HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 01-22-2015 - 4a
1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date:January 22, 2015
Action Agenda
Item No.4-a
SUBJECT:
Human Relations MonthProclamation
DEPARTMENT:PUBLIC HEARING: (Yes/No)No
Housing, Human Rights and
Community Development
ATTACHMENT(S):INFORMATION CONTACT:
ProclamationJames E. Davis, Jr., 245-2490
Doris Brunson, 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.
The Human Relations Commission will host its annualHuman Relations Month Forum on
Sunday, January 25, 2015 from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Carrboro Century Center.During
FY2013-14, the Board of County Commissioners urged the HRC to consider opportunities to
address the inequitable treatment of women. The 2015 Forum will address this prevailing
issue. Entitled “From Voting Rights to Equal Rights: The Continuing Struggle”, forum panelists
thth
will acknowledge the 95anniversary of the 19Amendment granting women the right to vote
and will discuss the barriers toabsolute equity including economic opportunities, reproductive
rights and sex trafficking. Esteemed panelists include Orange County Commissioner Renee
Price, Carrboro Mayor Lydia Lavelle, Donna Bickford, Associate Director of Undergraduate
Research at UNC-CH, and Ms. Mary Ray, Executive Director of the Interfaith Prison Ministry for
Women. Ms. Ardith Burkes, Interim Executive Director of the Compass Center for Women and
Families, will make a special presentation and moderate the discussion.
th
On Sunday, February 22, 2015, the Human Relations Commission will host the 25Annual
Pauli Murray Human Relations Awardceremony.This award is presented to an Orange County
youth, an Orange County adult, and an Orange County business that has served the community
with distinction in the pursuit of equality, justice, and human rights for all residents. The Human
Relations Commission will also present awards to the 2014 Student Essay Contest and Fair
Housing Poster Contest winners. The ceremony will take place at the Whitted Human Services
Building in Hillsboroughfrom 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
None
RECOMMENDATION(S):
The Manager recommends the Board adopt the Proclamation and
authorize the Chair to sign.
2
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
HUMAN RELATIONS MONTH PROCLAMATION
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
anatmosphere where people are valued and accepted rather than merely tolerated, and therefore
;
continue to promote the ideal of social justice for alland
WHEREAS, the Orange County Human Relations Commission has diligently served
Orange County since 1995and 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 discriminationbased 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
“HUMAN RELATIONS MONTH”
February 2015as inOrange County and challenge
residentsto promote the ideology of social justice for all by celebrating and encouraging
multiculturalism in the County and encouraging all residentsto embrace diversityin Orange
County.
nd
THIS THE 22DAY OF JANUARY, 2015.
______________________________________
Earl McKee, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners