HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 01-24-2012 - 4dORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: January 24, 2012
Action Agenda A
Item No. -
SUBJECT: Proclamation: "Human Relations Month"
DEPARTMENT: Housing, Human Rights and PUBLIC HEARING: (Yes/No) No
Community Development
ATTACHMENT(S):
Proclamation
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Tara Fikes, 245-2490
Barbara Marotto, HRC Chair
PURPOSE: To officially proclaim the month of February as "Human Relations Month" in
Orange County.
BACKGROUND: The Governor annually proclaims the month of February as "Human
Relations Month" in North Carolina. The Board of County Commissioners also annually
proclaims February as "Human Relations Month" in Orange County.
To kick-off Human Relations Month activities on Sunday, January 29, 2012, the Human
Relations Commission (HRC) will host a Human Relations Month Forum 2012 at The Carrboro
Century Center from 2:30 PM to 5:OOPM. The forum will be a panel discussion with the topic:
"Defining Marriage in North Carolina by Constitutional Amendment: What are the Implications?"
The panelists are Rev. Robert Campbell, Chairman of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Branch of the
NAACP; Maxine Eichner, Reef C. Ivey II Professor of Law at UNC-CH School of Law; and Brett
Webb-Mitchell, an Ordained Minister (Presbyterian Church, USA) and Visiting Associate
Professor, English and Mass Communication of North Carolina Central University. The
moderator is Milan Pham, an attorney and founding partner of NicholsonPham Attorneys at
Law. Entertainment will be provided by local artists, The Moaners, and refreshments will be
provided.
Other activities during the month include the 2011 Pauli Murray Awards Ceremony on Sunday,
February 26, 2012 in The Little Theater at the New Hope Elementary School. The Pauli Murray
Award is presented annually by the Orange County Human Relations Commission to an Orange
County youth, an Orange County adult, and an Orange County business that have served the
community with distinction in the pursuit of equality, justice, and human rights for all residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with consideration of the
proclamation.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board adopt the Proclamation and
authorize the Chair to sign.
2
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROCLAMATION
HUMAN RELATIONS MONTH
WHEREAS, the Orange County Human Relations Commission believes that in
order to achieve justice and equal opportunity for all Orange County residents, we must
all strive to create an atmosphere where people are valued and accepted rather than
merely tolerated, and therefore continue to promote the ideal of social justice for all;
and
WHEREAS, the Orange County Human Relations Commission has diligently
served Orange County since 1995 and remains committed to promoting equal
treatment, opportunity and understanding throughout the community; and
WHEREAS, the Orange County Human Relations Commission enforces the
County's Civil Rights Ordinance which specifically prohibits discrimination based on an
individual's race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran
status and familial status; and
WHEREAS, the Orange County Human Relations Commission encourages
Orange County residents, as individuals, to take a stand against social injustice and
continue to work together to make freedom, justice, and equal opportunity available for
all; and
WHEREAS, Orange County is committed to preserving the progress made thus
far towards equality and leading the challenge for equal opportunity using all the means
at our disposal;
NOW, THEREFORE, We, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, do hereby
proclaim February 2012 as "HUMAN RELATIONS MONTH" in Orange County and
challenge residents to promote the ideology of social justice for all by celebrating and
encouraging multiculturalism in the County and encouraging all residents to embrace
diversity in Orange County.
This the 24th day of January, 2012.
Bernadette Pelissier, Chair
Orange County Board Commissioners