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17 <br /> <br />4. Work with all marginalized communities to stir interest among their young people in <br />pipelines – including summer high school and college internships – that offer a potential <br />route to full-time employment with the City of Eugene. <br /> <br />5. In planning for a new City Hall, incorporate artwork and photos that represent Eugene’s <br />many different communities. Also include signage in different languages. <br /> <br />Conclusion <br />The human right to freedom from discrimination is being denied members of Eugene's <br />communities of color as well as its Muslim, LGBTQ and other marginalized communities. <br />Their many contributions to the broader community are too often bypassed or ignored, a product <br />of their marginalization by the dominant majority. In our large group gathering on May 31st, <br />participants expressed appreciation for hearing about others’ experiences and the similar themes <br />among the groups. Indeed, a lot of people have felt overlooked, a lot of voices unheard. <br />In the course of the focus group meetings, it was not unusual for participants to thank the Human <br />Rights Commission for reaching out and "really listening" to their experiences in Eugene. All <br />groups had positive things to say about the City. At the same time, they expressed hurt, <br />resentment and anger over repeated assaults on their dignity and worth, assaults that ranged <br />from blatant to subtle. <br />Fearful of a political climate in which they are maligned by officials at the highest levels of <br />government, focus group participants at times expressed anxiety over where this was leading. It is <br />not surprising then that many look to local government for support in resisting discrimination and <br />gaining respect for their unique identities and contributions. The recommendations in this report <br />logically track what these marginalized groups believe needs to be changed. <br />One participant expressed a sentiment heard throughout the focus groups, “I have an internal <br />dialogue full of cynicism. I’ve participated a lot and given tons of feedback. I’m doing it again. I <br />want to see what will happen this time. I’m trying not to be cynical.” <br />We thank all who participated in the ten focus groups and urge the City Council to view acting on <br />these recommendations as critical to improving the quality of life for all of Eugene’s residents. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Bonnie Souza Ken Neubeck <br />Eugene Human Rights Commissioner Eugene Human Rights Commissioner <br /> <br /> <br />June 2017 <br /> <br />September 12, 2018, Work Session - Item 1