Mille Lacs Area Human Rights Commission 2005-2006 Annual Plan

"Each time a man (woman) stands up for an ideal,

or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out

against injustice, he (she) sends forth a tiny ripple

of hope, and crossing each other from a million

different centers of energy and daring, those ripples

build a current that can sweep down the mightiest

walls of oppression and resistance. '

Robert Kennedy

Mille Lacs Area Human Rights Commission

PO Box 230 Onamia, MN 56359 Fax: 320-532-4243

Mille Lacs Area Human Rights Commission; a Regional Human Rights Commission

Chartered on August 17,2005, under the League of Minnesota Human Rights

Commission and chartered under a partnership between local governments and

businesses in the Mille Lacs Area, during year 2004-2005.

As representatives of the Cities of Garrison, Isle and Onamia; the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe; Nay Ah Shing Tribal School and Independent School Districts #473 (Isle) and #480 (Onamia); businesses including the Mille Lacs Band's Corporate Commission, and the Mille Lacs Health System; law enforcement agencies who serve as advisory board members which include Isle Police Department, Onamia Police Department, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe's Tribal Law Enforcement Agency and the Mille Lacs County Sheriffs Department; and Tribal Elders and area Clergy; and members of the community at-large; we declare our mission to be:

"To work within the Mille Lacs Area communities to promote civil and

human rights, eliminate hate, prejudice and discrimination and to

create a community that embraces diversity."

The Mille Lacs Area Human Rights Commission publicly declares the following ordinance and standards in the effort to achieve our mission:

1. To continue the development of a multicultural community which will not
tolerate acts of harassment and intolerance with regard to 'Protected
Classes' including race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital
status, disability, public assistance, age, sexual orientation, familial status
and local human rights commission activity and with regard to 'Areas of
Protection' which include employment, housing, public accommodations,
public service, education, credit and business hi accordance with the
Minnesota Human Rights Act and in conjunction with Federal Civil Rights
to which every United States citizen is entitled.

2. To establish communication and encourage community standards that
respect diversity.

3. To promote acceptance and respect for individuals hi an atmosphere of
caring for each other.

6. To oppose discrimination and prejudice of all kinds to ensure fair treatment
among all people within the Mille Lacs Area.

7. To expand the Mille Lacs Area Human Rights Commission appointments
to include representatives of townships or cities within the immediate Mille
Lacs area being served by such Commission.

The Mille Lacs area Human Rights Commission is committed to supporting the declared ordinance and standards by way of the following:

* by advising local governments and businesses supportive of civil
and human rights work via education, training and assistance in the
development and adoption of human rights 'Best Practice' policies and
procedures, and

* by developing a local Bias/Hate Crime Response
and Prevention Plan, and

* by recognizing individuals for their over-and-above commitment
to Human Rights work in the Mille Lacs area, and

* by promoting civil and human rights through community events,
public information campaigns, workshops, organizational and
business efforts and through individual commitment, and

* by developing a process to assist individuals and organizations hi
addressing human rights conflicts, which may include education,
mediation, Restorative Justice approaches, and/or referral to appropriate
agencies.

The Commission is dedicated to ensuring that all citizens of the Mille Lacs Area

have equal opportunity and rights as defined by the Minnesota Human Rights Act,

Chapter 363 of the State Statutes. This Act makes it illegal to discriminate in the

areas of:

*Employment * Public Service * Business

*Housing * Education * Aiding and Abetting

*Public Accommodations *Credit *Reprisal

The Minnesota Human Rights Act makes it illegal to discriminate against a person because of:

*Race *National Origin *Public Assistance

*Color *Gender *Age

*Creed *Marital Status *Sexual Orientation

*Religion ^Disability *Familial Status

*Local Human Rights Commission Activity

In a short time, the Mille Lacs Area Human Rights Commission has gamed its recognition as an 'up and running' regional Human Rights Commission. We have made a commitment to generate an 'Annual Plan', so as to be held accountable to the League of Minnesota Human Rights Commission, each of the partners in the Commission, as well as the community in which we serve. The following are examples of the work we have done to date, as well as our plan for the upcoming year.

Accomplishments

Received 100% of the Mille Lacs Area Human Rights Commission Resolutions, which established the partnership of the area Commission, Adopted the Mille Lacs Area Human Rights Ordinance and Appointed a Commissioner to represent each government, school, law enforcement agency and business, to the Commission.

Our Commissioners participated in two Human Rights Commission trainings, facilitated by the League of Minnesota Human Rights Commission Board.

Developed a Mission, Standards and Ordinance document to serve as the guidelines for the Commission.

Developed and adopted bylaws, in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order, to serve as guidelines for the Commission.

Participated in a 10 hour intensive "Undoing Racism" training, sponsored by the Voices of Unity on Mille Lacs organization.

Invited to partner with the Crow Wing County Human Rights Commission to seek grants, sponsor trainings, and support each others Commissions.

Participated in a mini-strategic planning process to develop goals and strategies for the upcoming year.

Established committee's in the following areas: executive, education, and human rights response plan, to ensure success in implementing our strategic plan.

Secured a meeting facility (Rolf Olsen Center, in Onamia), a toll free phone number for the community to reach us (in process), a FAX number, and a PO Box.

Sent letters to area businesses and churches to introduce ourselves as a Commission, and invited groups to consider supporting the Commission by providing a letter or resolution of support.

Developed a Mille Lacs Area Human Rights Commission Brochure, to distribute to community members, provide to area local governments, businesses and schools.

Coordinating the Mille Lacs Area Human Rights Commission 'Chartering Ceremony', scheduled for August of 2005.

Community Involvement

As evident by our partnerships which created this Commission, we have many

partners to assist in moving human rights work to a large-scale community effort.

KKEN Radio talk show interview on Human Rights

Participated as speakers in the Crow Wing County Human Rights Commission 'The Rights Focus ...Age and Disability Forum, which was co-sponsored by the State of Minnesota Department of Human Rights.

Participated as facilitators in the Annual Minnesota State Highway Patrol Training; sponsored by the Minnesota League of Human Rights Commissions

Plan for year 2005-2006

July;

Review and approve Mille Lacs Area Human Rights Commission Brochure

Participate in Minnesota State Patrol Human Rights training

Generate a letter of request for donations.

Present 'Annual Plan' to area partners

Prepare for 'Chartering Ceremony', August 17, 2005

August:

Activate 1-800 'hot line', for citizens to report bias/hate crimes, or to contact us Develop and distribute a 'Climate Survey' for area businesses and schools Chartering Ceremony - August 17, 2005

September:

Prepare funding proposal

Seek 501C3 status

Establish and implement guidelines for students to serve as Commissioners

Host "The Right Focus...Age and Disability Forum'

Develop and implement an area 'Climate Survey' for youth in the area

Participate in the 'Crisis Management and Prevention' training, Princeton

Begin developing the 'Human Rights Response Plan'

October:

Host and participate in a 'Human Rights Mediation Training'

In conjunction with the 'National Diversity Day', encourage schools to celebrate

National Diversity Day Sponsor and awards banquet for the Essay contest

November:

Implement 'Human Rights Response Plan'

Participate in a 'media' training.

Write and implement financial policies and procedures

December:

Adopt and disperse 'Human Rights Best Practice - Code of Conduct and Ethics'

Attend State of Minnesota Department of Human Rights Annual training, St. Paul

January:

Host a 'Bias/Hate Crime Training for area Law Enforcement agencies and

Community leaders

February:

Host and present a 'Economic Development ...Climate ..and Diversity' training,

for area governments, economic development commissions and businesses.

March:

Develop 'Mille Lacs Area Annual Human Rights Award' criteria and program

Sponsor Youth Essay Contest

April:

Host the 1^st Annual Mille Lacs Area Human Rights Award' program

Recognize Youth Essay Contest Winners

May:

Prepare for the 'Annual Meeting', strategic planning process. Implement Board

Assessment.

Chairperson: Mary Sam

Vice-Chairperson: Crystal Stein

Secretary: Cathy Thompson

Treasurer: Vacant until funding structure is in place

Member At-large: Natalie Weyaus

Member At-large: Father Dave Callus

Marc Loch Loydene May Larry Jallen Corrina Sheff

Jim Snider Judy Lawrence Sue Lyback-Dahl Carol Sam

Sonya Towle Steve Long Peter Nayquonabe Cyndy Rudolph

Pastor Cathie Rhodes

Police Chief Bob Matske Police Chief Dwight Reed

Police Chief Mike Krebs Sheriff Brent Lindgren

Youth Commission Members: vacant until fall

"If, in the end, I succeed in

convincing one person to change his or her

attitude and accept others who are

different as normal, then I must

have made a world of difference. ''

Evon, age 13, winner of Essay contest - Golden Valley, MN

BE IT RESOLVED, that the following governments, schools, and businesses, endorses and supports the establishment of the Mille Lacs Area Human Rights Commission, adopts the mission, ordinance, standards and by-laws of the Mille Lacs Area Human Rights Commission and appointed a representative to hold a seat on the Mille Lacs Area Human Rights Commission.