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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 01-23-2007-6bORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: January 23, 2007 Action Agenda Item No. (o {D SUBJECT: Proclamation Acknowledging February as "Human Relations Month" DEPARTMENT: Human Rights and Relations PUBLIC HEARING: (Yes/No) No & Orange County Human Relations Commission ATTACHMENT(S): Proclamation INFORMATION CONTACT: Milan Pham, 960-3877 Bill Hendrickson, Chair HRC PURPOSE: To officially proclaim the month of February as "Human Relations Month" in Orange County. BACKGROUND: Annually the Governor proclaims the month of February as "Human Relations Month" in North Carolina. The Orange County Human Relations Commission has planned activities during the month to increase awareness of social justice issues. ? On Sunday, February 4, 2007, the Human Relations Month Kickoff will be held at THE CARRBORO CENTURY CENTER in CARRBORO from 2 PM to 5 PM. The Commission will be focusing on the racial wealth divide. Meizhu Lui, Executive Director of Americans United for a Fair Economy, and Erin Byrd, Executive Director of Southerners for Economic Justice, will explain the history of government policies that have led to the existing racial wealth divide and policies that continue to exacerbate the racial wealth divide. According to Americans United for a Fair Economy, for every dollar of wealth owned by a white family a black family owns a dime. ? On February 25, 2007 from 2 pm - 4 pm, the Pauli Murray Awards will be held at the Little Theater of New Hope Elementary School. FINANCIAL IMPACT: None RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board adopt the proposed proclamation and authorize the Chair to sign it. 2 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HUMM RELATIONS MOM 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 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 and Department of Human Rights and Relations have diligently served the County of Orange since 1995 are committed to promoting equal treatment, opportunity and understanding throughout the community; and WHEREAS, the County's Civil Rights Ordinance 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 County recognizes the dignity and worth of each individual and desires to promote and maintain a climate of good will among individuals, races, ethnic groups and persons of varying social, religious and economic status, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status or status with regard to public assistance; 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, 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 Board of County Commissioners of Orange County, North Carolina, do hereby proclaim February 2007 as "HUMAN RELATIONS MONTH" in Orange County and challenge our citizens to promote the ideology of social justice for all and to celebrate multiculturalism in our county by encouraging citizens to embrace our diversity. THIS THE 23rd DAY OF JANUARY, 2007. Moses Carey, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners