PAUR Report
Programs ~ Announcements ~ Updates ~ Resources
Friday, October 5, 2007
North Dakota Human Rights News
www.ndhrc.org
Hello members and friends of the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition!
Select individual headings to view specific content. Thank you for reading.
In this PAUR Report:
Announcements
Events
Reminders
NEWS:
Native American Nicknames / Mascot
Tribal
Race & National Origin
Gender & Sexual Orientation
Women's Rights
Disabilities
Religion
Miscellaneous
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
HumanRights@NDHRC.org
and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Please Note: The NDHRC distributes a weekly PAUR report to inform our members
and friends about news, events, and other human rights related information
around the state. The opinions expressed within the articles are those of the
authors and are not endorsed by the NDHRC.
We need your help and support to make a
difference. Your individual advocacy is invaluable. Please consider
making a monetary donation to help support the NDHRC's work. Send your
donations to NDHRC, P.O. Box 1961, Fargo, ND 58107-1961 or make a donation
online by visiting
www.ndhrc.org. Free memberships are
also available.
New NDHRC members: as a membership benefit you
have received an e-mail subscription of our weekly e-mail newsletter, the NDHRC
PAUR Report. If you would like to be removed from the PAUR Report mailing
list, please send an email to
humanrights@ndhrc.org.
NEW: New
Service Helps Families Connect to Child Care Online
Families across North Dakota can now find licensed child care with a click of
a mouse at
www.ndchildcare.org. Child Care Resource and Referral has
launched an on-line child care search service.
This new service puts the most up-to-date listings of licensed child care at
the fingertips of families. The customized search helps families locate child
care options based on the type of care needed, the ages of the children, their
schedule and location.
In addition to helping families locate child care,
www.ndchildcare.org also offers child care tips, a parent’s
handbook and other resources for families seeking child care and caregivers
working to provide quality child care in their communities.
Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) helps families search for child
care, supports child care programs and works with communities to address child
care issues.
For more information contact Linda Lembke, Child Care Resource and
Referral Program Director at 218-299-7026 or
lindal@lakesandprairies.net; or Linda Reinicke, Child
Care Resource and Referral Program Director at (o) 701-530-2501, (c)
701.226.2510 or
lreinicke@lssnd.org.
[top]
NEW:
The Fair Housing of the Dakotas (FHD) announces the release of a
new fact sheet on fair housing and domestic violence. This fact
sheet is the 7th in the FHD's popular series on fair housing issues. The fact
sheet rose out of increasing calls from victims of domestic violence to the
FHD; new federal legislation and case law which is unknown to housing
providers and the public; and an increase in cases of domestic violence and
evictions of victims in North and South Dakota and across the country. The
fact sheet was also reviewed by advocates who assist victims of domestic
violence.
[top]
NEW:
The North Dakota Council on Abused Women’s Services is seeking
a new Executive Director
Executive
Director, North Dakota Council on Abused Women’s Services/Coalition Against
Sexual Assault in North Dakota (NDCAWS/CASAND)
Seeking a creative
and dynamic individual to serve as executive director of statewide coalition of
domestic violence and sexual assault organizations. Responsibilities include
staff leadership and board development, strategic planning relating to the
coalition’s mission of supporting domestic violence/sexual assault services and
the identification and prevention of domestic and sexual violence, fund
development, organizational policy development, collaboration with diverse
agencies and organizations, and fiscal and budget management. Please call
1.888.255.6240, extension 11, for application packet. Deadline for submission
is October 15th.
[top]
NEW: A series was published on housing
discrimination over the weekend by Gannett News Services (publishers of USA
Today). There are several related stories at:
http://azcentral.gns.gannettonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=HOUSING
One story in particular I've noted below states that North Dakota
is one of the states with the highest number of complaint filings per
100,000. On average, we have assisted people in filing between 30-40 housing
discrimination complaints per year the last few years with the North Dakota
Department of Labor's Division of Human Rights. A majority of the cases are
filed through Fair Housing the Dakotas, and in particular the cases in which
discrimination is found to have occurred
[top]
NEW: Bright Bird : The Art of Corita Kent
Thank you for the opportunity to tell you about an extraordinary social
justice project now in Fargo-Moorhead. You are needed to make this
once-in-a-lifetime project a success. This is art for our time with a heart to
reach the community.
Bright Bird: The Art of Corita Kent utilizes the fine arts to energize the
social justice and human rights conversation in Fargo-Moorhead. The ultimate
goal of this project is to attract and connect new people to our outstanding
array of local nonprofit organizations, thereby creating critical mass for
social change work.
The Corita Center in Los Angeles has loaned its permanent collection of the
works of activist nun Sister Corita Kent to Fargo-Moorhead at no cost. This is
an unprecedented opportunity. The work will be shown at the Spirit Room Gallery
during September and October 2007. Corita Center Curator Alexandra Carrera
opened the project with a gallery talk September 15. The award-winning new play
about Corita “Little Heart” will make its Midwest Regional Premiere as a staged
reading by our own local Theatre B.
Playwright Irene O’Garden will come to Fargo-Moorhead from New York to work with
Theatre B and lead audience discussions. Ten weekly presentations will highlight
the social justice and artistic aspects of the work. Finally, a closing
convening ceremony will recreate Corita’s famous social justice project –the
“Wall of Boxes.”
Corita Kent was originally from Fort Dodge, Iowa. She became a nun and was
witness to turbulent times in 1960s America. Her art began to express her
concerns over this country’s war, racism, and oppression. She created her
powerful serigraphs based on literary quotations, pop culture, song lyrics, and
advertising symbols. She created the “Love” stamp, one of the best-selling
stamps in US Postal history. The type font “Mistral”, used at the top of this
page, is based on her calligraphy. Corita’s work appears in many galleries
including the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, the Metropolitan Museum
of Art, and the Museum of Modern Art, both in New York City. Please visit
www.corita.org to view samples of her work.
Partners in this vision for social and community change are Sister Andrea
Arendt/Presentation Prayer Center; Dawn Morgan/Spirit Room Gallery; Jill
Johnson-Danielson/artist & project coordinator; Duke Schempp/People Escaping
Poverty Project; and Carrie Wintersteen/Theatre B.
Your donations and time are needed to make sure that this project
successfully finishes in the black. Tax-deductible donations may be sent to:
Presentation Prayer Center, 3001 11th Street South, Fargo, ND 58102. Executive
Director Note: Please Indicate Bright Bird/Corita on your check.
http://www.corita.org/coritadb/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=38&Itemid=30
[top]
NEW:
National Hate Crime Legislation
The Senate voted to expand coverage
under the Hate Crimes Act by adding sexual orientation, gender and disability to
the protected classes. This was accomplished by amending the Department of
Defense (DOD) reauthorization bill to include
S. 1105, the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of
2007. This bill is expected to be completed in the Senate this week,
setting up a conference between the House and Senate to resolve the differences
in the bills. The House DOD reauthorization bill is silent on hate crimes.
[top]
NEW:
The ABCs of Conflict Resolution
In today's multicultural schools, resolving conflict effectively means being
culturally aware. This edition of The Anti-Bias Classroom can help students and
educators strengthen their
cultural sensitivities.
Lesson 1: My Multicultural Self
Lesson 2: Communication is Cultural
Lesson 3: Checking on Stereotypes
Lesson 4: Conflict Resolution and Peace
Lesson 5: In-Group Favoritism
Lesson 6: Professional Development Activity
[top]
NEW:
Talk To Kids About ... How To Resolve Conflict
When Dana Williams' son became the focus of a childhood crush, conflict soon
followed. She
shares tips for other parents.
[top]
NEW:
Six Lessons from Jena
The prosecutions of six black teenagers in Jena, La., have captured the nation's
attention. As school professionals, we must never lose sight of the fact that it
all started with nooses hanging from a schoolyard tree. Explore the
six key lessons for schools and educators.
[top]
Peace Talk Radio, a local
program dedicated to exploring the possibilities for peace on our planet
through inspiring dialog, creative solutions and a firm belief in the original
goodness of humanity, is inviting local people who have experienced
discrimination based on their race, economics, gender, religion, disability or
whatever, in the Fargo Moorhead community, to come in or call in to our radio
program and tell us your story. We believe that our personal stories can
reach the hearts of a sleepy public and bridges of caring, compassion and
community can be built. If you are interested, our program is on Sat.
mornings, 9:00 to 11:00 AM on KNDS Radio, 105.9 FM. It is not a "hot talk"
program and we will not tolerate hate calls. It is a safe environment. Please
contact Paddy McLaughlin at 701-232-0694 or
angelight33@juno.com to set a date and
time. We are laid back and make for a comfortable interview by phone or at the
studio.
[top]
Weekly protests against Fighting Sioux
nickname & logo
A group of peaceful
protestors opposed to the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo will be at the eagle
statue again this Thursday from 11:30-12:30 passing out flyers with a Q&A
about the Fighting Sioux issue and holding up People Not Logos posters. They
plan to have a presence at the statue every Thursday for the rest of the
semester. Contact Amber Annis: 701-739-6954,
amberannis@gmail.com
[top]
HECUA is announces 2008 Partners
Internship Program request for proposals.
The Partners Internship Program (PIP) provides internship grants to nonprofit
organizations in Minnesota, North Dakota and northwestern Wisconsin. HECUA
(Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs) administers the program, which
was created and is funded by the Otto Bremer Foundation.
Each recipient organization hires an undergraduate student who manages a
project designed by the organization. With this grant, interns are paid to work
full time for 400 hours or 10 weeks during the summer. Twenty nonprofit
organizations will be awarded PIP grants for Summer 2008. HECUA (Higher
Education Consortium for Urban Affairs) provides training and internship support
for both the organization and the interns before, during, and after the
internship. Organizations that received a PIP grant in 2005, 2006, or
2007 are not eligible to receive a PIP grant for 2008.
Deadline to apply: November 27, 2007. Upcoming information sessions:
Go to
www.hecua.org/pip.html for details on each.
Duluth, MN- Thursday, October 4th
St. Cloud, MN- Wednesday, October 17th
Alexandria, MN- Wednesday, October 17th
Willmar, MN- Wednesday, October 17th
Marshall, MN- Wednesday, October 17th
Redwood Falls, MN- Wednesday, October 17th
Brainerd, MN- Thursday, October 18th
Grand Rapids, MN- Thursday, October 18th
St. Paul, MN- Thursday, October 18th
International Falls, MN- Friday, October 19th
Mankato, MN- Friday, October 26th
Fargo, ND- Wednesday, October 31st
Bismark, ND- Thursday, November 1st
Grand Forks, ND- Friday, November 2nd
Eau Claire, WI- Thursday, November 8th
Menomonie, WI- Monday, November 12th
For more information: Please visit
www.hecua.org/pip.html or email
pip@hecua.org.
[top]
High Commissioner for Human Rights hails
adoption of Declaration in Indigenous Rights
United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour hailed today's adoption by the
General Assembly of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
calling it "a triumph for justice and human dignity".
"It was a long time coming", she said, "but the hard work and
perseverance of indigenous peoples and their friends and supporters in the
international community has finally borne fruit in the most comprehensive
statement to date of indigenous peoples' rights".
The Declaration, adopted this afternoon in New York after more than
two decades of negotiations at the United Nations among Member States, with
the participation of indigenous peoples from around the world, addresses both
individual and collective rights; cultural rights and identity; rights to
education, health, employment, language, and others. It outlaws discrimination
against indigenous peoples and promotes their full and effective participation
in all matters that concern them. It also ensures their right to remain
distinct and to pursue their own visions of economic, social and cultural
development. The Declaration explicitly encourages harmonious and cooperative
relations between States and Indigenous Peoples.
The High Commissioner said the Declaration will provide impetus for
renewed international efforts to address the pressing concerns of the world's
370 million indigenous people.
"I convey my warmest congratulations to all who made this historic
day possible", she said. "The adoption of the Declaration truly is a triumph
for justice and human dignity".
http://www.ohchr.org/english/press/media.htm
[top]
Know A Woman Who Should Run for Public
Office?
The Women's Campaign Forum has launched the She Should Run
campaign, a comprehensive effort to gather nominations of 1,000 pro-choice
women who should run for public office. WCF is committed to ensuring these
women get the essential encouragement they need and to providing them access
to key campaign education and resources. Do you know a woman who should run?
Research shows women are much more likely to run if someone asks them to. Tell
a woman she should run for office, share her story, and send her on her way
toward becoming the civic leader she was always meant to be. For more
information, visit
http://www.sheshouldrun.org/page/content/nominatenotify/
AAUW encourages women to be active in and knowledgeable about
the political process. She Should Run provides another resource towards that
goal. To understand more about how you can influence the debate, visit the
AAUW
Voter Education Campaign.
[top]
AARP is offering a scholarship for women
over 40 years of age. To learn about the scholarship see this website:
http://www.aarpfoundationwlc.org/
[top]
AAPD Summer
Internship Opportunity
The American
Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is now accepting applications for
the 2008 Summer Internship Programs. Details and the application are
available on the AAPD website, under Leadership Development, at:
www.AAPD.com. Applications are due Friday, December 14, 2007.
[top]
The
Arc of Bismarck is currently accepting applications for the next class of
eight Partners In Policymaking sessions which will begin in October.
With funding provided primarily through a grant from the State Council on
Developmental Disabilities, The Arc of Bismarck is able to provide this training
completely free of charge to selected participants. If you would like more
information or an application, visit our website at
www.arcofbismarck.org/partners
or e-mail joyce@apsimail.com
or call 888-258-7949 or 701-258-7949.
[top]
ND Workers'
Comepensation Review Ccommittee
The ND Workers’
Compensation Review Committee invites injured employees with
compensation-related issues to apply for review of their claims. The Committee
cannot adjudicate claims, but is seeking information that may lead to changes in
North Dakota’s workers’ compensation laws.
Click here for additional
information from George Keiser, Chairman, Workers’ Compensation Review
Committee.
Click here for online
application forms.
[top]
Hundreds of thousands of “War is Not
the Answer” yard/window signs have been distributed across the country.
Concerned families are expressing their support for our troops and for
peaceful resolutions to today’s international conflicts. Now there is real
change going on in Congress. The process is very fluid. Yard signs
everywhere will help to change the political environment in North Dakota
toward peace. “War is Not the Answer” yard/window signs, with stakes, are
immediately available in Bismarck-Mandan from Larry Spears (258-1899).
Please make a contribution of $5.00, if you will, to Bismarck Quaker
Meeting, 15160 Sundown Dr, Bismarck, ND 58503-9206.
[top]
PEPP: Voter Collaborative Recruitment
Why do you care about who is running? Why should we have a voter
collaborative? Why do you vote at all?
We are looking for new folks to help with the voter collaborative. We are
also seeking past collaborative members to join in the efforts for the Get
Out The Vote campaigns and Candidate Forums for the 2007 Moorhead City Council
and school board elections. We will also start to talk about 2008 and
elections happening in June for Fargo and Cass county leading us into the
November elections.
Our first challenge together will be to craft a message that will move even
the most apathetic person out there to at least think about getting to the
polls. If you are interested, please call the PEPP office at 218-236-5434.
[top]
NDHRC & Professional Issues Conference
present: Jennifer Baumgardner & damali ayo
** Online Registration Available Now! **
Mark your calendars today! NDHRC
and the Professional Issues conference are collaborating on a conference,
"The Human Rights Umbrella: Removing Barriers to Full Participation," scheduled for
Fri.-Sat.,
Oct. 19 & 20. The conference will feature tracks focused on human rights, GLBT,
disability, and New American issues. In those tracks, presenters will cover
topics such as education, law, diversity issues, activism, health & human
services, and spirituality.
Two keynote speakers!
We’re proud to bring you two keynote speakers for
this year’s conference. First is damali ayo,
a conceptual and performance artist known for her work on contemporary race
relations, who will address our Friday evening reception. Her work spans the
media of painting, web art, performance, sculpture, audio and video.
Jennifer Baumgardner,
best-selling author and
former Fargoan, will speak Saturday over lunch. The author of “Look Both Ways:
Bisexual Politics,” “Grassroots” and “Manifesta” will touch on a variety of
human rights issues, including her work on sexuality, feminism and activism.
"God Grew Tired of Us"
A screening of the
award-winning documentary about the Lost Boys of Sudan. The free screening will
be held in NDSU's Century Theatre.
Watch for e-mail updates or click
here for details
(updated as information is available).
[top]
NDHRC Presents: Death Penalty Photo Exhibit
NDHRC will be bringing a photography exhibit on the death penalty by Langley
Creations Photography, created in partnership with Amnesty International USA, to
cities in North Dakota in 2007 and 2008. The first exhibit will be at the
North Dakota State University Memorial Union Gallery in Fargo, during our
annual human rights conference in October, 2007. We’ll ask people knowledgeable
about the death penalty to conduct presentations during the exhibits; Judge
Ralph R. Erickson, the U.S. District Court Judge who presided over the trial
of Alfonso Rodriguez will speak at NDSU in Fargo in October.
* NDSU Memorial Union Gallery, Fargo: October 17-21; Judge Erickson will
speak October 17 (time TBA)
See more info
here.
[top]
NEW: Regional Forum and a Statewide Conference
to ascertain barriers, education needs, and potentially effective strategies for
promoting arts careers for individuals with disabilities in North Dakota.
Who should
attend: Individuals with disabilities interested in pursuing careers as
artists or arts administrators (including those who may not have a disability,
but are responsible for accessibility within their organization).
When & Where: (all
Forums scheduled from 1-4 p.m., CST)
October 23,
2007: Bismarck, Bismarck Public Library
November 15,
2007: Grand Forks, North Dakota Museum of Art
January 8, 2008:
Minot, Minot State University Campus
February 20,
2008: Fargo, Plains Art Museu
Statewide
Conference will be held in Bismarck at the Kelly Inn Hotel on April 7, 2008
(schedule to be announced). Forum will be conducted by the North Dakota Council
on the Arts, along with the Dakota West Arts Council (a VSA arts affiliate), and
the North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities (a University Center of
Excellence on Developmental Disabilities). Attendance at the forums is free and
open to the public. There will be a minimal registration fee for the statewide
conference. If you are nterested in attending any of the forums, the statewide
conference, or would like additionl information, contact Amy Schimdt at
701-328-7594 or
amschmid@nd.gov; or Linda Olsrud at 701-222-6640 or
Linda@dakotawest.org. These Forums are accessible to persons with
disabilities. Requests for special accommodations, sign language interpretation
or other auxiliary aids should b directed to Dawn Olson at 800-233-1737 at least
five days prior to attendance.
[top]
NEW:
The upcoming 7th Annual Red River Valley Women Studies Conference is
seeking proposals. This year, the 25th anniversary of Women Studies at UND, we
will host the event on the Grand Forks' campus, Nov. 16th.
Proposals for paper presentations
or creative projects engaging in issues relating to women are welcome. Please
submit a 50-500 word abstract by Oct. 15th to this email address:
kathleen_king@und.nodak.edu. Faculty, Professionals, and Students are
equally welcome to submit. You can find a poster and registration materials at
http://www.und.edu/dept/women/rrwsconference07.htm **Please note an
address correction: Registrations should be sent to 305 Hamline NOT 205 Hamline.***
Students are free to attend the
conference at no cost, except for the luncheon. However, students whose
proposals are accepted will have their lunch paid for by the UND Women Studies
program.
Thanks for helping pass the word
about this exciting opportunity to meet, discuss, and engage in research about
women's lives.
Contact: Kathy Coudle King,
Sr. Lecturer - English & Women Studies, University of North Dakota:
701-777-2787.
[top]
NEW: Gini
Duval is hosting an Equali-TEA Party in honor of the North Dakota
Women’s Network.
4pm, Sunday,
October 21, 2007 @ Gini Duval’s House,
807 Park Drive, Fargo. Contact Gini Duval:
701-306-3454
Attend to discuss interesting issues of
importance to women, meet other women and relax with a nice cup of tea (...or
coffee, or water, or wine…). Renee Stromme, Director of the North Dakota Women’s
Network and Sylvia Morgan, Women’s Studies Professor Emerita will lead the
discussion.
[top]
Seventh Annual Gandhi October Peace Month Events
The Gandhi Peace
Network of North Dakota
*6th
Annual Pack the Pantry for Peace at area grocery stores Oct 1 to Oct 30th.
*October 13th
Dedication of The Peace Place at Custer Park on Washington and Broadway in
collaboration with N D Peace Coalition in memory of Joshua Nordwall. Concert.
*6th
Annual Silent Auction for Sherman Brunelle Scholarships UTTC. In cooperation
with Cinema 100 / Grand Theater. Movie The Squid and the
Whale - 2005 (USA) -Thursday, October 18, 2007
*Human Rights,
Non-violence and Peace: Classroom grants to teachers in local schools.
*Gandhi’s
message of Peace through Art : month long events at area schools.
Gandhi Peace
Network of N Dakota was organized in after the events of 9-11- 2001. The first
community peace event was organized OCT 2nd 2001 on Gandhi’s birth
anniversary with the dedication of a Peace Pole and later free screenings of the
movie “Gandhi” at Grand Theatre and a silent auction for Peace with proceeds to
the NY Firefighters Fund. The 1st Annual Season for Non Violence was
launched in Bismarck, January 2003. Over $40000.00 has been donated for children
and women to local Bismarck Mandan charities and charities in India so far since
1994.
[top]
BCOW Mental Health Workshop in Moorhead
October 11 and 12
A two day workshop on mental health issues will
be held at the AmericInn Lodge and Suites at 600 30th Ave. S in
Moorhead October 11 and 12. There is no cost to attend. Registration begins
at 8:30 on the 11th with the first presentation at 9:00 am. Some of
the topics presented are on work related stress; the role of mental illness in
violent behavior; reintegration of American soldiers; borderline personality
disorder, and others. Certification of Participation will be offered and CEU’s
have been applied for with the MN Board of Social Work. To register contact
Teresa Meece, 218-299-6652 or tmeece@lmhc.org.
[top]
Williston's Committee on the Employment and Advancement of People with
Disabilities (CEAD) has mapped out a series of activities for October's
Disabilities Awareness Month.
Through CEAD efforts, both the Williams County
Commission and the Williston City Commission specially designated the month to
raise awareness about the pool of potential employees who may have some
limitations, but have a strong work ethic, can work and want to work.
* The second major event is a Disability
Awareness event, slated for 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Oct. 16 at Williston State
College. Committee members reported over 20 booths are expected at WSC.
Speakers at the event will include Williston City Commission President Ward
Koeser, CEAD Committee Chair Penny Pozgay, Paul Jorgenson of Rehabilitation
Counseling and Services, a representative of Independence Inc., Skipp Miller of
In Our Own Voice, Shawn Huss of Special Education Services, Dawn Bonner of
Mental Health Recovery, Lisa Johnson of NDCPD Promoting Work Incentives, a panel
of workers with disabilities, Vickay Gross of Protection and Advocacy, and
Williams County Veterans Service Officer Bob Evans on the topic of Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder.
* A noon feature of the college program will
be Jim Hodges, "Six String Stu." Hodges (not to be confused with Williston
fiddler Jim Ed Hodges), sings and plays guitar. He has received a grant from the
North Dakota Humanities Council to perform around the state. CEAD members felt
he was an ideal representative of their cause, as he is visually impaired.
For more information about CEAD, call Elaine
Sinness at 577-8104, or email:
elaine@ci.williston.nd.us
[top]
Join us for the 24th Annual North Dakota Peace Conference.
Hear
Iraq Veteran Cameron White speak about his peace work. Fold a peace crane. Learn
something new. Sing along at the peace concert. Meet other peaceniks from around
the state! To be held at the ND Heritage Center in Bismarck, Sat., Oct. 6
from 10-4:30, Dinner and Peace Concert follow at Bis-Man UU Fellowship.
Registration is $40* Includes lunch, dinner, conference, & concert.
(*Scholarships available.)
For
more information or to register, contact Annette Martel.
annette_martel@yahoo.com or
701-426-2588. Sponsored by the North Dakota
Peace Coalition.
[top]
You’re invited to a
Living On Celebration
WHEN: October 6th, 2007
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Registration
12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. -
Lunch, Program & Memorial Activity
WHERE: Comfort Inn Meeting Room
1030 Interstate Ave E
Bismarck, ND
Comfort Inn Phone: 223-1911
Living On is a support network for family and friends of victims of domestic
violence homicides. There are times when we want to share our memories
surrounded by people who have been there and understand, whether it’s been one
year or 10 since the death of your family member or friend. This is a great
opportunity to meet those people. I look forward to seeing those of you who
have become dear friends, meeting those of you who I’ve only corresponded with
on the phone or through the mail and also meeting those of you I haven’t been
able to connect with yet. Join together in sharing memories of your loved ones,
creating memories of your loved one, and to celebrate your lives as you continue
to Live On!
Please bring a picture of your loved one for each individual attending the
Celebration for an activity planned. Children are welcome! Also, other items
can be brought that remind you of your loved one (photo albums, scrapbooks, a
poem, etc). Please forward information on to other family and friends who might
be interested. If you have any questions about the event, please contact me.
RSVP:
Becky Dunker, Living On Project Coordinator: 1-888-255-6240 or 701-347-5423 or
livingon@ndcaws.org,
mail to: besco94@yahoo.com
[top]
Training in Measuring Program Outcomes Offered In
September
Classes in Measuring Program Outcomes will be
offered this fall. These classes are intended for human service agency personnel
who must develop their outcome evaluation abilities, and for students who want
to gain exposure to outcome research and develop skills highly marketable in the
human/social service arena. Responding to tremendous local, regional, and
national pressures from public and private funders, F-M area and regional human
service agencies now must systematically monitor their impact on clients and
client systems. Programs must show empirically they are doing what they said
they would do in their funding requests! This is making outcome assessment as
fundamental to human service agency operations as grantwriting and program
administration. This training is Co-Sponsored by The United Way of Cass Clay and
Minnesota State University Moorhead Continuing Studies. Five Fridays and One
Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., September 21, 28 & October 6, 12, 19, & 26,
2007. Location: Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead, MN. For more
information contact Kathleen Paulson, MSUM Continuing Studies at 218-477-5051
or
paulsonk@mnstate.edu
[top]
F/M 2007/2008
COMMUNIVERSITY
Contact 218-299-3438 for course details and registration information. Sample
courses and facilitators:
*Helping the World's Endangered Children. Darin Johnson. 11 October
discussion.
*An Introduction to Persian Poetry. Reza Saberi. 6, 13, 20, 27 October.
*The Devil in Russian Art. Kris Groberg. 7, 14, 21, 28 October.
*(Un)Common Faith for (UN)Common Times: A Theological Conversation About
Real Life Issues. Rev. Dr. Shawnthea Monroe-Mueller and Dr. Shannon Craigo-Snell.
6 October.
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PFLAG National Convention in Washington D.C.
Registration is now open for the national convention.
Register or learn more about PFLAG (Parents, Families, Friends of Lesbians &
Gays) at
www.pflag.org. From October 11-14, 2007 in Washington,
D.C., PFLAG National will give you the support, education and advocacy training
that you need to make your goals a reality. Simply put, whether you are just
getting started or are a seasoned leader, there is no better way to gain
valuable new perspectives and powerful tools than to join us this October.
Join us for the 2007 PFLAG National Convention, presented by IBM, to be
part of the family voices moving equality forward.
Early Bird registration rates extended through June 30!
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Minnkota Center GLBT Social/Discussion
Group
The Minnkota Center hosts bi-monthly social/discussion groups that are open to
men who identify as Gay, Queer, MSM, or Bisexual and to women who identify as
Gay, Lesbian, Womyn Loving Womyn, or Bisexual. Groups are held on the first and
third Wednesday of each month at the PEPP Building (116 South 12th Street,
Moorhead, MN).
For more information, please contact Katie at 287-4636 or toll-free
at 1-877-871-4636, or by email at:
katie@pepp.org
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NAACP chapter in ND:
A group out of Grand Forks has laid the
groundwork for a North Dakota chapter of the NAACP. North Dakota is one of only
two states in the United States without a chapter of the organization. Stay
posted for notices of future meetings and events. Right now, the group needs
members in order to get a charter from the national NAACP. The membership is
$30.00, and checks can be made out to, and sent to: Northern Lights Chapter of
NAACP, P.O. Box 12142, Grand Forks, ND 58208-2142. The Mission Statement of the
NAACP: "...to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality
of rights for all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial
discrimination."
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The Arc of Bismarck & The ND
Protection & Advocacy Project staff are collaborating to offer training and
support to groups or individuals wishing to participate in the legislative
process. For more details or to schedule a workshop that includes information on
how a bill becomes a law and how to draft and deliver legislative testimony,
please use one of the contact points listed below to schedule an appointment.
Please share this in your circles - Thank you! 701-258-7949.
joyce@apsimail.com
#
arcbis@midconetwork.com #
tlarsen@nd.gov
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Nonprofits Assistance Fund Launches Blog
A newly launched blog by Kate Barr, Executive Director of the Nonprofits
Assistance Fund, can be found
here . The blog focuses particularly on
nonprofit organizations, large and small, that must work to raise funds each
year. In a weekly one-pager, Kate shares her thoughts and insights on nonprofit
management. The subscription is
free and you’ll find very practical, relevant information on what all
NPO’s face every day to help make your organizations successful.
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The Local chapter of the
national campaign for the creation of a cabinet level Department of
Peace is looking for a few good men and women volunteers, across the
state, to team up to lobby for this bill. Please contact State Coordinator
and District Team Leader Paddy McLaughlin to see how you might become involved
with this powerful bill for peace. Meetings in Fargo at the Center,
every 1st & 3rd Tuesday of the month, 8 p.m. Call
701-232-0694 for details.
www.thepeacealliance.org
Local Peace Circle takes place
every Tuesday at 7:00 P.M. at The Center for Peace,
411 11th St. N., Fargo, ND. Please join us as
we meditate on, prayer for and envision the conditions necessary for healing and
peace on Earth. Contact Paddy McLaughlin, 701-232-0694
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Google News Alert for: fighting sioux
Protesting The
Fighting Sioux
Name
KFYR-TV - Bismarck,ND,USA
Protesters say they know they`re in the minority in their stance
against the Fighting Sioux nickname. But, protesters say being in the minority
doesn't mean ...
See all stories on this topic
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NDSU appeals ruling in
lawsuit
Amy Dalrymple, The Forum - 10/02/2007
The attorney representing North
Dakota State University says the judge erred when he ruled in favor of a
former sports information director in an age discrimination lawsuit ...
Assistant Attorney General Tag Anderson told the North Dakota Supreme Court on
Monday that the judge ignored testimony from NDSU officials about the cause
for firing George Ellis ... NDSU is appealing Cass County District Court Judge
Steven L. Marquart’s ruling last fall that the university should pay Ellis
more than $250,000 in front and back pay and attorney fees.
http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=179768§ion=news
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Sealing court documents in
nickname suit is wrong
Mon Oct 1, 2007 10:41 am (PST),
Oct 01, 2007 - 04:02:16 CDT
The judge shouldn't have sealed the
documents in the University of North Dakota "Fighting Sioux" nickname lawsuit
against the NCAA ... Northeast Central District Judge Lawrence Jahnke sealed all
future documents in the case in hopes the two sides can reach an agreement ...
UND and the NCAA have been trying to reach a settlement in the case, and Jahnke
is hopeful one can be reached.
http://www.bismarcktribune.com:80/articles/2007/10/01/news/opinion/editorials/140180.txt
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‘Unwelcome environment'
By Joseph Marks, Herald
Staff Writer - Published Wednesday, October 03, 2007
In a Sept. 24 memo to top administrators, UND Affirmative Action officer Sally
Page warns that university departments and programs that oppose the school's
Fighting Sioux nickname and logo may create an unwelcome environment for
nickname supporting students.
http://www.grandforksherald.com/articles/index.cfm?id=52447§ion=News
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Letter from UND
Affirmative Action officer
Published Wednesday, October 03, 2007
...I assume that most of you saw the ad on page 2A
of Saturday's Herald listing UND programs, departments, and other UND groups
supporting the name change and the logo. The problem, and it's not new, is that
UND departments and programs have and are taking race as one of their underlying
values. The effect at a department and program level is those individuals, and
more importantly American Indian students, who do not have a position on the
Sioux name or logo or who may support the name and logo may experience a
"chilling effect"
http://www.grandforksherald.com/articles/index.cfm?id=52531§ion=News
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Sioux nickname legal bill tops
$850,000
By Joseph Marks, Herald Staff Writer - 10/03/2007
UND's legal bill in its case against the NCAA over the Fighting Sioux nickname
topped $850,000 at the end of September ... On Sept. 30, UND's legal costs in
the case were at about $872,000, according to the UND Foundation and the North
Dakota Attorney General's office.
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IN THE MAIL : Nickname violates
human rights
Grand Forks Herald - Published
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
ST. PAUL, Minn. - On
Sept. 13, the United Nations General Assembly approved the U.N. Declaration on
the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It has taken more than 20 years for the
passage of a declaration outlining the minimum floor of human rights for
indigenous peoples around the globe.
Four nation-states
opposed adoption of the Declaration - the U.S., Canada, Australia and New
Zealand. It is no surprise to tribal nations in the U.S. that the supposed
advocate for human rights around the world continues to oppose basic protections
for those Native to this land and other lands. Even with this opposition, the
overwhelming majority of U.N. members (143) voted in favor of these basic
protections to provide guidance around the globe.
Article 31 of the
declaration states that indigenous peoples have the right to control and protect
their cultural traditions and expressions, including in sports. As an alum of
the UND School of Law, I am still deeply offended by the continued exploitation
of my people, the Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota Oyate, commonly referred to as the
“Sioux” by non-Natives. Not only is this offense a continuing educational
barrier that should be removed to serve the educational needs of Native peoples
in the area, but now it is a violation of the basic human rights principles of
indigenous peoples recognized around the world.
May 2008 will mark the
10th year since my graduation from UND, and in 2008 we will see the 60th
anniversary for the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. With the addition of
the Sept. 13 passage of the U.N. Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples,
isn't it about time the major public university in the state of North Dakota
stop violating Native human rights with the use of the offensive “Sioux” mascot
and start joining in the worldwide movement to accord Native peoples with the
basic dignities of life that all other populations are entitled to?
Angelique EagleWoman
EagleWoman graduated from the UND
Law School in 1998.
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Please send related news items to
mitchmarr@ndhrc.org
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Please send related news items to
mitchmarr@ndhrc.org
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Jamestown man victim of hate crime
Jackie Hyra, The Jamestown Sun - 10/02/2007
A 21-year-old Jamestown man whose
name is not being released was allegedly the victim of a hate crime, according
to Police Chief David Donegan ... “He was assaulted apparently because of his
sexual inclination,” Donegan said ... Donegan said the man was walking home at
2:45 a.m. Monday in an alley on Seventh Avenue Southeast when he was struck in
the back of the head, kicked in the ribs and slammed against a garage wall by
two men. One called the victim a derogatory word sometimes used against
homosexuals and the other said “That’s what you get.” ... The victim was treated
at Jamestown Hospital and released.
http://www.jamestownsun.com/articles/index.cfm?id=55048§ion=Community
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Please send related news items to
mitchmarr@ndhrc.org
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Disability benefits policy criticized
By Sara Kincaid,
Bismarck Tribune - Oct 02, 2007 - 14:19:13 CDT
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Please send related news items to
mitchmarr@ndhrc.org
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A gross
distortion of diversity
By Ken Foster, Commentary - 09/30/2007
John P. Calvert’s Sept.
23 opinion piece, “ ‘Diversity’ enables distrust,” was flawed in many respects.
Calvert argues that “the
wrongs of diversity are plain,” suggesting that we would all be better off if we
lived in nondiverse communities. As evidence for this he points to a recent
article by the noted political scientist Robert Putnam, reporting that Putnam
found that diversity fosters mutual distrust.
This is a gross
distortion and simplification of what Putnam actually argues in the article.
What Putnam does say is that, although levels of trust are lower in ethnically
diverse neighborhoods in the U.S., “in the long run, however, successful
immigrant societies have overcome such fragmentation.” He then provides examples
of communities (in the United States) that over time became more comfortable
with diversity.
Putnam also argues
strongly that “immigration and diversity are likely to have important cultural,
economic, fiscal, and developmental benefits.” At the end of his essay, Calvert
asks, “Where are the benefits” of diversity? To find out, he might start by
reading some more of Putnam’s work.
Calvert also cites a
statistic saying that “in rural Dakota counties” a large majority of people say
they trust their neighbors “a lot,” while in “highly diverse Los Angeles and San
Francisco” only 30 percent of people say the same. Calvert says that this
illustrates how “as diversity increases, societal bonds get weaker.” Really?
Rural Dakota counties
and large California cities differ in so many ways that this statistic by itself
tells us nothing about the impact of diversity on societal trust. And it seems
to me that that communitywide close trusting bonds are easier to form in a rural
town than in a large city -- that would be the most sensible explanation for the
cited statistic.
Calvert is upset about
“political correctness” and the like. Putnam agrees, to an extent, saying that
“it would be unfortunate if a politically correct progressivism were to deny the
reality of the challenge to social solidarity posed by diversity.” But Putnam
goes on to stress that “it would be equally unfortunate if an ahistorical and
ethnocentric conservatism were to deny that addressing that challenge is both
feasible and desirable.”
As they have since the
first Europeans came to North America, people are still coming here from all
over the world, making the U.S. a more and more diverse place. People of
different backgrounds at first
find it hard to trust each other. How
much trust was there among the Swedes, Norwegians, Germans, and English during
the days when the Red River Valley was being settled? Probably not too much. But
what a powerful and rich culture was forged as they got to know each other
better.
Indeed, rather than
writing this, I’d much rather be spending time with the people from China, the
Central African Republic, and India that I know -- and trust -- here in the Red
River Valley of the 21st Century.
Foster is an
assistant professor of political science at Concordia College in Moorhead. He
can be reached at foster@cord.edu
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New SCHIP would be welfare
By Sen. Judy Lee, The Forum
- Published Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Should a family
that qualifies to buy a $250,000 home be eligible for free health insurance?
That is essentially the question currently being debated in Washington, D.C. …
The State Children’s Health Insurance Program is receiving a great deal of
discussion now as Congress considers its reauthorization. This program, called
Healthy Steps in North Dakota, has been a very important tool for providing
health care for children through age 18 in low-income families, but the bill
recently passed by the U.S. House and Senate is a radical expansion of the
existing program.
http://www.in-forum.com/Opinion/articles/179765
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It is all about the
children
By Lou Babiarz, Tribune
Sports Editor - Oct 02, 2007 - 04:02:14 CDT
When Bismarck's Susan Kadrmas
heard about Home Run Heroes, the baseball program for disabled children
that is sponsored by the University of Mary physical therapy department,
she cried ... Then she and her husband, Elroy, signed up their 12-year-old
daughter, Emily, as soon as they could ... Emily was among the 20 or so
children enjoying the final night of the four-game Heroes season Monday at
Leach Fieldhouse ... Smiles and high-fives were exchanged enthusiastically
between players and with their buddies - the U-Mary physical therapy
students who were paired off one to each player.
http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2007/10/02/news/sports/local/140267.txt
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Margaret Bitz, Fargo, Letter: President, others can help kids’ health
Published
Friday, October 05, 2007
S-CHIP is the health
insurance program for children whose parents aren’t eligible for Medicaid or who
can’t afford the high cost of health insurance. In North Dakota that includes a
lot of children.
http://www.in-forum.com/Opinion/articles/179937
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Consumer reps seeking change
in insurance policy
By Dale Wetzel, Associated Press - Sunday, September 30, 2007
BISMARCK, N.D. - Consumer spokesmen
want a national group of insurance regulators to toughen its
conflict-of-interest policies, in part because of questions raised by last
month's resignation of former North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Jim Poolman.
Poolman's departure
