What is the League of MN Human Rights Commissions?
What is the League's Purpose?
How is the League Managed?
Why do we have Human Rights Commissions?
What is the League of Minnesota Human Rights Commissions?
The League of Minnesota Human Rights Commissions, founded in 1972 and
reorganized in 1987, is a coalition of local human-rights commissions that have been established by charter or ordinance in communities
throughout Minnesota. While its member commissions are public organizations,
the league is a private, nongovernmental organization with 501(c)(3)
classification under the IRS code. Grants and gifts to the league are
tax deductible.
The league is the only private, state-wide agency concerned with fighting
all forms of illegal discrimination, and with enhancing the rights of
all groups of people defined under the Minnesota Human Rights Law (MS
363).
What is the League's Purpose? (top)
The league shall assist county and municipal human rights/relations
commissions in Minnesota to carry out the purposes of the ordinances
or resolution
pursuant to which they were established, and interact with all divisions
of the state and other agencies involved in the area of human rights
and relations.
Other purposes include:
-To encourage and assist the development of new human-rights
commissions in cities and counties throughout the state.
-To help increase the expertise and involvement level of
human-rights commissioners in their communities.
-To monitor, improve and promote the use of the no-fault
grievance resolution process for resolving human rights disputes on
the local level.
-To gather information and publications involving human rights
in Minnesota, especially touching on local opportunities and activities.
-To circulate news of human rights happenings regularly to
interested parties throughout the state.
-To develop educational materials on human rights, especially
on the Minnesota Human Rights Act for local commissions to use in their
schools and communities.
-To develop models for local human rights observances, such
as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Cinco de Mayo, American Indian Month,
Black History Month, Asian celebrations, and other such activities.
-To conduct workshops and conferences to assist and inform
city and county officials and others who are concerned about enhancing
the rights of all in their communities.
-To co-operate with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights
in efforts to enhance human rights in Minnesota.
How is the League Managed? (top)
The business of the league is managed by a board of directors, whose
members are elected at the annual meeting in the fall of the year.
District directors serve two-year terms, and directors-at-large serve
one-year terms. There are 13 districts of the league.
The principal officers of the league are president, vice president,
secretary, and treasurer, all of whom are elected by the board of directors
at the first business meeting for a term of one year. The league meets
monthly in cities of member commissions.
For additional information contact:
League of Minnesota Human Rights Commissions
4100 Lakeview Avenue
Robbinsdale, MN 55422
Telephone: 763.535.1051
Why do we have Human Rights Commissions? (top)
From the genesis of humanity up to the present, the issue of human rights
has been the focal point of civilization for the reason that the rights
of humans are violated by those who choose to influence power and supremacy
over others.
In the course of history, poets, writers, and speakers have given awareness
messages and declarations to enunciate that human rights should be protected.
Likewise, for the well-being of citizens in this small community, we
put together a commission that ensures all are treated equally with common
interests - with no difference to what Adam Smth said many years
ago: "It is usually by pursuing our interests with due consideration
to the interest of others that we contribute most to the common well-being."
. . .
The following quote from the by-laws specifies the purpose and the mission
of the Commission: "The purpose of the Commission is to secure
for all citizens, through education and prevention, equal opportunities
for employment, housing, public information, public services, education,
fair treatment, and full participation in affairs of the community. The
Commission's mission is to proactively partner with government,
business, educators, religious, service and other organizations to promote
a community of harmony and respect for the rights and dignity of all."
In a general sense and in a simpler term the focus of our Commission
revolves around community values, human connection, and above all, human
dignity.
The Commission is putting all its time and efforts to be a useful and effective
entity for Chaska and other neighboring localities. Specifically, our goal
is to emphasize the community values that speak directly to issues such as
citizenship, generosity, human worth and dignity, integrity, learning, respect
for others, respect for the environment, and responsibility.
In order to accomplish the mission specified in the by-laws, the activities
of the Human Rights Commission shall focus on the following areas:
1) Educating the community on the issues of discrimination and cultural diversity;
and
2) Periodically assessing the extent to which the human rights of the citzens
of Chaska are adequately and satisfactorily protected and recommending necessary
action(s).
-by Dr. Leo Parvis
Chaska Human Rights Commissioner
*The editorial reprinted here is excerpted from one
of Leo Parvis' monthly columns in the Chaska Herald
Link to member
commission contact information.
