Highlights of Numerous Projects in 2008

• Annual conference theme for 2008 was “Celebrating 60 Years of Universal Human Rights:  Strategies to Strengthen and Invigorate Our Communities”

• Hosted third “Evening Prior” event before the Annual Conference for Minnesota Human Rights Commissioners and their guests.

• Revised League By Laws with the help of Attorney Jennifer McDonald.

• Updated League information on League and MDHR websites.

• League members provided informal idea exchanges on human rights issues by phone, mailings and personal appearances at Human Rights Commission meetings.

• Organized a LMHRC library of human rights related resources.

• Attorney Jennifer McDonald  presented information on “What it means to be a member of a non-profit board” at a meeting of the League Board.

• Ellen Kennedy, Genocide Intervention Network, spoke at a League meeting regarding divestiture for Darfur.

• Materials and contact information was sent to individuals who are seeking reinstate the Mankato HRC.

• Co sponsored a plan with  ACT (Advocating Change Together) to request grave markers for individuals with disabilities who have died and been buried without proper markers.

• LMHRC name tags were created and distributed to Board members to wear as identification when attending community meetings.

• Continued support of “This Is My Home” Human Rights Education project that was developed by the University of Minnesota Human Rights Resource Center in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. The League advertised and promoted the www.thisismyhome.org web site.

• The tenth annual Essay Contest was conducted with award ceremonies at the Crystal Community Center.

• A new Essay topic was distributed for the 2009 contest: “Choose a current news event in which you believe there has been a human rights violation. Use the Bill of Rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and/or the Minnesota Human Rights Act to prove your point. Is anything being done to bring justice to the situation? What can you do about it?”

• Participated with other groups in promoting the MDHR poster contest.

• Provided information for local Human Rights Commissions regarding the MDHR $130,000 Otto Bremer Foundation grant.

• The LMHRC sent letters and educational materials regarding hate incident in Chatfield Schools.       

• The Board of Directors Retreat was held at the Hopkins City Hall in February.  Karima Bushnell and Associates conducted the session.  A follow up on the topic of Communication was presented at the September meeting in Golden Valley.

• The League selected Scott Knight, Chaska Police Chief and Craig Reed, Hopkins Police Chief, for the annual  Human Rights awards. Both were cited for exemplary attention to human rights issues and concerns.