DC Commission on Human Rights (DCCHR) and the Office of Human Rights Announce Award Recipient

Monday, October 19, 2009

Wade Henderson has been named as the recipient of the Second Annual Cornelius R. “Neil” Alexander Humanitarian Award.

The District of Columbia Commission on Human Rights and the District of Columbia Office of Human Rights are proud to announce that Mr. Wade Henderson, Executive Director of the Leadership Council on Civil Rights, is the recipient of the Second Annual Cornelius R. “Neil” Alexander Humanitarian Award.

The Award
The Cornelius R. “Neil” Alexander Humanitarian Award celebrates the efforts and accomplishments of individuals who have made significant contributions in the field of human or civil rights and to improving the quality of life in the District of Columbia.

Neil Alexander was the Chief Hearing Examiner for the DC Commission on Human Rights, from 1987 until his untimely death in 2007. Neil was widely recognized as an expert in discrimination law and a leader in the fight for social justice. With an extensive knowledge of discrimination law, he wrote numerous legal decisions in cases that received regional and national attention.

The 2009 Recipient: Wade Henderson
Since 1996, Wade Henderson has served as president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) and counselor to the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund (LCCREF).

Mr. Henderson also served as the first Joseph L. Rauh, Jr., Professor of Public Interest Law at the David A. Clarke School of Law, University of the District of Columbia. Mr. Henderson is well known for his expertise on a wide range of civil rights, civil liberties, and human rights issues. He works principally in the areas of civil rights enforcement; voting rights; public education reform; fair housing policy; immigration policy reform; media and telecommunications policy; economic and political empowerment for people of color, women, persons with disabilities, and the poor. Under his leadership, the LCCR has become one of the nation’s most effective defenders of federal affirmative action policy and one of the strongest advocates for passage of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

Mr. Henderson is a graduate of Howard University and the Rutgers University School of Law. He is a member of the Bars in the District of Columbia, New Jersey and the United States Supreme Court.

The Award will be presented at the annual International Human Rights Day program December 10, 2009.