The Human Rights Watch Chicago Committee, formed in 2004, is part of a global network of regional support committees composed of opinion leaders from a variety of backgrounds. The committees constitute an informed and engaged constituency that is essential for the defense of human rights. They seek to increase awareness of local and global human rights issues and enlist the public and governments to support basic rights for all. Committee members meet regularly to learn about human rights crises and policies and support Human Rights Watch through outreach, advocacy, and fundraising initiatives.

Members of the Chicago Committee strengthen Human Rights Watch by contributing financially to its work, attracting potential supporters, and promoting the organization’s message and concerns locally. Membership in the Human Rights Watch Chicago Committee provides an inside perspective on the most pressing human rights issues of the day. The Committee is focused on outreach, education, and advocacy with fundraising responsibility in Chicago. Members are asked to attend Committee meetings, participate regularly in Committee events, and join a subcommittee.

Chicago Committee

Austin Baidas, Co-Chair
Dia S. Weil, Co-Chair

Executive Committee
Terri Abruzzo*
Mitchell Cobey*
Howard R. Conant, Jr.
Judy Gaynor*, Founding Co-Chair
Dedrea Gray*
Paul L. Gray
Paul Ingersoll
Rakesh Madhava
William F. Mahoney*
Marilla Perkins
Sheridan Prior
Sheila Roche*
Karen Salmon*
Shalini Sharma*

Ellen Stone Belic
Marjorie Benton
Susan Berkowitz
Aileen Blackwell
Steve Bynum
David K. Callahan
Elizabeth Cicchelli*
Fay Clayton
Linda Burns Coleman
Dolores Connolly
Judy Cottle
Susan Crown
Douglas Curtis
Margaret Duncan*
Janice Feinberg
Mimi Frankel
Jill Garling
Monica George
Carolyn Grisko*
Anne Geraghty Helms
Rhona Hoffman
Kyle Johnson
Tony Karman
John Lee
Julie Lepri
Amalia Perea Mahoney
Susan Manilow*, Founding Co-Chair
Gary Metzner
Priyanka Motaparthy
Grace Newton*
Christine Fernandez Owen
Jennifer Pope
Mala Shah
Anne Studzinski
G. Marc Whitehead
Judy Wise

*Chair Emeriti
Jonathan F. Fanton, Founding Member

Associate Director: Jaime Gutshall
Senior Coordinator: Adia Alli