Chairman Linda W. Cropp at the request of the
Mayor
A PROPOSED RESOLUTION IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
To confirm the appointment of Ms. Maria-Cristina (Mai) Fernandez to the Citizen
Complaint Review Board.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited
as the "Citizen Complaint Review Board Maria-Cristina (Mai) Fernandez Confirmation
Resolution of 1999".
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the appointment of:
Ms. Maria-Cristina (Mai) Fernandez
311 4th Street, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
(Ward 6)
as a member of the Citizen Complaint Review Board, established by section 5 of the
Office of Citizen Complaint Review Establishment Act of 1998, effective March 26, 1999
(D.C. Law 12208; D.C. Code §4-914), for a term to end 2-years from the date a majority of
the first members are installed.
Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this
resolution, upon its adoption, each to the nominee and to the Office of the Mayor.
Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
Maria-Cristina (Mai) Fernandez
311 4th Street, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
(202) 544-0493
Programmatic Management Experience
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS/LEGAL COUNCIL, 12/97—PRESENT
Latin American Youth Center, Washington, D.C.
- Operate 20 human services, employment, education, and youth development programs for a
multicultural community-based organization. - Supervised 60 person staff.
- Oversee $3.5 million operational budget.
- Handle media communications.
- Provide legal council and representation on all contractual corporate and court related
matters.
Legal Experience
ASSOCIATE, 09/96-12/97
Feldesman, Tucker, Leifer, Fidell & Bank
- Litigate administrative appeals on behalf of nonprofit organizations.
- Counsel nonprofit organizations with regard to federal grant issues, income tax
exemption, and internal governance matters. - Administered the District of Columbia Mayor’s Commission on Violence Against Women.
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL, 11/94-08/96
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Washington, D.C.
- Wrote regulations for programs authorized under the 1994 Crime Act.
- Developed policy guidelines for programs addressing violence against women, corrections,
victims, and juvenile violence issues. - Acted as liaison for OJP between the White House, Congress and federal agencies.
ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY, 09/92-11/94
District Attorney of New York County
- Handled felony and misdemeanor criminal cases including sex crimes from investigation to
trial stage
CONSULTANT, 1998-Present
Justice Management Institute, Denver, CO
- Advise U.S. Department of Justice grantees on issues concerning community justice,
restorative justice and community courts.
LEGAL ASSISTANT, 05/91-08/91
Covington and Burling Neighborhood Legal Services Program, Washington, D.C.
- Wrote and researched court briefs and motions in domestic relations, landlord-tenant and
public benefits cases.
STUDENT LEGAL SPECIALIST, 06/90-08/90
Law Department of New York City, Bronx Family Court Division, New York, N.Y.
- Assisted in the prosecution of juveniles.
Legislative Experience
PROFESSIONAL STAFF MEMBER, 06/90-08/90
Rep. Mickey Leland, U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee on Hunger,
Washington, D.C.
- Developed policy and legislation concerning domestic policy issues.
LEGISLATIVE CORRESPONDENT/ASSISTANT, 12/85-08/87
Rep. James J. Florio, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.
- Responded to constituent correspondence.
Teaching Experience
ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, 1996-1998
Washington College of Law, American University, Washington, D.C.
- Taught legal writing to 1st year Law School students.
Community Activities
BOARD SECRETARY, 1998-PRESENT
Unity Community Health Center, Washington, D.C.
Education
JURIS DOCTOR, MAY 1992
American University, Washington College of Law, Washington, D.C., Admitted to the New
York State Bar and the District of Columbia Bar.
BACHELOR OF ARTS, MAJOR — INTERNATIONAL STUDIES AND POLITICAL SCIENCE, MAY 1985
Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA
DICKINSON COLLEGE CENTER FOR EUROPEAN STUDY, 09/89, 06/84
Bologna, Italy
Languages
- Fluent in Spanish and Italian, and conversational in French