UPCOMING PROJECTS INCLUDE:
1. See the Human Relations Commission perform their 2nd Annual Diversity Puppet Show entitled “The University of Diversity” at South Windsor’s Family Awareness Day taking place on Saturday, October 27, 2007 at the Enes Community Center.
2. On November 8, 2007, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., the Human Relations Commission is celebrating the 144th anniversary of Lincoln’s Gettsyburg Address. Come and hear nationally acclaimed artist, Wendy Allen speak about Abraham Lincoln and his lasting influence in America in a presentation entitled “In Search of America’s Soul”.
3. The Second Annual Diversity Poster Contest will kick off on January 22 and run through February 15, 2008. This year the contest will add a poetry component.
What are Human Relations?
Simply put, human relations consist of all the interactions we are involved with in our daily life. Those interactions range from the contact we have with our families and where and how we live, to our work environment and how we interact with our co-workers, to our community at large and the contacts we have with the members of that community.
What does a Human Relations Commission do?
We are a diverse nation and a diverse community. Both our county and our community are made up of people who come from many different countries and backgrounds. A Human Relations Commission can help manage relationships between people by promoting ways in which the people in a community learn to get along and to safeguard equal opportunity for all.
What is the vision of the South Windsor Human Relations Commission?
Our vision which is embodied in our Mission Statement is as follows: it is our role is to encourage communication and mutual respect among all the citizens of South Windsor.
What is the value of the Commission?
The Commission’s value lies in its role not only as a watchdog for the community; but also as a sounding board for everyone in the community, whether they live here, work here or just visit. The bottom line is this; whenever and however people come together -human relations are involved. It is our task to conduct and promote activities that will create amicable relations within our community and to ensure the protection of basic human and civil rights.
What are our Goals and Objectives?
Again we turn to our Mission Statement*:
GOAL
Ø To promote and assist in developing an environment of fairness and respect among citizens by ensuring that responses to acts of exclusion, bias, and discrimination are meaningful and consistent.
Ø To develop ways to measure and monitor community relations, race relations, and civil rights issues, in particular those that may cause inter-group conflict.
Ø To develop and maintain programs which build positive relations and enhance problem-solving skills not only among those who reside here, but also to include those who work or visit here as well.
Or contact the Janice Favreau, Chair through Gretchen Bickford, Town Clerk.
the following purposes and duties taken from the Town Charter;
Sec. 58-34. Purposes.
The purposes of the human relations commission shall be to:
(1) Foster mutual understanding and respect among persons and groups of diverse backgrounds.
(2) Pursue a community-wide program of education that furthers intergroup understanding, tolerance and acceptance.
(3) Secure equality of treatment of and opportunity for persons and groups of diverse backgrounds, including members of racial, religious and ethnic groups, as well as women, elderly, young, low income and the handicapped.
(4) Cooperate with governmental and nongovernmental agencies and organizations having like or kindred functions to those of the commission.
(Code 1978, § 2-1804)
Sec. 58-35. Duties.
The duties of the human relations commission shall be to:
(1) Work with federal, state and town agencies, as well as with private, civic, religious, business, industrial, labor and other organizations, groups and persons, and to recommend to the town council any programs arising therefrom that will help all members of the community enjoy equality of opportunity in all phases of community life.
(2) Engage in study and research and publish reports designed to increase awareness and understanding within the community.
(3) Receive complaints and requests for assistance in regard to situations coming within the scope of the commission's purposes and refer the same to the proper agency having jurisdiction in the particular matter.
(4) Carry out such projects as shall be assigned to it by the town council.
(5) Offer its services and cooperate with every other agency and department of the town in promoting a healthy community.
(6) Submit to the town council annually, or more frequently if the council shall so request or the commission so desires, reports concerning the activities of the commission.
(7) Promote activities and programs to carry out the purposes of the commission.
(Code 1978, § 2-1805)
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