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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011 - Human Relations Commission - Annual Report1 Human Relations Commission 2011 Annual Report As Community leaders and advisors to City Council, we research, deliberate and take proactive and responsive measures to promote the dignity of individuals and groups in Fort Collins. HRC Mission Statement Educational Outreach Committee: HRC pamphlets were printed and distributed at various events. An HRC power point presentation is available for group presentations. The HRC sponsored training by Frances McDonald of the Colorado Civil Rights Division on March 2, 2011. The title was “Employment Discrimination”. The training was attended by city employees, as well as HRC members. The HRC sponsored an Anti-Bullying Youth Forum in conjunction with the Commission on Disabilities and the Youth Advisory Board. It was also supported by the Commission on the Status of Women and the Senior Advisory Board. Held on November 9, 2011, it was attended by over 150 people. Members of the panel included members of the youth community, Fort Collins Police, representatives of the Poudre School District, and the Alliance for Suicide Prevention. Community resources represented included the ADL, City of Fort Collins, CSU, Fort Collins Coloradoan, GBLT, KRFC FM, LAMBDA Center, NIOTA, PFLAG, Poudre Libraries, PSD Student Services, PSD Advisory Board, and SAVA." City Council members also clearly expressed their full support for this event at two meetings in October and November. Several members of the HRC attended and/or assisted the Senior Advisory Board and CSU’s Center for Public Deliberation in facilitating "Growing Older in Fort Collins - Silver Tsunami as a Golden Opportunity" on November 10th at the Lincoln Center. The HRC continued to support and sponsor the Eracism Film Series. 2 Several members of the HRC attended a November breakfast of the Larimer County Association for Mental Health. We have continued to successfully partner with other City Boards and Commissions including the Youth Advisory Board, Senior Advisory Board, Commission on Disability, and the Women’s Commission on issues of mutual concern to support and build better relations throughout the community. Throughout 2011, the HRC consistently kept City Council and other City Boards and Commissions informed each month regarding HRC activities. Government Relations Committee City Council, Citizen Review Board, Senior Advisory Board, Larimer County Office on Aging Advisory Board and Character Fort Collins and Community Cafe meetings were attended and/or monitored. The HRC maintains a list of translators available to citizens who may need this service. Members of the HRC were presented with a Proclamation proclaiming October National Bullying Prevention Month on October 4, by Mayor Karen Weitkunat. Members of the HRC attended a Colorado Association of Human Relations Committees Retreat in Denver on Friday, October 28. The Fort Collins HRC is participating with Human Relations Commissions from Pueblo, Boulder, Aurora, Greeley and Colorado Springs in an effort to share ideas and best practices. Members of the HRC received a proclamation on the December 10 Human Rights Day, from Mayor Karen Weitkunat on December 6, 2011. A member of the HRC took part in interviews of candidates for the position of Fort Collins Chief of Police. As a means of improving communication both with members of City Council and other Boards and Commission, the HRC sends out a notice of important events and activities after each HRC meeting. During 2011 HRC also made several presentations before City Council Meetings about HRC-related events of interest to Council and its constituents. . A member of the HRC is serving on the Martin Luther King Day Planning Committee and members of the HRC assisted in judging the Youth Art and Writing Contests. 3 Media / Community Recognition Committee: Once again the HRC conducted a search for individuals, groups, companies or organizations which inspire contributions and leadership on behalf of minority or disadvantaged citizens to the betterment of the community. A Breakfast was held at the Northside Aztlan Community Center on April 29. Awards were presented to the winners. Guest Speaker was Larimer County Commissioner Lew Gaiter. The event was attended by approximately 100 people. For the first time, the event was coordinated with the Commission on the Status of Women which presented the annual Marcile N. Wood award to a person who worked to advance the status of women in the community. Several “Soapbox” articles and letters to the editor were written by HRC members and published in the Fort Collins Coloradoan newspaper. Members of the HRC participated in radio interviews on KRFC promoting the Anti-Bullying Forum.