Current Members

Chair

Commission Chair, LINDA MINICH, Jefferson City – Linda worked for Northwestern Energy for 26 years as a Journeyman Meterman specializing in metering technology and metering installations at sub stations and commercial sites.  Linda has a BA, English Literature, from the University of Iowa and a Masters in Education from the University of Montana.  Linda is a member of the ACLU, the Montana Human Rights Network and the Montana Book Award Committee.  (Appointed February 2009.) Email Linda at: chairmhrc@ymail.com

Members

RABBI ALLEN SECHER, Whitefish - Allen was ordained as a Reform Rabbi by Hebrew Union College in 1961 and received his doctorate in Humane Letters in 1987.  As a Freedom Rider and participant in Dr. Martin Luther King's nonviolent civil rights movement during the 1960s, Allen was jailed in Albany, Georgia, after leading a prayer service to integrate the town library.  Allen founded the Jewish Catholic Dialogue Group in Chicago and has been involved in the National Conference of Christians and Jews and other interfaith groups.  Allen was the communications director for the Jewish Federation of Chicago and has been a radio commentator and award-winning television producer.  (Appointed February 2005.) Email Allen at: sech36@gmail.com

MARIA E. BELTRAN, Worden - Maria is the managing attorney of the Migrant Farm Worker Law Unit of Montana Legal Services.  She started as an outreach worker in 1982 and worked up to paralegal.  While employed by Legal Services, she attended Eastern Montana College and graduated with a degree in secondary education in 1986.  In the fall of 1987, she attended law school in Missoula and graduated in 1990.  Maria pursued her education after her children were in high school.  She lives in Worden, a town within the Huntley Project, east of Billings.  (Appointed January 2007.) Email Maria at: mrbeltran69@gmail.com

CYNTHIA L. WOLKEN, Missoula – Cynthia is an attorney in private practice in Missoula and was recently appointed to serve on the Missoula City Commission.  Cynthia specializes in program and policy issues and works for various political and nonprofit organizations.  A 2005 graduate of the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Cynthia clerked with a Missouri state senator before working for Montana Legal Services representing battered immigrant women with petitions under the Violence Against Women Act.  Cynthia is the current chair of the Board of Directors of the Montana Human Rights Network and a member of the board of Working for Equality and Economic Liberation.  (Appointed February 2011) Email Cynthia at: cynthia.wolken@gmail.com

LUCY SIMPSON, Helena - Lucy is a staff attorney with the Indian Law Resource Center in Helena.  She attended Stanford University as an undergraduate and received her law degree from the University of Colorado School of Law.  Lucy is a member of the Helena Indian Education for All Advisory Board and is licensed to practice law in Montana, the U.S. District Court of Montana and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.  (Appointed February 2011) Email Lucy at: mthrcsimpson@yahoo.com

DUSTIN HANKINSON, Missoula - Dustin is a 36-year old man with man with Muscular Dystrophy. He is currently the Chairperson for the Missoula County Democrats. Dustin has also been a disability advocate for a decade. He served on the Montana Governor's Disability Advisory Council from 2005-2007. He has been on the BOD of the Montana Protection and Advocacy entity, Disability Rights Montana. He served on several disability grant oversight committees, and advocates before the Montana Legislature every session. dhankinson@bresnan.net