North Dakota Human Rights Coalition
Working to effect change so that all people in North Dakota enjoy full human rights
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North Dakota Human Rights Coalition Working to effect change so that all people in North Dakota enjoy full human rights |
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~North Dakota Human Rights Coalition~ PAUR Report
Programs ~ Announcements ~ Updates ~ Resources
Visit our Website at www.ndhrc.org
June 8, 2004
Hello members and friends of the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition!
In this week’s PAUR Report:
Announcements 1) Update on Current Status of the Class Action Lawsuit 2) Announcement from the NDHRC about the Fargo Human Relations Commission
Newspaper Articles 3) The Forum (Fargo), 200 gather for gay march
Events 4) 22nd Annual International Peace Festival, June 18-20 5) 2004 North Dakota Immigrant Access Forum, August 5, Fargo
Reminders 6) Families of People Who Have Been Incarcerated Meeting, June 9, Bismarck 7) Native Vote 2004 8) North Dakota Progressive Coalition Job Announcement, Minot Community Organizer 9) Public Announcement: People Escaping Poverty Project, 3rd Annual PEPP Fest Dye Folk Festival, June 12, Moorhead 10) Save the Date – Next Town Hall Meeting, July 21, Bismarck 11) Save the Date, North Dakota Human Rights Coalition Conference, November 5 & 6, 2004, Bismarck 12) Knowing & Understanding Your Rights is the First Step in Receiving Equal Rights
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1.) Update on Current Status of the Class Action Lawsuit
The North Dakota Human Rights Coalition has filed a response to the Motion to Dismiss from the North Dakota Attorney General's office. NDHRC’s attorney, Mark Schneider, filed an Amended Complaint, which is available on the NDHRC website at http://www.ndhrc.org/Goals/Grassroots/Developments/Complaint%20(Amended).pdf. The complaint includes 6 additional individual plaintiffs from around the state.
The hearing on the Motion to Dismiss will be on Tuesday, June 15, 2004, 2:00 p.m., at the Cass County Courthouse, 211 9th St. S., Fargo. NDHRC members and friends are welcome to attend the hearing!
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2.) Announcement from the NDHRC about the Fargo Human Relations Commission
There may be three open positions on the Fargo Human Relations Commission as of July 1. As a member of the FHRC, I encourage anyone in Fargo who is interested in being on the Fargo Human Relations Commission to contact Dan Mahli at DMMahli@ci.fargo.nd.us or 476-4144, or apply online at http://www.ci.fargo.nd.us/application/. You don't have to be a Fargo resident to be on the FHRC, just have a connection to Fargo (i.e., working in Fargo).
Please let others know about this possibility - it would be wonderful if Mayor Furness had lots of people to choose from in this appointment. I'd be happy to talk with anyone about what the time commitment might be. More information about the FHRC is at http://www.ci.fargo.nd.us/Planning/HRC/.
Cheryl Bergian
********************************************* Newspaper Articles *********************************************
3.) The Forum (Fargo), 200 gather for gay march
200 gather for gay marchBy Sherri RichardsThe Forum – 6/7/2004
Gathering on the corner of Broadway and Fourth Avenue North, members and supporters of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community formed a historic line at noon Sunday in downtown Fargo.
There were no floats, fire engines or marching bands, but 150 marchers, spanning two city blocks, took part in Fargo's first Pride parade.
"I'm incredibly happy," said Bob Uebel of the Pride Collective. "Even if we'd marched with 25 or 50 people, I'd still be happy. The thing was to do it."
The parade/march was a new addition to FM Pride, an annual celebration of GLBT lives and culture in the area now in its third year. Parades are a common part of Pride celebrations around the country.
<snip>
View full article here
********************************************* Events *********************************************
A calendar of events is available on the NDHRC web site at http://www.ndhrc.org/Events/Calendar/June.htm.
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4.) 22nd Annual International Peace Festival, June 18-20
Message from the event organizer:
Just a note to all of my peace loving friends. The 22nd Annual International Peace Festival is happening June 18-20 at the International Peace gardens in the Old Historic Lodge. Generally people camp in tents or trailers, and some just take sleeping bags and sleep on the floor in the lodge. There are indoor washrooms there and in a nearby shower house.
It's a very relaxed format that starts Friday evening as people drift in from Fargo, Moorhead, Bismarck, Brandon, Winnipeg, Minot, and other communities in the areas surrounding the Peace Gardens and Turtle Mountain Park. On Friday there are contributions from everyone who arrives, in the way of snack food laid out for all to share. Cold beverages, fruit and raw veggies are available, as well as the traditional pot of steaming chai.
The weekend includes several workshops on positive things people are doing to make this planet a more peaceful place. Topics include pro- peace work at various levels of community, respecting the living things on the planet and how they can be balanced (organic farming is one example), and honoring cultural knowledge for a healthy people and environment.
Saturday morning begins with a pancake breakfast, provided by the Canadian participants. Lunch is soup, salad, and sandwiches (pot luck from whatever people bring to share) and dinner is an East Indian feast from the heavens. (Some of our American friends prepare this delicious array of treats.) Plenty of time is allowed for games, dancing and singing together. All activities are encouraged, but optional. The festival runs on small donations from people who come to enjoy and learn. There is no set amount, and donations are put into a jar entirely on an honor system.
The last few years we have gone on a moonlit walk to the Peace Towers, which are lit up at night. It's become a special and enjoyable tradition. A few people drive and shuttle weary-footed ones back if needed.
Sunday we have breakfast (pot-luck) that may include oatmeal porridge, toast, fruit, yogurt, etc. For the food preparation and clean up, many hands make light work, and we have a lot of fun in the big kitchen. There is a long tradition of people sharing the work and pitching in. Not sure what to do? Just ask! Sunday after breakfast we meet in a big sharing circle and each person has an opportunity to offer their comments and suggestions about the festival. We usually wind up with three or four songs and join-in drumming before saying good-bye, gathering our things, breaking camp, and leaving the lodge clean and tidy.
For more information visit the International Peace Garden website at http://www.peacegarden.com/.
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5.) 2004 North Dakota Immigrant Access Forum, August 5, Fargo
Date: Thursday, August 5, 2004
Location: Holiday Inn, 3803 13th Avenue South, Fargo, North Dakota
Sponsors: Lutheran Social Services, Center for New Americans; North Dakota Department of Public Instruction; North Dakota Department of Human Services; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food & Nutrition Services; Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Federal and State speakers will discuss: 1. The rights of immigrants to access Federally subsidized services and programs 2. The protections afforded immigrants under Federal civil rights laws pertaining to employment/labor; TANF; HIPAA; food assistance; Medicaid; INS issues; education; housing limited English proficiency; and Medicare/prescription drug program.
Expected participants: Social service and health care providers, immigrant advocates, and beneficiaries.
Contact information: For questions contact Anna Spradlin (1-800-368-1019 or 1-303-844-7902 or anna.spradlin@hhs.gov) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights.
Cost: Estimated cost $25, CEU’s pending, and brochures forthcoming
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6.) Families of People Who Have Been Incarcerated Meeting, June 9, Bismarck
Come Join Families of People Who Have Been Incarcerated Wednesday, June 9, 2004 1:00 pm Veterans Memorial Library 515 North 5th Street Room C – Downstairs Bismarck Contact: DJ - 866-223-9601
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7.) Native Vote 2004
The Native Vote 2004 Campaign is an extensive national non-partisan effort to mobilize the American Indian and Alaska Native vote in collaboration with regional organizations, local tribal governments, centers serving the Indian populations of urban centers, and non-governmental organizations whose focus is on democracy initiatives.
For a more in-depth explanation of the purpose of the 2004 Native Vote Campaign, please read Optimizing Our Power at the Polls.
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8.) North Dakota Progressive Coalition Job Announcement, Minot Community Organizer
The North Dakota Progressive Coalition is hiring a full-time community organizer in the Minot area. The position will organize low- and moderate-income people in the Minot area to advocate for themselves for economic and social justice; and organize the local progressive network and its campaign for economic and social justice. Qualifications include strong communication skills, ability to work independently and as part of a team with a diversity of people, and commitment to progressive social and economic justice. The NDPC is a statewide coalition of 34 member organizations working to build connections among diverse communities for progressive economic and social justice. The community organizer will report to the Executive Director. The NDPC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
For additional information contact Don Morrison, North Dakota Progressive Coalition, 410 E. Thayer Ave. Ste. 2, Bismarck, ND 58501. (Phone) 701-224-8090.
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9.) Public Announcement: People Escaping Poverty Project, 3rd Annual PEPP Fest Dye Folk Festival, June 12, Moorhead
People Escaping Poverty
Project
This Fundraiser represents
this cooperation between people, culture and organizations.
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10.) Save the Date – Next Town Hall Meeting, July 21, Bismarck
From the Bismarck Mayor’s Committee on Human Relations:
The next Mayor's Town Hall Meeting (being sponsored by the Mayor's Human Relations Committee and the North Dakota Fair Housing Council) will held the evening of July 21st at the Best Western Doublewood Inn. Start time to be determined. Based upon the evaluations received previously, the meeting will again focus on race/national origin discrimination in the Bismarck community but will be a follow-up to the previous meeting. Initial plans include a limited number of panels and more audience interaction through discussion and small group break-outs to draft an Action Plan for eliminating discrimination in Bismarck and advancing diversity.
We will need strong community presence (again) and want attendees to be an active piece of the process. It is our community and we need to work together to effect change.
An agenda and registration flyer will be distributed in June...we will also be looking again for endorsers for the event as well.
We are also tentatively considering a Town Hall on disability issues this fall/winter (depending on funding) based upon evaluations received.
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11.) SAVE THE DATE, North Dakota Human Rights Coalition Conference, November 5 & 6, 2004, Bismarck
!!! SAVE THE DATE !!! Friday, November 5 & Saturday, November 6, 2004 North Dakota Human Rights Coalition 2nd Annual Conference“Human Rights: The Economic Impact of Discrimination”
Location: Best Western Ramkota Hotel 800 South Third Street Bismarck, ND 58504
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12.) Knowing & Understanding Your Rights is the First Step in Receiving Equal Rights
Learn how to attain your rights
1st Thursday of
Each month 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
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North Dakota Human Rights Coalition P.O. Box 1961 Fargo, North Dakota 58107-1961 Phone: (701) 239-9323 Fax: (701) 478-4452 Email: humanrights@ndhrc.org
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