Advisory Groups, Authorities, & Commissions
News & Events - James B. Hunter Human Rights Awards
Arlington announces the 2011 James B. Hunter Human Rights Award
The James B. Hunter Award recognizes sustained commitment and /or outstanding accomplishment in the area of human rights made in Arlington by an individual, community group, non-profit organization or business and is named in memory of a former Arlington County Board Member who spent his years in public service working on behalf of those with little or no access to government.
Keynote Speaker, the Honorable Mary Margaret Whipple
About the 2011 Winners
Buckingham Youth Brigade (community group)
The Buckingham Youth Brigade is a youth group that works to improve the academics of young people and to help them develop critical skills for becoming the next generation of community leaders in a diverse and multicultural community.
Bob Witeck
Born in Arlington, Bob Witeck is a Yorktown High school graduate who is a nationally known advocate for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender rights in the business community. In 1993, Mr. Witeck founded the Washington, D.C.-based Witeck-Combs Communications firm with Wes Combs, and began providing LGBT counsel to corporations. Mr. Witeck and his firm have worked with many corporations and with the U.S. Census on outreach, respect and policies toward LGBT persons. He describes the focus of his counsel as working “to ensure (companies) model all of their policies and practices in such a way to be leaders in inclusion and acceptance – and to enhance their employment, marketing and supplier policies across-the-board.” With Wes Combs, Mr. Witeck wrote “Business Inside Out,” one of the first books to teach about LGBT marketing and corporate citizenship.
James Scruggs
A managing attorney for Legal Services of Northern Virginia, James Scruggs has worked tirelessly to prevent homelessness caused by unnecessary evictions, illegal lockouts, illegal utility cut-offs, or discrimination based on mental or physical disability. He has worked with the County’s Hoarding Task Force.
Pauline Ellison
Pauline Ellison has served as an outstanding volunteer in Arlington County for decades. Her service has included stints on the County’s Equal Employment Opportunity Advisory Commission, where she has served since 1989, the County’s Civil Services Commission, both as a member and as chair, the Board of Directors of Arlington Community Television, and the County’s Classification and Pay Committee. Ms. Ellison also was a delegate for six years to the Inter-Service Club Council. In 1986, Ms. Ellison was named Arlington’s “Woman of the Year.” Ms. Ellison was the first Black woman to be named employee relations officer at the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, and the first Black woman to serve as director of personnel for a federal agency. She founded the Northern Virginia Chapter of Jack and Jill, a social group for black youth that emphasizes community involvement.
