Citizens Project is working with a citizens committee to create equal opportunity in our community by establishing a new Human Relations Commission, but it will only happen if the City Council hears from you that the HRC is needed:
Please attend the
presentation to City Council, write or
call your Council Members asking them to support the HRC, and forward this message!
Monday May 24 at 1:00 pm
Council will hear a presentation and decide whether to place the HRC on the formal agenda June 8.
City Hall, 107 N. Nevada Ave., Suite 325,
Colorado Springs
See below for City Council Member contact information.
What is the Human Relations Commission?- Most
cities have a Human Relations Commission (HRC) to mediate disputes, help
businesses, individuals and agencies resolve issues involving
discrimination, and provide city government a greater understanding of
how policies and funding affect less vocal minorities. Our city's HRC
was disbanded in the 1990s and it's time to bring it back.
- The HRC is
an all-volunteer committee of nine residents, appointed by the City
Council, who have diverse backgrounds and skills in mediation, cultural
competency, community leadership, and human services.
- The HRC
requires no funding, does not have regulatory power, and will operate
like most other city boards and commissions.
How will the Human
Relations Commission benefit our community?
- The HRC will hear grievances
from any resident or business involving discrimination, and will use
mediation and reconciliation to resolve disputes without litigation.
Unresolved conflicts may be referred to the Colorado Civil Rights
Division.
- The HRC will conduct informed advocacy and educate the business
community, nonprofits and the public sector on how to avoid illegal
discrimination, and work constructively with employees, clients,
customers and citizens with diverse backgrounds.
- The HRC
will be a resource for residents affected by the loss of services from
recent budget cuts, connecting people with existing services or
identifying new needs that nonprofit agencies could address.
- The HRC
will promote public-private partnerships to find solutions to community
problems and will improve police-community relations by promoting
constructive dialogue.
Download and Forward this Information
- Call
To Action (click to download Word doc).
Please send this to everyone on your distribution list!
Please write or call
your council members and urge them to support the HRC!
- These
at-large council members represent the whole city:
Mayor Lionel Rivera lrivera@springsgov.com 719-385-5986
Vice Mayor Larry Small LSmall@springsgov.com 719-385-5986
Tom Gallagher At-Large TGallagher@springsgov.com
719-385-5491
Randy Purvis At-Large RPurvis@springsgov.com
719-578-9800
Jan Martin At-Large JMartin@springsgov.com
719-385-5486
Scott Hente, District 1 SHente@springsgov.com 719-385-5487
Darryl Glenn
District 2 DGlenn@springsgov.com 719-385-5493
Sean Paige
District 3 SPaige@springsgov.com 719-385-5470
Bernie Herpin Jr. District 4BHerpin@springsgov.com 719-385-5492
