Item B: Race Issues Action Plan - Laserfiche WebLink

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Human Rights Support System (HRSS). HRSS responds to an average of 75 cases per year with approximately half the cases being race-related. HRC staff coordinates City and community response to hate activity. Eugene experiences an average of 20 bias crimes per year and has about 40 hate incidents per year that don't rise to the level of a crime. In the category of community education, the commission sponsors and co-sponsors a number of educational forums and community celebrations. The International Human Rights Day celebration and the Eugene Celebration store front with its neighbor and family photography exhibits are examples of some of the celebrations. The "War on Memory" public forum and the Oregon Diversity Institute Conference workshop are examples of educational efforts. Regarding the program's role in advising government, staff and commissioners regularly work with City departments as well as with the mayor and individual councilors. Such work might include reviewing Federal and State legislation, advising the city on how best to respond to incidents of racism or commenting on City policies regarding the use of Social Security numbers or the Eugene Police Department's complaint process. Day of Acknowledgement Proclamation - On International Human Rights Day, December, 10, 2002, the City Council adopted a proclamation for a Day of Acknowledgement which resolved to increase public awareness of racial discrimination and extend the work of the Human Rights Commission to strive for the full participation of people of color in all aspects of the community. Diversity and Human Rights Consortium (DHRC) - The DHRC, which currently represents 11 local public sector organizations, has been in existence since 1999, and has it roots in the Metro Leaders Task Force going back to 1991. Representatives of the DHRC are the CEOs of each of the organizations who meet twice each year to discuss issues. The DHRC's mission, in its broadest sense, is to work together and with its respective organizations and constituencies "to foster a welcoming, hospitable community." The DHRC's staff group, the Interagency Diversity and Equity Consortium (IDEC), meets regularly to plan and implement strategies for uniting the member organizations' efforts to educate employees, build and enhance welcoming work place environments, and increase both recruitment and retention of all employees with a special emphasis on employees of color. The IDEC group drafted a memorandum of agreement that members of the DHRC signed and committed to in 2000 and reaffirmed in 2005. The memorandum outlines several goals that each of the organizations agrees to strive to achieve. Currently, the DHRC is reviewing climate surveys for a number of agencies as well as coordinating employee recruitment, selection and retention strategies. In addition, the DHRC has developed and is sponsoring a six-hour institutional privilege training. Racism Study Circles - Sponsored by the City Club, and cosponsored by the DHRC and the Eugene Human Rights Commission, an experimental, grass roots, initiative to educate community members on the issues of race and racism was undertaken in early 2005. Over 70 people from across the community as well as several City employees participated in a pilot project of small group community dialogues. The City Club recently published the results of the pilot and plans are being made to broaden participation for a second round of dialogues. Over 200 community members have signed-up to participate. 2