Equity And Restorative Practices Manager Position Created In HoCo

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The county has tapped its first equity and restorative practices manager, naming Dr. Denise Boston of Baltimore to the position. This is a permanent role within the office of human rights and equity, and will be responsible for identifying any practices or policies needed to ensure equity, recommend and implement training and competency-building, and develop strategic community partnerships.

"Dr. Boston’s position was created specifically to identify practices or policies needed to ensure equity and develop strategic community partnerships centered around this work. Understanding the huge undertaking of this position, we ensured Dr. Boston would be able to make a long-term impact by establishing it in the office of human rights and equity. We have the opportunity to be a model for other jurisdictions and set a precedence of continued evolvement and growth," Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said in a statement.

Boston brings more than 20 years of experience in administration and leadership, assessment management, grant writing and institutional strategic planning in reinforcing the values of social justice, equity, inclusion, belonging and multicultural global diversity. She also has extensive experience teaching trauma-informed care, expressive arts therapy and cultural identity. Boston has been a visiting professor at Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea, and Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China.

“I was very impressed with Dr. Ball’s vision for Howard County where racial and socioeconomic equity will be given significant considerations when planning and developing policies and practices that impact public services, programs and initiatives,” Boston said in a statement. “I am also excited to take on the equity and restorative practices manager position and looking forward to joining Yolanda Sonnier and the office of human rights and equity.”

Kui Zhao, Human Rights Commission member, said the newly created position is important because it "highlights the county's commitment to ensuring that everyone is able to thrive and have equal opportunity for housing, employment, healthcare, transportation, recreation, education and civil rights."