In the November 2021 municipal elections, the voters of Greenbelt passed Referendum number 2094 directing the City Council to create a 21-person commission to review, discuss, and make recommendations related to reparations for African American and Native American residents of Greenbelt. The question passed with a vote of 1,522 in favor and 910 against.  

The City Council interviewed and selected Commissioners in December 2022, and in February 2023, the Commissioners met for the first time. To date, the Commission has selected three members to act as rotating co-chairs. Other appointments include a secretary, a parliamentarian, a communications team, and librarians. The Commission also created three sub-committees to act as working groups: the Historic Exploration Committee, the Education Committee, and the Facilitation Committee.  

The Commission is governed by Robert’s Rules of Order, the Maryland Public Information Act, the Open Meetings Act, and the City of Greenbelt’s Code of Conduct for Advisory Board and Committee Members.  

Key Resources 

Resolution No. 2094 (passed in the November 2021 election) 

Presentation to the City Council about reparations during the March 9, 2022 City Council Work Session. A Video of the work session is available here, and the PDF of the presentation is available here.  

City Council Meeting Minutes held March 28, 2022 whereby the Council voted to pass the motion to establish a Reparations Commission as favorably voted upon by the residents of Greenbelt. Video of the meeting is available here.  

Form: Application For Appointment to the Greenbelt Reparations Commission (application deadline was August 31, 2022) 

“City Council Names Members of Reparations Commission,” Greenbelt News Review (Dec. 22, 2022) 

Reparations Commission Report (page 31) to update the City Council, reviewed and approved by the Council at the October 9, 2023 meeting. The video of the City Council meeting is available here. 

“Reparations Commission Update,” Greenbelt News Review (Nov. 23, 2023), page 2 

Meetings 

Plenary meetings of the Commission are scheduled monthly from 7 PM to 8:30 PM on the third Tuesday of every month (subject to change to accommodate holidays and other extenuating circumstances). The meetings take place in a hybrid format, over Zoom and at the City Council Chambers at 25 Crescent Road Greenbelt, MD 20770. The public is welcome to attend the meetings in-person or online. There is time allocated for public comments and questions at the end of each meeting.  

In addition, boards and committees hold special meetings and hearings as necessary. Information about plenary meetings and special hearings will be posted in the Greenbelt News Review and on this page.  

Agendas & Minutes 

February 9, 2023, at 7 PM - The first meeting of the Commission was an informal meet-and-greet in the City Council Chambers (and over Zoom) to enable Commissioners to meet each other and members of the City Council. No official Commission business was discussed, so there was no agenda distributed ahead of the gathering and written minutes were not taken.   

March 14, 2023 at 7 PM, Agenda available here; Meeting Minutes available here. 

April 19, 2023 at 7 PM, Agenda available here; Meeting Minutes available here. 

May 16, 2023 at 7 PM, Agenda available here; Meeting Minutes available here. 

June 21, 2023 at 7 PM, Agenda available here; Meeting Minutes available here. 

July 18, 2023 at 7 PM, Agenda available here; Meeting Minutes available here. 

August 16, 2023 at 7 PM, Agenda available here; Meeting Minutes available here.

September 19, 2023 at 7 PM, Agenda available here; Meeting Minutes available here. 

October 17, 2023 at 7 PM, Agenda available here; Meeting Minutes available here. 

November 1, 2023 at 7 PM, Agenda available here; Meeting Minutes available here. 

November 14, 2023 at 7 PM, Agenda available here; Meeting Minutes TBD.   

December 19, 2023 at 7 PM, Agenda TBD. 

The agenda for upcoming meetings will be posted with the listing on the Meetings Calendar. The minutes for each meeting can be found in the sidebar to the left under Minutes Archive. 

Upcoming Events 

The Commission is planning public educational sessions to inform and get feedback from the community. The location, time, and topic of these sessions will be advertised in the Greenbelt News Review and posted on this page.  

Membership 

On December 12, 2022, the City Council appointed 21 members to the Commission as well as two alternates. The original list of appointed Commissioners and alternates is available here.  

Currently, the individuals who are actively serving on the Commission include:  

Tom Adams; Chelsea Barnes; Rhema Bjorkland; Gail Crichlow; Francis DeBernardo; Lorena Ferdinand; Joseph Hamlin; Adriane Harris; Chiquita Jackson; London McCloud; Mark Miller; Shabnam Mojtahedi; Denise Nadasen; Robert Rand; Lois Rosado; Rene’ Sewell-Raysor; Jonathan Taylor; Sarah Wampler; James Williams, Jr.; Mark Wilson 

Staff Liaison 

Megan Searing Young, M.A. – Director of the Greenbelt Museum - myoung@greenbeltmd.gov   

The liaison advises the Commission on matters related to the Council and City Government. She attends meetings, organizes logistics for meetings, and leads tours of the Greenbelt Museum for Commissioners as needed. To ensure the independence of the Commission, the liaison does not participate directly in the group’s deliberations, nor does she vote on matters during meetings.  

Request for Proposals 

Reparations Commission RFP for Consultant Support (closed on Aug. 11, 2023) - The purpose of this RFP was to secure a consultant to partner with the Commission in setting goals, getting organized, agreeing on how to operate, and creating a strategy for achieving those goals. 

Contact 

The Reparations Commission welcomes engagement and questions from the public. To contact the Commission, please email myoung@greenbeltmd.gov.