Welcome to the HRC website!

Posted by hrc on January 11, 2011  |   Comments Off

The Yellow Springs Human Relations Commission is made up of seven Village residents who are appointed by Village Council.  Each HRC member serves a two-year term.


Current HRC Members: Shane Creepingbear, Cheryl Smith, Patti Dallas, Jannirose Fennimore, Joan Chappelle,  John Booth (Village Council Rep)

The Mission of the Human Relations Commission:

To promote harmony among the citizens of the Village and to work to eliminate prejudice and discrimination within the Village against any individual or group because of race, religion, nationality, heritage, gender, age, physical disability, sexual orientation, or economic class.

In the spirit of keeping the community fully informed about Commission activities and emerging human relations issues, the HRC  plans to create a directory of human resources, sponsor public forums, and  maintain a website, which can also serve as a means of receiving inquiries and concerns from the community.  Community members can keep informed of HRC activities, get to know its members, and contact us directly via email.  Minutes of recent meetings will be posted online as well.

Finally, we will keep the community abreast of upcoming events and projects we sponsor as part of our mission to promote goodwill in the Village and address such concerns as discrimination, unfair practices, and working to make a welcoming and caring community for everyone who lives in Yellow Springs.

To meet our board members, click here.

Minutes for July 2010

Posted by hrc on August 17, 2010  |   Comments Off

Human Relations Commission Meeting Minutes for July 2010
Present: Joan Chappelle, John Booth, Patti Dallas, Gerry Simms, 2 citizens arrived midway thru meeting
Minutes of June 2010 approved
Citizen’s Concerns: None
Old business:
1. Youth Building Workshop – planning for all day workshop August 8th. Place TBD
2. Skate Park Music Fest – Event held 11 July 2010. Gathered input from skaters on what they would like. Council may match up to $50,000 for park improvements. Each HRC member was asked to think of a ways fund park improvements.
3. Website – A meeting will be held week of 17 July to learn how to manage the site.
4. Block Party Plans – plans are progressing for a number of parties the 21st of August.
5. Report on Police data – Data was provided from 1991 to present. No meaningful concussions could drawn from the data. Will ask the police chief to provide data on youth and minorities to see if it can be determined if discrimination exists.

New Business:

1. Police Complaint – none

Meeting Adjourned

Minutes for June 2010

Posted by hrc on August 17, 2010  |   Comments Off

Human Relations Commission Meetings Minutes for June 9, 2010

Present Joan Chappelle, chairperson of HRC, John Booth, council Rep., Patti Dallas, Heather Wright, Gerry Sims, Rose Pelzel, new member

Minutes from May 12, 2010 and December 2009 were approved, with one abstaining. Typo amended and approved.

Agenda:
Old Business-
1. Skate Park –John Booth will meet with Chief Grote, Mark Cundiff and Matt Housh prior to skate park party in July. Joan will provide John with names for fundraising. John – from retreat- village council will take a systems approach to all park issues: dog park possibilities, skate park, community gardens, and alternatives to Short Street project.
Discussion: Outcomes may affect HRC plans. Land use is a huge issue, need for public input is essential. Quick decisions affect many. Proposed funding is not approved at this point.

2. High School Assembly – Gerry Sims- Rights and Responsibilities Assembly at Yellow Springs High School. Gerry will work with new principal. School has all the information concerning the proposed assembly. Gerry will be working on this over the summer.

3. Community Forum on Police/Public Relations – Joan, Patti, Gerry, Cheryl, Heather – “The New Jim Crow” Bill Moyer video viewed by members of HRC. Suggestion that it be shown to the general public met with mixed response. Relevance to YS issues not clearly delineated. Request for clarity of nature of complaints received by the HRC. Suggestions for increasing recognition of officers (12 new officers in a village of 3500). Have articles in the YS News introducing new officers, better understanding of chain of command in the village, coffee with the police.

Discussion: Why is HRC fielding complaints about the police?
1. Citizens feel they are being heard, something is being done
2. Chief Grote is being made aware of the problem.
HRC will need further directives. Problems associated with hearing complaints about the police include:
HRC doesn’t’ wish to be misrepresented as soft on crime
Anonymity when the complaint is vague or general versus using the officer’s name when there is a specific complaint.
The need for clarification as to what is inappropriate police behavior
Further topics of discussion related to this item:
Does Council want to for a process such as a police commission?
Civil Liberties of citizens is a charge of the HRC
What power could be given to HRC?
What statistical data is available to substantiate complaints?
Can HRC get information on possible profiling (youth, African Americans) and on excessive force?
Joan C. remarked there is someone who is willing to produce a spread sheet for this purpose.
John B. would like number of arrests and what the charges were
Joan and Gerry will work on data-gathering
What is the function and purpose of HRC? Not a grievance board for the police
Inform villagers of specific function of HRC, our limitations and what the procedure we will follow when a complaint is made.

4. Clean Up Your Neighborhood (and Downtown Day)
1. It’s another gathering/community event
2. Curb appeal/hit ordinance of walkability
3. not just a community builder but helps people identify toxic materials in their homes and yards
Clean up downtown to make it more attractive and address removing trash can, cleaning up the bike paths, sidewalks. Start with neighborhoods then tackle downtown.
Will plan this for next year – week prior to trash week

Block Parties – August 21, 2010
35 parties – each person support 2-3
Budget per party: $20.00 a piece
Ads, coffee and bagel day

New Business –

Youth Skate Park wants money for party -$400.00
Heather has one more meeting

John – YS Visioning Study and Report Update-
39 primary 40 secondary issues They are consistent with Council goals
these are not directives
Patti – HRC may create something addressing desire for diversity, more township collaboration, more school board collaboration, what we will support

Website – Patti and Cheryl will go to meet with Brooke to learn to get data entered and create a text – Brooke will take pictures

John – another complaint with the police was received

Meeting Adjourned

Respectfully, Cheryl Smith

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  • Welcome to our website!

  • Who We Are

    The Yellow Springs Human Relations Commission is a board of village residents appointed by — and reporting to — Village Council.

  • What We Do

    We work to promote goodwill in the Village by sponsoring community-building events, supporting the needs of actively engaged youth, and helping people access services like community mediation.

  • Where We Meet

    HRC gathers the second Wednesday of the month at 7pm on the second floor of the Bryan Community Center at 100 Dayton Street.


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  • We’re Seeking New Members!

    Don't be shy — there is space on the commission and we need your help to realize this year's goals. Meetings are monthly, and weekly communications between members are informal. Contact us to find out more.