Derek P. Okubo
Executive Director, Agency for Human Rights & Community Partnerships
2022
Derek is a Colorado native and was raised in Littleton, Colorado. He attended the University of Northern Colorado and graduated with a degree in Psychology and double minors in Communications and Sociology.
In July 2011, Derek was appointed Executive Director of the Agency for Human Rights and Community Partnerships (HRCP) by Mayor Michael B. Hancock. HRCP was started in 1947 and acts as a conduit of communication and convener of problem solving across local government, non-profits, businesses and residents. In his role as Executive Director, Derek oversees nine offices (Aging, Anti-Discrimination, Community Affairs, Disability Rights, Financial Empowerment, Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, Sign Language Services, Strategic Partnerships, Women and Families), and 10 mayoral appointed advisory commissions. Each 21-member commission advises Derek and Mayor Hancock on issues and strategies to provide positive impacts in address those issues.
My network of professionals working on countering hate in all its forms grew exponentially after attending Eradicate Hate in 2021. The myriad voices represented at Eradicate Hate, from big tech companies to academic researchers to those with lived experience, reinforced to me the importance of cross-cutting and collaborative approaches to counter hate and its devastating impacts on society. I’ve been fortunate to sustain and build those networks with many of those I met at Eradicate Hate in 2021.
