Erie County Council appointed nine members of its new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Commission during its meeting Tuesday.

The commission will be responsible for $3.5 million in American Rescue Plan funding.

The members of the commission’s inaugural board are:

  • District 1 - Darrell Thorpe
  • District 2 - Tiffany LaVette
  • District 3 - Gwendolyn White
  • District 4 - David Gonzalez
  • District 5 - Denise Pekelnicky, Esq.
  • District 6 - Matthew Harris
  • District 7 - Sarah Carter MD
  • CE 1 - Gerald Blanks
  • CE 2 - Dr. Adrienne Dixon

Three members will have a 2-year term, three will have a 3-year term, and three will have a 4-year term. The term lengths for each member will be determined through the drawing of lots. The commission must also elect officers and approve bylaws, which will take at least a few meetings.

No immediate meeting dates are set.