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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006 - Human Relations Commission - Annual Report2006 HRC Year End Report Education Committee January 11, 2007 The EDUCATION COMMITTEE had regular monthly meetings. A PowerPoint presentation highlighting some of the responsibilities and activities of the HRC was developed and used when appropriate. HRC pamphlets were updated, printed and used as handouts at various community functions. A Retreat was planned and implemented for all HRC members and facilitated by Alma Vigo -Morales. Community "Coffee Chats" were held on the following topics. Psychology of Hate The Faces of Oppression Legality and Equal Rights/ Growing up Gay in Fort Collins A Resolution recommending support for Referendum I was written, reviewed by Greg Temple and read to City Council at the Open Mic session prior to their regular meeting in October. Three HRC members also spoke in support of this Resolution. An HRC representative interviewed several downtown businesses to get feedback on the Menorah display issue. The HRC sponsored a table at the 3rd Annual "Pride in the Park" in June The HRC continues to support the ERASISM Film Series. To get a better understanding of community issues, the HRC invited several speakers to make a short presentation prior to our regular meeting. Some are listed as follows: David Roy and Wendy Williams, City government Jen Lowe and Jason Thiel, LAMBDA Community Center James Downey, Senior Advisory Board Karen Schwartz shares her impressions on the City Holiday Display Policy Rabbi Yerachmiel Gorelik of the Chabad Jewish Center of Northern Colorado Shay Bright of CSU's Office of Conflict Resolution and Student Services. Frank Gibson and Mark Smith of the Mennonite Peace & Justice Committee on behalf of Ron Pittman. Mr. Lloyd Spawn, Larimer County Office on Aging Advisory Council Government Relations Committee The GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE compiled, analyzed and presented a Boards and Commissions Diversity Data Report with recommendations to the City Council. This will be completed again in the year 2011. A proposal was made to Internal Affairs, Fort Collins Police Department to make the Police Complaint Forms available electronically for downloading purposes only from the city's website. This was agreed upon by Internal Affairs and is currently available in English. All City Council meetings, Citizen Review Board meetings, Senior Advisory Council meetings, Larimer County Office on Aging, NCMC meetings and NIOTA meetings were attended and/or monitored. In April and July, a member of the Fort Collins HRC spoke at a meeting of the Greeley and Aurora HRC's and discussed common concerns. Subsequently, a member of the Greeley HRC contacted the Fort Collins HRC for information with the hope that they might start a Not in our Town Alliance (NIOTA). In September, a member of the Fort Collins HRC attended a Colorado Civil Rights Commission hearing in Longmont. In September, several members of the HRC presented a workshop titled "Developing a More Inclusive Community" at the Connect People; Create Community Conference. Members of the HRC developed a plan of action supporting the Menorah display issue. This plan was subsequently delivered to City Council prior to a Council Work session in September. In October, the HRC gave a presentation at the NIOTA Networking Forum. Two HRC members spoke in the Open Mic session prior to City Council's November meeting in support of Dial a Ride. HRC Chair wrote a personal email to all City Council members in support of Dial a Ride. Two HRC members attended several meetings when a name change was suggested for the Northside Aztlan Community Center and the HRC remains on their official mailing list. The HRC maintains and updates regularly a list of translators available to citizens who may need this service. once again the HRC conducted a search for individuals, groups, companies or organizations that inspire contributions and leadership on behalf of minority or disadvantaged citizens to the betterment of the community. A Breakfast was held at the Lincoln Center and awards were presented to the winners. The HRC complied with the City Manager's office by providing an extensive stakeholder's mailing list so that invitations could be extended to a "Open Mic with the Mayor' for a public outreach effort regarding the creation of a City holiday display policy. HRC members attended the lecture by Ernesto Zedillo at C.S.U. As a result of the "Connect People, Create Community Conference" the HRC chair contacted the city's Public Information office and requested input into the Fort Collins branding project currently under way. A suggestion was made that Diversity might be an important element to consider. In May, several HRC members attended a 'Day of Dialog" with the Colorado Civil Rights Commission (CCRC) in Greeley. Several HRC members marched in the Martin Luther King parade. After the Hate Crime at the Jewel Stone Court subdivision, several members of the HRC dialogued with concerned parties. As a result, the HRC has begun to pursue an initiative to address the issue of Hate Crimes. The HRC attended two Deliberative Dialogue Training sessions sponsored by the Northern Colorado Multi -Cultural Corporation. The HRC worked with the Latino Action Council to develop a list of local intercultural competency trainers and posted it on the HRC website.