HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 - Human Relations Commission - Annual Report1
Human Relations Commission 2014 Annual Report
Introduction:
Consistent with City Code and HRC’s Mission Statement, as community leaders and advisors to City
Council, in 2014 HRC researched, deliberated and took proactive and responsive measures to promote the
dignity of individuals and groups in Fort Collins.
The 2014 Human Relations Commissioners were Colleen Conway, Myles Crane, Christy Doyon,
Christine Hays, Mary Lyons, James Owiny, Preety Sathe, and Victor Smith.
2014 was the 50th anniversary of the Human Relations Commission, which began serving the Fort Collins
community in 1964.
Role to Promote Community Inclusivity with Neighborhood Livability and Safety:
HRC members responded promptly to requests from City Council and the City Manager for
involvement in a resident’s concerns in a local community. HRC members met with a group of
citizens at the Museo de las Tres Colonias for a listening session regarding livability, access, and
support for neighborhoods.
During 2014, HRC members supported community events for the rights of LGBTQIA (lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex, asexual) people, disabled persons, senior citizens and
participated in community activities regarding the correctional system, senior transportation,
affordable housing, social sustainability and veterans programs. HRC also encouraged Council to
authorize a multi-cultural conference for the community.
Several HRC members were invited and participated as evaluation judges for Poudre School District
Students K-12 art, essays and poetry awards consistent with the City’s celebration of Martin Luther
King Day. HRC Commissioners also took part in the City’s parade and related celebratory events.
HRC members were invited and represented at local cultural events at the Northside Aztlan Center, the
Museo de las Tres Colonias and the inaugural events commemorating the City’s expansion of the Fort
Collins Senior Center.
Third Party Input at Monthly Meetings:
A variety of speakers shared helpful insights at Commission meetings and addressed various social
sustainability and related issues. During 2014, these guest speakers included:
January: HRC Council Liaison, Mayor Karen Weitkunat, welcomed new HRC members
and provided Council’s perspective on HRC’s role; Greg Tempel who addressed HRC’s mandate
consistent with City Code and introduced Jenny Lopez-Filkins as HRC’s new liaison to the Office of the
City Attorney, and FC Police Chief John Hutto who discussed body-worn cameras.
February: Valerie Macri-Lind, Executive Director, ChildSafe, with her colleague Saja Hindi from
ChildSafe, discussed ChildSafe’s unique comprehensive community-based response to child sexual
abuse.
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March: Lin Wilder, Director, Larimer County Mental Health and Substance Abuse (MHSA) Partnership,
highlighted the work of the Health District, the MHSA Partnership and led a stimulating discussion with
HRC about the state of mental health services in our community and inclusivity efforts to care for all
segments of the population.
April: Guest speaker Jimena Sagàs, CSU Morgan Library, discussed the status of multicultural library
services at CSU. The library’s mission is to serve its community, which is increasingly more culturally
diverse, and provide library services that are multicultural and multilingual to ensure equality of service
and access to information.
May: Edgar Dominguez, Health Equity Coordinator and Margaret Watson, Community Health Worker,
discussed the Vida Sana program which City Council approved in 2013 for appropriation of unanticipated
grant revenue for the Recreation Fund to support physical activity classes and related health and well-
being opportunities for the Hispanic/Latino Community.
June: Lauren Gustus, Executive Editor, Fort Collins Coloradoan discussed processes for their local
media organization to evaluate positions on community issues.
August: Fort Collins Police Services Professional Standards Lieutenant, Mike Trombley, provided the
Commission with requisite training for the Citizens Liaison Program.
September: Guest speaker Mary Atchison reviewed the role and responsibilities of the Department of
Social Sustainability as an integral part of the City’s triple bottom line decision-making process.
October: Erica Gagne Glaze addressed current and historic issues and trends in her role as Enforcement
Manager of the Denver Field Office of the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Ms. Glaze’s
responsibilities include Colorado and Wyoming.
November: Dan Weinheimer, Fort Collins Policy and Project Manager, presented the Commission with a
brief overview and answered commissioners’ questions about the 2015 Legislative Agenda.
HRC Committee Work:
Executive Committee: The following work was successfully completed.
Scheduled agendas for HRC monthly and special meetings.
Ensured appropriate communication with HRC's City Council Liaison and City Council.
Delegated issues for resolution as appropriate to standing or to special committees.
Provided support to HRC committees as needed.
Called special meetings when resolutions of urgent issues were needed.
Educational Outreach Committee:
During the past year, HRC’s Educational Outreach Committee, together with the Poudre Public
Library District, co-sponsored four of an eight part series of bi-monthly forums on mental health.
The forum topics included: Mental Health Disorders, The State of Mental Health in Northern
Colorado, Suicide Prevention, and Mental Health Issues Impacting the Public Schools.
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The EOC worked with many local agencies to create these forums. These agencies included
Alliance for Suicide Prevention, Alzheimer’s Association, Larimer County Health District,
National Alliance on Mental Illness, Poudre School District Mental Health Team, and Touchstone
Health Partners.
The first four forums served a public audience of 152 individuals from Denver, Fort Collins,
Johnstown, LaPorte, Loveland, Masonville, Timnath, Wellington, and Windsor.
The EOC continues to work with the Foundation on Aging of Larimer County, the Larimer
County Office on Aging, the Senior Advisory Board and more than a dozen other community
organizations in for Fort Collins and surrounding communities to achieve an age-friendly county.
The participants in this effort are collectively known as the Partnership for Age-Friendly
Communities (PAFC) in Larimer County. Their focus is on affordable housing, mobility and
access, health and wellness and the culture of aging to make our community more livable for all
ages, particularly seniors. PAFC has developed five projects, one completed and the others being
completed within the next few months, and is planning Summit on Aging to be held in May at the
Senior Center.
HRC continued successfully to work with other City Boards and Commissions including the
Commission on Disability, Senior Advisory Board, Women’s Commission, Youth Advisory
Board and others on issues of mutual concern to support and build better relations throughout the
community. Throughout 2014, the HRC consistently kept City Council and other City Boards and
Commissions informed each month regarding HRC activities.
Government Relations Committee:
Meetings at City Council, Citizen Review Board, Senior Advisory Board, Larimer County Office
on Aging Advisory Council, American Civil Liberties Union, and The Center for Public
Deliberation at Colorado State University among others were attended and/or monitored.
The HRC collaborated with the Citizen Review Board and engaged Fort Collins Police Services
to provide training to HRC members in the Citizens Liaison Program.
The HRC maintains a list of translators available to citizens who may need translation service.
Members of the HRC were presented with a Proclamation from City Council proclaiming Human
Rights Day on December 2nd.
After each HRC meeting, the HRC emails meeting highlights summaries to City Council and
other Boards and Commissions.
During 2014, HRC made several presentations at City Council Meetings about HRC-related
events of interest to Council and its constituents.
The HRC reviewed and discussed the 2015 Legislative Agenda with Dan Weinheimer, Fort
Collins Project and Policy Manager. HRC plans to advise City Council on legislative matters that
potentially impact HRC’s community outcome areas in instances where Council might not be
aware of all implications of the proposed legislation.
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Media / Community Recognition Committee:
The HRC conducted a search for individuals, groups, companies and organizations which inspire
contributions and leadership on behalf of minority or disadvantaged citizens to the betterment of
the community.
In 2014, the Human Relations (HR) Awards event was modified from a large breakfast in a
public venue held jointly with the Women’s Commission, to a scaled down afternoon catered
reception at City Hall. The 2014 HR Awards were presented in collaboration with the Senior
Advisory Board, which designated the Senior Human Relations Award. HRC made this decision
with approval by HRC’s Council Liaison.
On December 2nd, the HR Awards event was attended by the mayor, five members of City
Council, and representatives from the City Manager’s office. The presentation of awards
coincided with the Mayor’s proclamation of International Human Rights Day.
Conclusion:
HRC looks forward to continuing its advisory capacity to City Council and building bridges in the Fort
Collins Community in 2015.
Report Notes:
1. This annual report was based on HRC’s 2014-2015 work plan submitted in January 2014 with the
primary focus on two Community Outcomes: Neighborhood Livability and Safe Community. In
November 2014 HRC was advised that in 2015, City Council requests that HRC prioritize its focus on
the two community outcomes: Neighborhood Livability and High Performing Government instead of
Safe Community. The HRC will do that.
2. The HRC completed its work during the year without the services of one member, who resigned in
February, to accept an overseas post. HRC has previously suggested that vacant board positions be
filled, to the extent possible, on a timely basis. HRC is appreciative that Council has provided a full
slate of Commissioners for 2015.
Respectfully submitted January 23, 2015
The City of Fort Collins Human Relations Commission