HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 01-24-2013 - 4eORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: January 24, 2013
Action Agenda
Item No. 4 -e
SUBJECT: Human Relations Month Proclamation
DEPARTMENT: Housing /Comm. Development PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
Proclamation
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Tara L. Fikes, (919) 245 -2490
Colin Austin, HRC Chair
1
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 27, 2013, the HRC will host
the Human Relations Month Forum 2013 at The Carrboro Century Center from 2 :30 PM to
5 :OOPM. The forum will be a panel discussion with the topic: "The Emancipation
Proclamation and Equality Today" The panelists are Dr. Freddie L. Parker, Professor of
History at North Carolina Central University and Rev. Lavisha Williams, Pastor of the St.
Joseph CME Church in Chapel Hill. The moderator is Orange County District Court Judge
Beverly Scarlett. Entertainment will be provided by local artists, Lynn and the Monarchs, and
refreshments will be provided.
Other activities during the month include the 2012 Pauli Murray Awards Ceremony on Sunday,
February 24, 2013 at Central Orange Senior Center in Hillsborough. 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 that the Board adopt the Human
Relations Month Proclamation and authorize the Chair to sign.
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 2013 as "HUMAN RELATIONS MONTH" in Orange County and challenge our
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 24`h day of January, 2013.
Barry Jacobs, Chair
Orange County Board of County Commissioners