North Dakota Human Rights Coalition
Working to effect change so that all people in North Dakota enjoy full human rights
|
North Dakota Human Rights Coalition Working to effect change so that all people in North Dakota enjoy full human rights |
|
Click PayPal link for direct credit card contribution or PayPal payment options. (No PayPal account necessary!)
Interested in Receiving NDHRC Email Newsletter? |
~NDHRC PAUR Report~ Visit our Website at www.ndhrc.org
June 30, 2003
Programs ~ Announcements ~ Updates ~ Resources
Hello members and friends of the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition!
In this week’s PAUR Report:
NDHRC Announcements 1) Multicultural Social at the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition Fall Conference, October 24, 2003, Fargo, ND 2) North Dakota Human Rights Coalition Service Opportunity
Newspaper Articles 3) The Forum (Fargo) Editorial, High court race ruling is historic 4) The Forum (Fargo) Editorial, Lawmakers should not meet again
Events 5) North Dakota Protection & Advocacy Project, “Plan for Achieving Self Support Workshops”, August 4-7, 2003, Various Locations in ND 6) Summer Theological Conference, “In the Name of God: Religion and Violence in the Middle East,” July 21-23, 2003, Moorhead, MN
Reminders 7) North Dakota Fair Housing Council Workshops, June 10 – July 16, North Dakota and Eastern South Dakota
********************************************* NDHRC Announcements *********************************************
1.) Multicultural Social at the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition Fall Conference, October 24, 2003, Fargo, ND
Join us on Friday, October 24th for an evening celebrating North Dakota’s rich and diverse cultures!
We’ll have a multicultural social on Friday evening to kick off our Fall Conference on Saturday, October 25 for the human rights network in North Dakota. The social will be a casual setting for a cross-cultural exchange designed to encourage collaboration and conversation, and promote understanding and respect for people from different cultures and communities in our area.
Please plan to join us for this social the evening before the Fall Conference.
And Don’t Forget to Save the Date!
NDHRC Fall Conference Saturday, October 25, 2003 Fargo
Ideas & suggestions for topics are welcome, contact Andrea at andreadeegan@ndhrc.org
*********************************************
2.) North Dakota Human Rights Coalition Service Opportunity
Please forward freely.
The North Dakota Human Rights Coalition is looking for four (4) people to join the NDHRC Board of Directors. The NDHRC Board sets the policy direction of the NDHRC, including the goals and initiatives of the NDHRC. The NDHRC Board is supported in its work by the full-time Director and half-time Assistant Director. Information about the NDHRC is available at www.ndhrc.org.
The NDHRC is committed to the development of a Board of Directors which includes representation from across the state and from those most likely to experience discrimination, including people of color, people of diverse ethnic origin, people with disabilities, people of varying age, people of diverse religions, those who have been or are on public assistance, and people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. The NDHRC encourages all who are interested in the Board of Directors to apply; consideration for selection will include the commitment to diversity in membership on the Board of Directors.
The NDHRC Board of Directors encourages all who are interested to join them in continuing to chart the course for the NDHRC. Please consider joining us in the development of a human rights network and cadre in North Dakota!
Time commitment:
Two-hour board meetings every other month by conference call
One-day in-person board retreat each year (travel to this meeting may be necessary & travel costs would be covered)
Participation in board committee(s) by telephone conference call (time commitment and duration of commitment would vary by committee)
Respond to e-mail communication from Director or Assistant Director as possible
Interested?
Return the "Application for NDHRC Board" to:
Cheryl Bergian Director North Dakota Human Rights Coalition P.O. Box 1961 Fargo, ND 58107-1961 (701) 239-9323 (701) 478-4452 (fax)
Deadline for consideration of application: Friday, July 11, 2003
********************************************* Newspaper Articles *********************************************
The North Dakota Human Rights Coalition opposed a proposed ban on affirmative action in North Dakota in the 2003 Legislation Session. The testimony of the NDHRC is at http://ndhrc.org/testimony_on_hcr_3067.htm.
3.) The Forum (Fargo) Editorial, High court race ruling is historic
Forum editorial: High court race ruling is historic
Some U.S. Supreme Court analysts are defining the court’s rulings this week on race and college admissions as “Solomonic” -- except that in the court’s case the affirmative action baby was cut in half, they say.
Not quite.
The historic import of the majority decisions involving admission standards at the University of Michigan and the university’s Law School is this: For the first time in U.S. history the high court said race can be used as one factor of many in determining a student’s qualifications for admission. The court also said rigid racial quotas are out. And what makes the decision to permit the use of race in college admissions even more remarkable is that it came from a court widely regarded as mostly constructionist, mostly conservative and mostly resistant to applying any race-based remedies to society’s ills.
The court ruled on two related cases from Michigan. Justices rejected an undergraduate affirmative action scheme whereby black and Hispanic students received 20 points (100 is automatic admission) because of their race. No way, the court majority said. That’s an overt quota based on a rigid race-based formula, and it does not meet constitutional muster.
View full article here
*********************************************
4.) The Forum (Fargo) Editorial, Lawmakers should not meet again
Forum editorial: Lawmakers should not meet again
North Dakota legislative leaders appear to have been caught with their financial pants down. The new federal tax bill included windfalls for the states. North Dakota’s piece of the federal pie is about $70 million. Some $20 million of the funding is earmarked for Medicaid. Gov. John Hoeven wants to use a portion of the funds to fill the gaps left by the Legislature in human services programs. He would reserve the rest for future budget needs and as a larger cushion for the state’s ending balance.
All good ideas.
Now along come legislative leaders, most of whom having distinguished themselves by failing to fund the state’s basic needs in the 2003 session, with other ideas. Some want a special session to appropriate the windfall. Others want the governor to accept recommendations from lawmakers on how to spend the money.
Too late, fellas.
The federal money is a grant. The dispositions proposed by the governor are not new spending. They are expenditures to accommodate under funded authorizations.
View full article here
********************************************* Events *********************************************
5.) North Dakota Protection & Advocacy Project, “Plan for Achieving Self Support Workshops”, August 4-7, 2003, Various Locations in ND
A Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS) is a way in which a person with a disability or blindness uses or sets aside income or resources to reach a work goal. For example, a person could set aside money for an education, a training program, to start a business or to purchase technology or a vehicle.
Any person who receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI) because of a disability or blindness may have a PASS. In addition, a person who does not receive SSI because his or her income or resources are too high may use a PASS to become eligible for SSI.
People with disabilities interested in a PASS and professionals who provide support to them would benefit from attending this workshop.
The PASS workshop will be presented in four locations in North Dakota:
August 4, 2003 Bismarck, ND
August 5, 2003 Minot, ND
August 6, 2003 Grand Forks, ND
August 7, 2003 Fargo, ND
The deadline for registration is July 31st. To register or for more information contact Vickay Gross at vgross@state.nd.us, (701) 328-2950, (800) 472-2670 (voice), or 711 (ND Relay).
*********************************************
6.) Summer Theological Conference, “In the Name of God: Religion and Violence in the Middle East,” July 21-23, 2003, Moorhead, MN
Religion clearly plays a role in the various conflicts in the Middle East. Exactly what the role is is not so obvious. More importantly, is there something about the monotheistic religions that dominate the region that stimulates, or at least provides sanction for, violence? Why does Western diplomacy consistently fail to address this key feature of Middle Eastern culture and political life?
Christianity is a tiny minority in the region, but its influence is enormous because of the power and influence of the United States. Does religion play a covert role in American policy? Is America engaged in a new Crusade in the Muslim world?
This conference is intended to shed some light on this very complicated situation-and to raise questions that the religious community needs to take very seriously.
For more information contact the CHARIS Ecumenical Center at (218) 299-3566 or email Vicki Juven at juven@cord.edu.
********************************************* Reminders *********************************************
7.) North Dakota Fair Housing Council Workshops, June 10 – July 16, North Dakota and Eastern South Dakota
In 2003, the North Dakota Fair Housing Council (NDFHC) will sponsor a number of fair housing workshops across North Dakota and eastern South Dakota. The workshops will focus on: Learning what Federal and State Laws say about Fair Housing; learning about the complaint filing process; what’s illegal and what’s not; and more… They will be informative for tenants, users of housing services, non-profit organization and housing providers to learn how to end housing discrimination and what happens when discrimination occurs. Take home materials will be provided.
These workshops are open to the public and free of charge; however, seating may be limited. Please RSVP in advance to the NDFHC to ensure adequate seating and hand-outs. The following workshops have been scheduled to date:
Contact the NDFHC with any questions about the workshops or to register. Toll Free: 1-888-265-0907. Bismarck area: 221-2530.
For more information visit their web site here
*********************************************
***Member Reminder*** Please keep us in mind for your group or church social action/social justice meetings! We’d be happy to provide a presentation at a meeting or provide newsletter articles for your organizations.
************************************************
Do you have a Program, Announcement, Update or Resource that you would like shared on our weekly PAUR report? If so, please send an email to AndreaDeegan@NDHRC.org and we will do our best to accommodate you.
If you are not a member of NDHRC yet, what are you waiting for? Sign up now! On-line or by mail, it's all set at: http://www.ndhrc.org/membership.htm
Not getting the PAUR Report directly in your email? It's so easy to be added to the PAUR mailing list! Email HumanRights@NDHRC.org
If you have received this email in error, or would like to be removed From the PAUR Report mailing list, please send an email to AndreaDeegan@NDHRC.org for immediate assistance.
|
