Erin Baker serves as Chair of the City of Toledo Human Relations Commission (HRC) which endeavors to support a safe, energetic and livable city. HRC supports residents working to overcome prejudice and build mutual respect through its free mediation program and the work of its four committees focusing on community and neighborhoods, social justice, stop the violence and youth empowerment and engagement. Currently, Erin is the Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for the Toledo Lucas County Public Library. Previously, she served as the Coordinator for Organizational Learning and Manager for Kent Branch Library. Her past professional experience includes working at The University of Toledo as Assistant Director for Business and Marketing, Associate Director for Upward Bound as well as Assistant Director for Residential Marketing and Communication at Bowling Green State University. Before working in higher education, she served as a Project Manager for MORE Mentoring and as an Analyst for Owens-Illinois, Incorporated. Erin received her Bachelor of Science from Northwestern University and Master of Business Administration from University of Notre Dame. In addition, she is the President of the Toledo (OH) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, Co-Chair for the Northwest Ohio Northwestern University Alumni Admission Council, serves on the Habitat for Humanity Women Build Committee and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. As a Toledo native, Erin fully embraces the slogan “you will do better in Toledo” and truly believes we all do better in Toledo libraries. Impactful service is at the heart at everything she does as Erin is passionate about giving back to the community through resources and purposeful programming.

Nina Corder is originally from Malaysia but has resided in Toledo for almost 25 years. Nina earned both her Master's and Bachelor's Degree from the University of Toledo and post-doctorate of education (EdD) in organizational leadership from Northcentral University. Nina founded and currently serves as the Managing Director of a nonprofit, Inclusive for Women Inc DBA Women of Toledo since 2013. In the past, Nina has served as a member of the White House Council for Women & Girls under Obama Administration and in 2016/2017 appointed by the United Nation (UN) Women’s Empower Women Initiative as Global Champions for Change. Her accomplishment include recipient of the region 2021 Jefferson Award, 2019 Big Ideas of the Toledo City Paper, and 2017/2018 Business Networking International (BNI) of Northwest Ohio Jim Knott Community Service Award. Currently, she serves as HRC Executive Committee Member as the 1st Vice Chair with a goal to support other members and committees, with an opportunity to mentor and inspire each other for the betterment of our community-at-large.

Born and raised in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to parents of Indian origin, lived in India for 4 years, Shyam has called Toledo, OH, home since 2001, where he lives with his three dogs, Rami, Maya, and Shay. He has dedicated his career to community development, enabling people to realize their full potential.

A certified human resource professional, Shyam is the Chief Organizational Development Officer at Anne Grady Services, where he provides leadership and oversight of the human resources, training, volunteer, and development departments. He has served at Anne Grady for 15 years in various capacities. Previously, Shyam served as the Director of Operations-Urgent Care at ProMedica in Toledo, OH, where he managed the overall operations of 7 Urgent Care sites.

Shyam is a John Maxwell certified coach, teacher, trainer, and speaker. He is also the Founder and CEO of Prime Consultancy, LLC, with a mission to support the development of organizations and their people.

He currently serves on the Children's Theatre Workshop board and co-chairs the Women of Toledo's HeforShe Campaign, a solidarity movement for advancing gender equality initiated by the United Nations. He serves as a member of the Holland Springfield Chamber of Commerce Business Council and the Springfield Local Schools Business Advisory Council. He is also a member of the Northwest Ohio Human Resource Association and the Society for Human Resource Management.

An accomplished dancer, Shyam is the Company Director and principal choreographer of the Toledo-based Aha Dance Company, whose mission is to raise social awareness of Indian culture and women's issues and empowerment through performance art.

He is a graduate of Leadership Toledo's Signature Program, a National Board of Clinical Counselors 2022 master's Fellow, and a counselor resident at the Willow Center in Toledo, OH.

He has Bachelors of Arts in Communication from the University of Toledo and has a Master of Organizational Leadership from Lourdes University. Shyam is pursuing a Master of Arts in Counseling from Spring Arbor University.

For the past two decades, Penny has been focused on bringing effective programming to teens, building active community coalitions and providing a spark for activism in Toledo. Penny’s professional career has been dedicated to developing and growing youth programming in Toledo and Northwest Ohio. Penny has coordinated substance abuse prevention programs, worked with families and youth in a faith-based setting, and served as Development Manager for Junior Achievement of Northwestern Ohio. Most recently, she has served as the Youth Development Director for the YWCA implementing a variety of evidence-based positive youth development programs in Toledo Public Schools. Penny has a BA in Psychology and a certification to teach secondary English Language Arts.

Penny has chaired a variety of youth and community coalitions. She has organized and led the YWCA Unity March (a sister march for the Women’s March) and supported Toledo youth to organize the Toledo March for Our Lives. One of her greatest passions is empowering community members to take action and collectively have a positive impact, and she is excited to bring that passion to the Human Relations Commission in order to create a better Toledo for everyone.

Raina Dawson is an advocate in the Housing and Community Economic Development Practice Group with Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. (ABLE), a position funded by a grant from the Greater Toledo Community Foundation ProMedica Junction Fund. As a recent graduate of the University of Toledo College of Law, she simultaneously earned a Master of Business Administration degree and was very involved in community organizations such as the Morrison R. Waite American Inn of Court, The Toledo Women’s Bar Association, and the Thurgood Marshall Law Association, where she currently serves as the Vice-President. As a result of her dedication to both academics and community outreach, she earned the 2019-2020 Dean’s Award from the College of Law, which honors the graduating student who has made the most significant contribution to the college while maintaining high academic performance.

Raina is a lifetime Toledo resident. She attended TPS from K-12 and is TPS Proud! She is very active in the community and serves as the Mediation Chairperson for the City of Toledo Human Relations Commission. She loves Toledo and is looking forward to serving the community with intentionality and purpose.

Michael Alexander, born and raised in Toledo, graduate of Jesup W Scott High School and an Ordained Deacon of United Vision Baptist Church, is currently the Labor Liaison with the United Way, a proud member of UAW of Local 12 and the first Vice President in the Toledo Branch NAACP. He serves on many boards and committees including the Lucas County Library Board of Trustees, United Way of Greater Toledo, African American Leadership, NHA and Toledo Early College High School. Michael is currently the Co-Chair of the Community and Neighborhoods Committee for the Human Relations Commission.

Michael has been recognized with awards from The African American Legacy Project as a Emerging Leader, the Community Leadership award from the Toledo Branch NAACP and The Labor Leadership award by the Coalition of Black Trade Unionist (CBTU), Toledo Public Schools and others.

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?”

-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Jon Dorcely is the Manager of Outreach & Engagement for United Way of Greater Toledo. He takes pride in volunteering and enjoys collaborating with other community-focused individuals. He was born in Silver Spring, Maryland and was raised in the Metro Detroit area before attending Bowling Green State University and receiving a bachelor’s degree in Marketing.

Jon currently serves as the City of Toledo, Human Relations Commission, Community & Neighborhoods Subcommittee Co-Chair and a Welcome Toledo-Lucas County Steering Committee member. In 2021, Jonathan became a HeForShe ambassador, a program that encourages men to contribute to the growth and development of young women.

Ron Wells Jr. serves as a Co-Chair for the Social Justice sub-committee. He has called Toledo home since 2008 when he arrived to become a student at the University of Toledo. Ron is a practitioner of public health and wellness. He believes the goal of leaders should be to foster the conditions so that everyone can live to their best potential His diverse career path has included positions in healthcare, education, and community organizing. Ron currently works for the Board of Lucas County Commissioners and is enrolled at the University of Toledo in the Public Health Education Ph.D. program.

Creating positive change in the workplace and community is Meredith Campbell’s calling. As a bisexual woman living in Toledo, her impact includes serving as Treasurer of Equality Toledo, providing Ally Training on behalf of the organization, and representing the group as co-chair of the City of Toledo’s Human Relations Commission Social Justice Committee. She also brings her service, skills, and perspectives to the Northwest Ohio LGBTQIA+ Business Alliance. The impact Meredith makes relates to the training and education she provides on the topics of employee resource groups, the LGBTQIA+ Community, and allyship. In 2020 she started the first ever Employee Resource Group at Libbey Glass, and in 2022 she received recognition for her impact with the Ohio Diversity Council's LGBTQ+ Leadership Award.

A former University of Toledo Track and Field athlete, she now plays rugby and uses her accounting skills to support the team as Treasurer. When she’s not on the pitch, the stage, or behind a computer screen, Meredith enjoys time with her husband of 17 years, and three dogs Azul, Chief, and Togo.

Joe Peterson is a proud 2001 graduate of the elite learning institution Jesup Wakeman Scott High School. He has spent nearly 20 years engaging, motivating, and inspiring Toledo’s youth. As the Community Hub Director at Scott High School, he is committed to the vision of making his community safe and healthy, where everyone has the opportunity for growth and success. Mr. Peterson also does not believe in having a long bio because he affirms that the focus should be on the work that needs to be completed, not the work that has already been done.