Established pursuant to Senate Bill 776/House Bill 552 (2026) | Effective July 1, 2026
About the Commission
Between the 1870s and 1941, hundreds of Black children — some as young as five years old — died while confined at the House of Reformation and Instruction for Colored Children, a state-supported facility in Cheltenham, Prince George's County. Their graves remain largely unmarked on the grounds of the former institution, adjacent to the manicured Cheltenham State Veterans Cemetery.
The Commission on the House of Reformation and Instruction for Colored Children has four statutory purposes: to research the history, operations, and resident deaths at the House of Reformation in Prince George's County; to provide a complete and public accounting of the children who died and were buried on the grounds; to promote healing and reconciliation through truth-telling, acknowledgment, and recommendations for systemic reform; and to ensure descendant and community voice throughout the investigation and reconciliation process. To carry out that charge, the Commission will direct and oversee forensic anthropological and archaeological surveys, historical research, location and documentation of graves, identification of individuals through forensic analysis and DNA testing, and genealogical outreach to descendants.
The Commission was established by Senate Bill 776, effective July 1, 2026, and is chaired by Attorney General Anthony G. Brown. It is tasked with submitting an initial report to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2027, and a final report by December 31, 2029.
Commissioners
The Attorney General, or the Attorney General's designee
|
| Anthony G. Brown, Attorney General of Maryland, Chair
|
One member appointed by the President of the Senate of Maryland | | Senator William C. Smith, Jr.
|
One member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates
| | Delegate Jeffrie E. Long, Jr.
|
The Director of the Maryland Historical Trust, or the Director's designee | | Elizabeth Hughes, Director
|
The Secretary of Veterans and Military Families, or the Secretary's designee | | Deputy Secretary Jimmy Anderson
|
The Chair of the Prince George's County Planning Board of the Maryland–National Capital Park and Planning Commission, or the Chair's designee | | Amelia Chisholm, Archaeology
Planner II
|
The Secretary of Juvenile Services, or the Secretary's designee | | Tiana Davis, Executive Director of Office of Equity and Inclusion
|
The Chief Archaeologist of the Maryland Department of Transportation's State Highway Administration, or the Chief Archaeologist's designee |
| Steve Archer, Division Chief - Program Manager, Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration
|
The State Archivist, or the State Archivist's designee
| | Elaine Rice Bachmann, State Archivist
|
The Secretary of General Services, or the Secretary's designee | | Nashona Kess, Deputy Director of Government and Legislative Affairs
|
The Chair of the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture, or the Chair's designee | | Dr. Kali-Ahset Amen, Chair
|
The Executive Director of the Gibson–Banks Center for Race and Law at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, or the Executive Director's designee | | Professor Michael Pinard, Francis & Harriet Iglehart Professor of Law, The Honorable William H. Murphy Jr., Faculty Director, Gibson-Banks Center for Race & the Law, and Director, Clinical Law Program
|
The Prince George's County Executive, or the County Executive's designee | | The Honorable Aisha Braveboy County Executive, Prince Georges County
|
The Secretary of Human Services, or the Secretary's designee | | Gloria Brown Burnett, Deputy Secretary for Operations
|
The State Superintendent of Schools, or the Superintendent's designee
| | Peter Ramsey Director of Social Studies, Division of Instructional Programs Maryland State Department of Education
|
Public Members
One descendant of a child buried at the site, a former resident of the House of Reformation, or a former justice-involved youth
| Phyllis Hammond
Niece of Amos Hammond
Resident of the House of Reformation and Instruction for Colored Children
|
One academic expert in forensic anthropology, archaeology, African American history, or other related disciplines
| Siobhan Summers, Ph.D.
Faculty Specialist
Department of Anthropology
University of Maryland, College Park
|
One representative from a historically Black college or university in the State
| David Taft Terry, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of History, Geography, and Museum Studies
Morgan State University
|
One representative from a civil rights organization
| Erica B. Fields
Data and Systems Manager
CDF Freedom Schools®
Children’s Defense Fund
|
Two individuals with experience in civil rights advocacy and litigation
| Mary Ann Scali
Executive Director
The Gault Center
|
Two individuals with experience in civil rights advocacy and litigation
| Justin Hansford
Professor of Law and Executive Director
Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center
Howard University School of Law
|
Advisory Members
Katherine Ahlrichs, Ph.D.
| Assistant Professor Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice
Towson University |
Michael L. Blakey, Ph.D.
| National Endowment for the Humanities Professor of Anthropology, Africana Studies, and American Studies
Director of the Institute for Historical Biology
College of William & Mary |
Halim Flowers
| Founder of Artonomics
|
Erin Kimmerle, Ph.D.
| Founder and Executive Director
Florida Institute for Forensic Anthropology & Applied Sciences |
Isaac Shearn, Ph.D.
| Senior Lecturer
Department of Applied Social and Political Science
Coppin State University
|
Heather Warnken
| Executive Director
Center for Criminal Justice Reform
University of Baltimore School of Law
|
Linda F. Gorham, Ph.D., MDiv
| Licensed Psychologist
Family member of a Resident of the House of Reformation and Instruction for Colored Children |
James L. Dold
| CEO & Founder Human Rights for Kids
|
Dorothy Givens
| Family member of a Resident of the House of Reformation and Instruction for Colored Children
|
Inaugural Meeting
Tuesday, August 4, 2026
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
People's Resource Center
100 Community Place
Crownsville, Maryland 21032
**This meeting will be live-streamed and a link is available HERE.**
Meeting Agendas & Recordings
More Information
Resources
Senate Bill 776House Bill 552
Are You a Descendant or Family Member?
If you are a descendant or family member of a child who lived or died at the House of Reformation and Instruction for Colored Children, we want to hear from you. Family and descendant voices are central to the Commission's work. Please contact us at [email protected] or (410-230-1700) to learn more about how to connect with the Commission and its community engagement process.
Contact
Office of Equity, Policy, and Engagement
Office of the Attorney General of Maryland
200 Saint Paul Place, Baltimore, MD 21202
For inquiries related to the Commission, please contact Sophie Asike [[email protected]] or the Commission email [[email protected]].