides in Lanham and serves as a program manager for the National Park Service and has 33 years of experience with the federal government.  He serves as an adjunct professor at Bowie State University in the Graduate School of Professional Studies.  He also currently serves as the Chairperson for the Human Relations Commission.  Fontaine received a Bachelor’s Degree from American University, a Master’s Degree from Bowie State and is pursuing a Ph.D. at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Dr. Bennett currently serves as the Chief of the Racial Statistics Branch, Population Division, of the United States Census Bureau.  A resident of Fort Washington, Bennett received a Bachelor’s Degree from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and a Ph.D. from Howard University. 

Harris, a resident of Accokeek, is a Health and Community Education Specialist with the City of Alexandria, where she manages communications and outreach on the services of the Office on Women.  She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Systems Technology from Cornell University and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from George Mason University.

Brenda Bennett, who resides in Upper Marlboro, serves as a Project Manager where she organizes annual conferences, seminars and meetings related to national defense.  She previously held a position as a EEO Assistant and Counselor with the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board.  She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from the University of Maryland.

Crenshaw also resides in Accokeek, has 22 years of experience in human resource, personnel and administrative management.  She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Savannah State and a Master’s Degree in Administrative Education from National University.  She is currently pursuing her doctorate degree in Educational Leadership.

Alsobrooks currently serves as a Budget Analyst for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.  She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.  She currently resides in Bowie.

Hu has lived in Bowie since 1997 and he currently serves as the pastor of the Jonah Presbyterian Church in Landover Hills.  He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts from the Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea and earned his Ph.D. in Theology from Yuin University in Compton, California. 

Puracken is a Property Administrator for Northrop Grumman.  He serves as a volunteer with the Prince George’s County Public Schools, Leadership 2000.  He currently resides in Mitchellville.

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