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Jeanine Donaldson is first female chair of OCRC

COLUMBUS: Last week, the Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC), in partnership with Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann and the YWCA of Columbus, hosted a reception in honor of the first female appointed as chairperson of The Ohio Civil Rights Commission, Jeanine P. Donaldson.

At the event at the YMCA, OCRC Executive Director G. Michael Payton stated, “We respect and admire Chair Donaldson's leadership and vision and her well-known life-long devotion to public service and equal justice for all.”

Joining Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann for the presentation honoring Chair Donaldson were Alex Shumate OSU Board member and managing partner of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P. Columbus; and sister OCRC Commissioner Grace Ramos.

Jeanine Donaldson

OCRC's longest tenured Commissioner Grace Ramos, who opened the reception, spoke of the importance of this day and that we must continue our work to bring about equality for women. She stated that she has seen many positive changes under Chair Donaldson's leadership and presented a resolution in support of Chair Donaldson and this momentous occasion from Representative Joyce Beatty.

Alex Shumate, longtime friend of Donaldson and committed community leader, spoke of her past and how even as a young woman, she began making history, becoming the first black cheerleader at Sandusky High School . He said that he regarded Chair Donaldson as "not just leader in Ohio, but a leader of America ."

Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann spoke of partnership. Working with the OCRC to “increase consequences for those who trample on the rights of people," and to “expand the list of people who are protected by our laws to be more reflective of our community." On the appointment of Chair Donaldson as the first female Chairperson of the OCRC, Dann said, "This is just the beginning. We are going to make history in Ohio."

Donaldson, surrounded by her family, thanked everyone for their support, and outlined key issues that she would like to pursue such as pay equity for women, expanding the protections of pregnancy leave, further exploration of SB 41, and other barriers to employment for women and minorities. She closed her comments with a promise: "that civil rights will be celebrated and not just tolerated in the state of Ohio.”

Grace Ramos

Ms. Donaldson, a native of Sandusky and resident of Lorain, currently serves as the Executive Director of the YWCA in Elyria, Ohio . She is also the vice president of the Lorain Board of Education and a trustee of the Lorain Community Health Partners.

She has served on various boards and commissions such as the Lorain county Urban League, Elyria Memorial Hospital , Lorain Count Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Board, and the City of Lorain Fair Housing Board . Ms. Donaldson is a graduate of Oberlin College and pursued graduate studies at Baldwin-Wallace College.

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