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Auburn Human Rights Commission
Minutes from February 6, 2002 meeting
Members: Present (P; Absent, (A); Excused (E)
Karen Sheftic-Burns, Ex.Dir.: P Fred Richardson, Comm.; P
Zan Liebowitz, Sec.; P Judah Rodriguez-Sierra; P
Fr. Stephen Mack; P Loretta Snell; E
Gwendolyn M. Jones; P Valerie Bauhofer; E
Kent Brandstetter; P Anthony DeCaro; P
Members Present: 8 ; Members Absent: 0 ; Members Excused: 2
Meeting called to order at 5:05 p.m. by Commissioner.
The Commission welcomes special guest: Councilman Bill Jacobs to our meeting. Councilor Jacobs wants all departments to know who he is and if he can be of any help to feel free to call him. Councilor Jacobs is spending time meeting and learning about the various commissions, groups, etc. and their basic functions. He is doing this so that he may better serve the community. He is very supportive of this Commission. As noted: send a copy of the minutes and Municipal Code (General) on Commission to Councilor Jacobs.
December minutes approved
*Monthly intakes (79) on various issues including: evictions, employment/termination, requests for legal assistance, renting, landlord/tenent issues, Black History Month essay responses, etc….from individuals contacting the office in-person or via telephone.
Board Member
*Black History Month. The Commission chose 11 student essays that best describe their favorite person and why for publication in The Citizen and The Syracuse Newspapers during February. This year, 154 students participated
Name Grade School Person
*Nathaniel Donch 3 Owasco “Barry Bonds”
*Andrew Rotko 6 SS. Peter & Paul “Dikembe Motumbo”
*Brittany Tarry 7 SS. Peter & Paul “Rosa Lee Parks”
*Noah Donch 6 East Middle “Muhammad Ali”
*Dominika Donch 8 East Middle “Condalezza Rice”
*Rebeka Geer 5 Casey “Mary McLeod Bethune”
*David Roth 5 Casey “Langston Hughes”
*Jacob Austin 5 Casey “Garrett A. Morgan”
*Adriana Allen 3 Herman “Sojourner Truth”
*Parth Patel 3 Herman “Dr. M.L. King, Jr.”
*Lauren Shaw 5 Herman “Ruby Ridges”
Board Member Comments: Black History Month Essay participation has grown tremendously this year. When the number continues to grow next year, additional wall space may be used for public display of essays.
Notes: Auburn School Board needs a copy of the students writers and the published students as well. Discussion included, but was not limited to, how to gain participation from West Middle, Genesee Elementary, and Seward schools. This is the second year without their entries. Commission members realize classroom time constraints, state curriculum requirements, etc. Commission member Brandstetter personally thanked Casey Park and Herman Elementary for their support and involvement.
*Completed grant application for the Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF). This is an independent, not-for-profit corporation founded by members of the Columbia Law School community to support legal work in the public interest. This year they plan on awarding two or three grants of $5000 - $10,000 each. PILF has an interest in funding innovative projects that would not be undertaken without a grant and in helping established projects that suffer from a funding shortage. Selected projects for funding are guided by PILF
Board Members Comments: Councilor Jacobs will follow up on a grant writer. He also asked if the Human Rights office had an official grant writer on staff (no). Discussion followed.
*Attended the Martin Luther King Millennium Luncheon honoring community members who have exemplified a lifetime of service in the celebration of diversity. Among those honored are: K.Sheftic-Burns/AHR, Chris Buscher/United Way, Keith Lavey/AHS teacher, Glenn Fletcher/NAACP, Fred Richardson/Retired Superintendent Moravia Correctional Facility, Ralph Stanbrook/Cayuga County Chairman….Truly an honor to receive such an award.
Board Members Comments: Discussion on the honor.
*Ward Dewitt, of the Harriet Tubman Home, Inc. has given permission for the AHR Commission to use the Tubman site for Juneteenth Day (Wednesday, June 12). In the past AHR has always used the site, depending on its availability. This provides the community and especially area students with an educational opportunity to visit a local historical site. Changing to a non-historical site will not be a great incentive draw for students. AHR educational outreach objective is to reach as many students as possible. In lieu of a speaker, the format will change to an African-American Storyteller (fee information is forth coming).
Board Member Comments: Discussion ensued over the site and possibility of a storyteller. Commissioner Richardson has information on a professional African-American Storyteller. This is ideal for students and J-day. Commissioner notes that the site is best and should be at a historical/African-American organizational place. Salvation Army site may be used in the future for workshops, meetings, etc. Also noted, April 28th, 3-5 p.m. welcoming reception for Ward Dewitt at Tubman grounds.
*Grant Update was given to P.Price (Casey Park) and G. Robertson (Genesee Elementary) on the CDBGrant. They are notified that the next “stage” of grant request will happen during Spring 2002 during the Arts & Culture Grant reviews. Mrs. Price appreciate AHR efforts and is available for any assistance we may need. AHR “Story Crafters” program is “scheduled” for the Fall of 2003. Without the grant monies or underwriting, there will not be enough money in the budget to sponsor this educational program for the younger students.
*New/Old business
The book “Lesson Before Dying” by Ernest Gaines is available from the Mayor East Middle School will have a Black History Month program during the morning of February 12th.
Prior to adjournment, Councilman Jacobs was thanked for attending the Commission Meeting. Meeting adjourned to the Black History Month program.
Motion to Adjourn/Seconded by: K. Brandstetter/G. Jones
THE NEXT HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION BOARD MEETING WILL BE WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2002 AT 5:00 P.M.
Please call 255-4122 if you cannot attend the meeting!
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