Randy Duque
Deputy Director, Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations
2024
Randy Duque is the Deputy Director in charge of the Community Relations Division of the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations (PCHR) – the “peacemaking unit” of the agency. He served as the Acting Executive Director between 2020-2021 in which he was the first Asian American to lead the City agency. Randy’s responsibilities cover several areas including: civil rights, race and intercultural relations, hate and extremism prevention and response, victim services, community engagement, immigrant and refugee issues; and conflict intervention, mediation, and de-escalation. He has presented on his work for various regional, national, and international forums and audiences and consulted with numerous agencies in the US, as well as, police in Germany to replicate programs the PCHR has to bolster community, government, and law enforcement relations. Through Randy’s work and leadership, PCHR was presented the 2016 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award. In 2018 he received the PA Governor’s Advisory Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (PAGACAPAA) “Outstanding Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders” recognition; and was bestowed a knighthood by the Knights of Rizal – the official civic knighthood of the Philippines. From 2019-2022, Randy served as a Commissioner on the PAGACAPAA and chaired the Commission’s Civil Rights Taskforce. Most recently, he was appointed to serve on the 2023 Philadelphia Bar Association’s Commission on Judicial Selection and Retention.
Randy’s education and experience covers the full spectrum of conflict theory and practice. He received his master’s degree in communication and conflict; and bachelor’s degree in anthropology at Temple University where he was also an adjunct instructor. He is a skilled martial arts practitioner and instructor; and served ten years in the infantry with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. In his spare time, Randy plays bass and guitar in several bands of different genres of music including a Filipino folk string ensemble.
The catalytic power of this Summit in bringing together those who are devoting their lives to pushing back and working to confront, understand and work towards solutions around hate in our society is a noble and difficult task. The Summit not only energized those who attended but led to connecting the dots in a global network of those doing this work. The stories of the victims of hate were painful to witness but their courage in coming forward was inspirational. Those who attended left energized with the hope that by working together solutions can be forged.
