Hurricane Sandy Relief

I will just put it out there, for the record--I hate asking people for money. But a large chunk of our nation has been hit by the worst storm ever recorded in our history, and one week later people are still suffering from the aftermath. My own parents still do not have electricity or phone service. It is difficult to get gas and, in some places, basic groceries.

Senior citizens, people who depend on public transportation, and the homeless especially need assistance during this time. Some kids will still be home from school on Monday if there is no electricity and no way to get to school. For some of those kids, their school lunch may be the only meal they get to eat all day.

If you have the time to volunteer, or the money to donate, please consider the following opportunities:

1. The Ali Forney Center for LGBT Homeless Youth in NYC is under four feet of water and all computers, food, phones, and electricity wiped out. Thousands of kids depend heavily on this center for food, education, and personal safety. Please click here to learn more about how you can help. 

2. Top 12 ways to donate time, money, etc. to Hurricane Sandy victims in NYC.

3. General donation/volunteering sites:
     AmeriCares Hurricane Sandy Donations
     American Red Cross

Even spreading the word about what is happening and how to help is huge. Thank you for listening.

High School Students and Human Rights

I co-facilitated a workshop with Eunice Adjei-Bosompem  called “Human Rights in Your Community” for middle and high school students at a Civic Engagement conference at St. Cloud State University on Thursday October 25^th. The students who attended this conference did so voluntarily, and chose this topic of human rights as their first choice and main interest. When I asked the students why they decided to attend this workshop, all of them claimed that they believed in equal rights for all people and that they wanted to learn more about fighting for human rights. We asked them to define the term “human”; students used terms such as “flawed”, “unique”, “imperfect”, and “alive” to describe “human”.

We conducted an experiment. We gave the students photographs of all different kinds of people cut out from newspapers, and asked them to choose three photos of people whom they would want to befriend, and three photos of people they would not want to be friends with. Students “liked” people who appeared happy, and possibly shared a common interest. They were likely to “like” athletes, dancers, and singers, regardless of whether or not they knew of their celebrity status. Students “disliked” people who were featured in photos with cigarettes or firearms. They also were more likely to “dislike” people with glasses, factory/construction workers, protesters, and the elderly.

After this experiment, we had a valuable conversation about where human rights in the community begin: empathy in the heart, and realizing that one day all humans will grow old, can become disabled, can become poor, can become disenfranchised. We talked about the global community and the local community. We talked about opening spaces for all human beings in one’s community, and to start with those spaces where others do not have access (ex. non-handicapped accessible spaces). The workshop was a wakeup call for the students, and a reality check.

Are we recognizing the human “imperfections” that are distinct from our own? Do we have the capability to identify and address our own individual imperfections? While we can never teach people to be perfect, as the attainment of human perfection is impossible and not universally defined, then how do we create a space where we recognize and acknowledge those “imperfections” in order to build bridges and provide the best service that we can, to each other and to our users? Before we can define human rights and fight for them, we must first accept and fight for a universal definition of humanity.

Open Forum

On Wednesday October 17th, the St. Cloud Regional Human Rights Commission held an open forum for the community to discuss discrimination. We had a great turnout--at least 40 people showed up--and everyone had a chance to voice their questions and concerns.

Some common concerns that people shared:

1. Employment discrimination in the region. People released from prison, unaccompanied youth (often young adults out of the foster care system), youth under 18 years old, transgender people, and people with disabilities have a difficult time finding employment in central Minnesota. While times are hard for everyone, some employment applications still ask questions that are against state law. Forum attendees asked what groups in the region assist disenfranchised people in finding employment, and they wanted to know how they could find out more.

2. Discrimination against people of color. Somalis who live in a particular section of St. Cloud live in fear of their apartment manager and a security force. In the St. Cloud 742 school district, a clinical study of 25 African-American boys is being conducted without parental consent. Not all of central Minnesota is as diverse as St. Cloud; some children of color feel isolated in their schools because they may be the only ones.

3. Communications and connections. While the St. Cloud Regional Human Rights Commission meetings are open to the public, they have not been advertised. Some people requested future updates to issues brought up at the forum. Commissioners reminded attendees about the blog and Facebook page.

4. Forum as Safe Space. Some of the most at-risk populations in central Minnesota who would benefit from some support and guidance from the Human Rights Commission may not feel safe in a public forum outside of their comfort zone. People suggested that, to attract more participation from groups in need, Human Rights Commissioners should organize population-specific forums in those places where those groups feel safe.

Please watch this space--as well as our Facebook page--for information about upcoming forums.

Out in the Community

Members of the Saint Cloud Regional Human Rights Commission were at St. Cloud Pride on Saturday September 22nd, meeting the community and advertising our Open Forum in October!

The Saint Cloud Regional Human Rights Commission Open Forum will be on Wednesday October 17th from 6 pm - 7:30 pm in St. Cloud City Hall Council Chambers. Meet the commission members, learn about what we are doing to fight for human rights, and join us in conversation on how we can work together in ending discrimination in the region. Become a member of our Facebook page and join our event!

Saint Cloud Pride Week

This week, citizens of Saint Cloud will come together in support of LGBTIQ Pride through a variety of events:

Thursday September 19: PFLAG PRIDE RALLY AND ABOVE THE CLOUDS PRIDE MARCH at Barden Park (in front of the Miller Center Library at Saint Cloud State University) 7:00-10:30 pm. This is the last rally   that we will have prior to the November election on the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. All are welcome to attend. The Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus will also perform at the event.

Saturday September 22nd: The St. Cloud Pride in the Park Festival will be at Lake George/Eastman Park from 11 am - 5 pm. Free entertainment, exhibitors, community organizations, and food vendors will be there. The Saint Cloud Regional Human Rights Commission will also have a table there--come and say hi to Rachel!  :) St. Cloud Pride is a family friendly event--don't miss it!

Later that Saturday night is The 3rd Annual Drag Show at the Rivers Edge Convention Center. Doors open at 6:30 pm, and the show goes from 7:30-11:30 pm. Tickets are available from Blooming Creations or the LGBT Resource Center for $10, or pay $12 at the door. Our drag performers really are the best--their performances will keep you warm through our long winter months.

Sunday September 23rd: Biology 701 at 701 West Germain St. in downtown St. Cloud will host a brunch from 11 am - 1 pm. Tickets are available for $10 in advance, or $12 at the door. Click on this link to buy advance tickets. Brunch menu will be posted soon.

September Holidays

September 8th is International Literacy Day. UNESCO has been celebrating International Literacy Day for over forty years, reminding the international community that literacy is a human right and the foundation of education.

September 15th kicks off National Hispanic Heritage Month. Check out how the Library of Congress is recognizing the Latino/Latina population of the United States. National Hispanic Heritage Month ends on October 15th.

September 17th is Citizenship Day, also known as Constitution Day. How much do you know about the United States Constitution? See how well you do on these quizzes.

September 21st is the International Day of Peace. Established in 1982, the International Day of Peace provides an opportunity for individuals, organizations and nations to create practical acts of peace on a shared date.


Happy September!

Back to School for Hungry Homeless Kids

Roughly three hundred homeless students will start a new school year in Saint Cloud, and almost seventy in Sauk Rapids-Rice.

Local organizations such as Anna Marie's Alliance are providing all the support they can for children and teens in the shelters. It is extremely difficult for homeless kids in shelters to keep up with school, as shelters only allow families to stay for 30-45 days at a time. Anna Marie's Alliance has recruited tutors for the homeless children, and a fleet of five iPads so that students can stay connected with assignments and instruction through online learning and educational apps.

Even among the college set, some students couch surf and live out of their cars while they get an education. Their families might have kicked them out, they might have run away from home, or they simply have no family in the area and nowhere to stay while they go to college.

In Minnesota, ten percent of the population does not know where their next meal is coming from. Children make up forty percent of the hungry population. School becomes attractive to hungry kids, because they can receive at least one free meal there. Stearns and Sherburne Counties have more than the average number of hungry people in the state; many will be students.

For anyone who works in a school, the kindest thing to do is bring food for the kids. Any type of food will do. As Minnesota has also revamped its cafeteria menus to provide "healthier" lunches, all students will be eating less. Our hungry students will not make it through the winter without your help.