History
The Bucks County Human Relations Council (BCHRC) was formed as an outgrowth of the Violence Prevention Task Force (VPTF) force established by the Bucks County Commissioners in May, 1995 with Bill Eastburn as Chair. The VPTF Master Plan was adopted on May 23, 1996. Strategy 6 of the Master Plan read: “Create a sense of community and foster leadership development in all our neighborhoods.” Objective 4 of Strategy 6 read: “Establish a county-wide council dedicated to ending discrimination based on age, race, color, gender, religion, creed, culture, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, ancestry, handicap, or disability.” The first meeting took place on January 22, 1997. Rea Boylan Thomas elected Chair, Ernestine Johnson elected Vice-Chair. Other Council Members are Queen Sumbler, Chris Whitney, Nelson Torres, Bernadette Heenan, Gilbert Ridley, Rev. Alfred Krass, Police Chief Joseph Stine, and Bernard Hoffman.
Structure
There are three permanent members of the BCHRC, the three sitting Bucks County Commissioners. The Council serves as the Board of Directors of the BCHRC. The BCHRC is a 501(c)(3) federally registered non-profit. All contributions are tax deductible.
Meetings
Monthly meetings are held the fourth Wednesday of every month except November and December. There is no meeting in November. The December meeting is on the second Wednesday. Below is the 2025 Meeting Schedule:
Please inform us if you plan to attend by sending us an e-mail at : Info@BCHumanRelations.org
Current Council Members 2025
Joyce A. Hadley, Chairperson
Joyce has been a member of BCHRC since July 2013. She retired from Verizon Communications, as a Presidential Appeals Consultant. Joyce attended Temple University and received a B.A. in Journalism. She was elected to the Bensalem School Board (1997-2001) and formerly served on the board for the following organizations: Family Service Association of Bucks County, Vice-President and Secretary for the Bucks County NAACP, The Peace Center, and Vice-Chair of the Bensalem Democratic Organization. Joyce is an Associate with the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and is a member of the Sisters’ Social Justice Committee. Joyce serves on the Program Committee and President’s Council for Cranaleith Spiritual Center.
Joyce received the following awards; The Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Award from Bensalem High School, The Legends in Peace Award, from The Peace Center, and Annual Al Krass Peace Award, from The Interfaith Community of Bucks County.
Joyce strongly believes that a diverse and inclusive society makes America great. She grew up in Concord Park, the first planned integrated community in the United States, founded by Morris Milgram in 1954.
Seema Kazmi, Pharm.D, Deputy Chair
Dr. Seema Kazmi grew up in Falls Township and obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy degree, Magna Cum Laude from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. Dr. Kazmi is a licensed pharmacist in six states and has held positions in pharmacy management, managed care, public service and pharmaceutical industry with over 15 years in the field. Currently, Dr. Kazmi servies as Bucks County Director with the BucksMont Pharmacist Association. She also serves as a Consumer reviewer and consultant to the US Department of Defense for Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs.
Dr. Kazmi is an ardent advocate for her patients and fellow citizens at the federal and state levels of government in Harrisburg, PA and on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. She has done volunteer grassroots advocacy work with the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, and the Every Life Foundation for rare diseases, NIH funding, initiatives to end youth vaping, and health equity. Moreover, Dr. Kazmi has volunteered her time on the planning committee for the ADA Tour de Cure to fund raise for diabetes research and summer camps for children.
Dr. Kazmi was part of the inaugural 2018 class of the NAACP Next Gen Leadership Program and is a member of the NAACP. She was a panelist on the Pennsylvania NAACP forum on the “Future of Civil Rights Advocacy” and has presented on “Voting and Civic Engagements for Millennials of Color.
Keith Pacheco, Treasurer
Keith is retired from full time work as an IT consultant for NCR and Teradata Corporation. He has been active in the peace movement in Lower Bucks County for nearly 30 years including a member of the board of directors and past president of The Peace Center. Keith now works part-time Treasurer of United Christian Church – Levittown. He shares Nonviolent Communication, a method of communication that fosters everyone’s needs being met. Keith has a BS in Liberal Arts & Sciences from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Temple University. He is a life member of the NAACP and an active member of United Christian Church and has two favorite daughters.
David Boekel, Member
Melissa Cornick, Member
Mary Theresa González, PhD, PMHCNS, BC, Member
Dr. González is a first generation American, originally from St. Louis, MO, and a 43-year resident of Newtown Borough in Bucks County, PA. She is a former Chairperson of the Newtown Borough HRC and current member of the Tri-States HRC. With earned degrees from St. Louis University (BSN, PhD) and Case Western Reserve University (MSN), Dr. González has held positions in advanced practice nursing, healthcare administration, mental-health research, education, medical and scientific writing, clinical consultation, and medical-legal consultation. She continues a private clinical practice of psychotherapy, healthcare management, and medical-legal consultation in Newtown. Among her special interests are human rights, anti-discrimination, the study of perception, truth, and facts, and eco-welfare.
Mary Jane Leonard, Member
Alex Rajan, Member
Alex works in Information Technology for a Retail Health Care Company. He has worked in IT for over 30 years. Early in his career, Alex served as a Diversity Awareness Facilitator/Trainer for a US Fortune 100 company. The organization sent him across the country to deliver the corporation’s position on Diversity and Inclusion. The training impacted him professionally and personally. After having their first child, Alex and his wife became Foster/Adoptive Parents to their second child. Alex has a BSBA from Boston University and an MBA from Rutgers University.
Vitaliy Velenchuk, Member
Mr. Velenchuk was born in Ukraine, to a family with strong core values of treating everyone as you yourself would like to be treated. His father was a Pastor, with a strong faith, who set a wonderful example in serving others, which became Mr. Velenchuk’s legacy and mission to carry on for his Father.
Mr. Velenchuk immigrated to United States at the age of 22 for a better life, and became a United States citizen. Growing up in Ukraine under the communistic and socialistic rule, he experienced first- hand many hardships, but with determination and hard work, it all resulted in the achievement of the American dream. At the age of 25, with his two brothers, Mr. Velenchuk created a successful family business. His responsibility involves managing all the financial affairs, since the company’s inception 19 years ago.
Mr. Velenchuk’s experience with living under harsh communistic and socialistic rule, shaped his views on government, and he passionately yearned for better life. Mr. Velenchuk currently holds a Commissioner position at the Department of Human Rights Defense at the United Nations, which entrusted him with the stewardship & observance of human rights all over the world, to help maintain justice, equity, and dignity for all. His community is dear to his heart, and he hopes to contribute to its wellbeing by serving and helping others.