St Cloud Regional Human Rights Commission Community Forum

On Wednesday May 16, from 6:30-8:00 pm, the St Cloud Regional Human Rights Commission hosted a community forum.  Two new commissioners were in attendance, as well as three representatives from different community organizations.

The Commission presented its work plan to the new commissioners and the three representatives.  Then the new commissioners and community representatives had a chance to share what they were working on within their organizations.  Commissioners and the community representatives found out that they had some common goals, but we did not have sufficient time to fully address the main question: How can we collaborate in our efforts?  The Commission also sought feedback from the community representatives on how to improve.

Some suggestions and advice that the Commission received included:
1. More community forums.  Invite everyone to the table.
2. Tap into the communities that we are not already a part of.
3. Seek out volunteers from the senior center.
4. Learn how to communicate better with groups who do not believe in the same things that we do.
5. Focus on education and outreach rather than enforcement.  Many people in the community are intimidated by the Human Rights Commission due to its role as "enforcer".  Even our Human Rights Commissioner is called an "Enforcement Officer".

The next meeting of the St Cloud Regional Human Rights Commission is Wednesday June 20th at 6 pm at Independent Lifestyles in Sauk Rapids.  We will be discussing the feedback.

BIG NEWS for the Saint Cloud Regional Human Rights Commission

If you would like to serve on the Saint Cloud Regional Human Rights Commission, neither gender nor residence will prevent you from serving. 

The Saint Cloud Regional Human Rights Commission desperately needs members.  The original guidelines restricted the number of people who could serve, as well as who could serve according to protected class status.  While some people may not agree with the changes, the Commission cannot function without human beings of any race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic class, ability or disability, etc.. 

People in many regions of Central Minnesota experience human rights abuses, every day, and no one is speaking out for them.  Gay boys are getting beat up in Milaca, immigrants are getting harassed in a church in Cold Spring, and the list goes on.  The Human Rights Commission needs to hear your voice.

Oldest Human Rights Commission in Minnesota Dismissed

The Human Rights Commission of Golden Valley, Minnesota was established in 1965, making it the first appointed commission in the state to address human rights issues.  Since then, 49 human rights commissions have been established in other cities and counties in Minnesota...but just this Thursday, two days before Christmas, the Golden Valley City Council has fired its Human Rights Commission.  

The Human Rights Commission asked the Golden Valley City Council if it could form a task force to investigate the use of unnecessary force used by police officers.  Since 2008, there had been two reported incidents of police brutality in Golden Valley.  The City Council was against the proposed task force, claiming that the methods of data collection that would be used to gather information from the police force would ruin peoples' reputations and violate the Data Practices Act.

Minnesota Department of Human Rights Commissioner Kevin Lindsey will be seeking more information.