By Lisa Carolin
Susan Odgers, chair of the Traverse City Human Rights Commission, was a guest speaker at the Dec. 2 meeting of the Chelsea Human Rights Commission held via Zoom.
The Traverse City HRC is well established, with advocacy, education, negotiation, and information as components of its mission. Its current priorities are addressing homelessness, criminal justice reform, diversity and anti-racism.
Getting members of Human Rights Commissions from around Michigan to share ideas is one of the topics Chelsea HRC members discussed regarding its 2021 Plan. Other ideas include moderated online discussion groups focusing on racism and community diversity.
HRC members Joanne Ladio and Susan Morrel-Samuels will be giving a presentation at the Dec. 14 Chelsea City Council meeting on “Improving Equity with the Right Tools”.
They received training through GARE, the Government Alliance on Race and Equity, and the presentation will include what city government can do to promote equity.
The HRC will also recommend an additional training opportunity to City Council. It’s the Michigan Department of Civil Rights Training, which is designed for organizations. The training opportunities recommended by the HRC to City Council are based on the topics of racism, bullying, and implicit bias.
Also discussed were ideas for observing Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Chelsea in January of 2021. HRC members agreed to work with One World One Family on an event partnership that includes service activities. HRC member Eric Stricklen plans to do a reading of King’s letter from a Birmingham Jail.
The HRC’s next meeting is on Jan. 6, 2021 at 6 p.m.
