COLUMBUS, Ind. — Two new Human Rights Commission members have been appointed by the Columbus City Council. at the
Graciela Spencer was appointed by the council to a term of one year, expiring on March 31, 2025. This seat is filling the remainder of an open term. Joseph Joyner was
appointed by the council to a full term of three years, expiring on March 31, 2027.
Spencer is a Bilingual Student Success Coach at Ivy Tech Community College
in Columbus. She has a master’s in mental health counseling from IU-
Columbus and a bachelor’s in psychology from the Universidad de las Americas-
Puebla. Some of her recent work includes providing professional development
training to faculty and staff at the Air Park Campus. Some topics included creating
an inclusive environment for multilingual students, financial aid for
Latino/Hispanic students, barriers to international students, and reasonable
accommodations for limited English-proficient students. Spencer and her family
relocated to Columbus in 2010. While here, she has worked with Family School
Partners in Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp and VIM Care Clinic,
assisting Spanish-speaking individuals. She is highly engaged in the Latino/Hispanic community and looks forward to educating underrepresented residents about the mission of the Human Rights Commission.
Joyner is the Human Resources Generalist at the Bartholomew County Public Library. He is passionate about creating a welcoming and supportive environment for library staff and the community. He has a bachelor of fine arts degree from Columbia College Chicago. He has in-depth knowledge of anti-discrimination laws and has participated in investigations of ethical violations and discrimination throughout his professional career. He has the following certifications: Mental Health First Aid, LGBTQ+ Safe Leader Certification, and
SHRM-CP. His community involvement includes Cummins Pride Employee Resources Group, and It’s Okay Mental Health Committee. He is interested in working with the most vulnerable residents to provide support through his experiences and education.
The Columbus Human Rights Commission has been serving the community since 1962. The mission of the Commission is to lead Columbus in building and maintaining an inclusive community by enforcing the Human Rights Ordinance, educating the public, challenging attitudes and systems that create barriers to equality (equity), and empowering community members to advance the mission.
The City of Columbus Municipal Code states that the council shall appoint persons residing in Bartholomew County to serve on the Human Rights Commission for three year, renewable terms, “serving without compensation and broadly representative of the community’s diversity.” For over 30 years, the council has chosen an open application process for the Human Rights Commission. Any community member who wishes to serve on the commission may submit a completed application. Applications are then reviewed
by the council member serving as a liaison to the Human Rights Commission. The current City Council liaison is Frank Miller.
