Thursday the newly appointed Charlottesville Human Rights Commission met in City Hall for the first time.
The Commission, an eleven-person committee formed by City Hall to work with the City Office of Human Rights, investigates potential human rights violations in Charlottesville, although the exact details of its work have not yet been established.
City Manager Maurice Jones welcomed the Committee and thanked them for applying. ”We are very excited about the work you are going to do for our residents – the folks who live here in Charlottesville.” Jones said.
Of the eleven commission members, three have direct ties to the University, as alumni, students, and staff. Two moved to Charlottesville within the last year, and another in the last five years, while three members are natives to the area.
Ann Smith, a teacher and Commission appointee, commented in her introduction on how much she has learned from her diverse students throughout the years and drew a parallel to the Commission. “It seems like we all have so many talents and so many differences and yet likenesses.” Smith said.
Dorenda Johnson, a Charlottesville native, said human rights are a passion of hers. “There’s a lot that still bothers me – that’s unjust and that’s not right.” Johnson said.
Following the introductions, Jones gave the commission an overview of the history of how the commission was formed, the motivation behind it, and the programs that came before.
“It wouldn’t be evident [to someone coming from outside] that there were issues here,” Jones said. “We’re fortunate that we’re at a point in our history where we are not forced to do this by an event.”
The idea for the commission came out of the Dialogue on Race initiative, which was successful in bringing the community together for a meaningful conversation, Jones said.
Charlene Green, the Dialogue on Race program coordinator, elaborated more on the program, which is now under the control of the Commission.
“It doesn’t have a steering committee any longer.” Green said. “As it exists now, it is being controlled by the Commission. Going forward we need to think about what it is going to talk about… How it is going to exist now that it will be run by another organization.”
Some members of the Commission began discussing the issue immediately, including Commission appointee Amy Sarah Marshall.
“I think it is really important historically that race is so emotional on so many levels and to me it seems like its going to be a challenge to honor that while we are opening up to the whole human experience.” Marshall said.
The Commission then began discussing what characteristics might fall under the ‘whole human experience,’ including ageism, struggles faced by singles mothers, and others.
The commissioners ultimately decided that educational outreach, especially in the public school system, was vital to the success of their mission.
Zan Tewksbury, manager of the City Office of Human Rights, eventually steered the meeting to its end and set the schedule for the next meetings. A special work session to write the Commission by-laws and statement of purpose has yet to be scheduled.
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