County Human Relations Commissions and Councils

If you believe in fighting discrimination in all its forms in York County, please Like, Follow & Comment on A Better Quality of Life for All: YORK COUNTY HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION. https://www.facebook.com/countywidehrc?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Open Letter to the York County Commissioners (with over 100 signers — see below) urging the establishment of a COUNTYWIDE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION to fight discrimination in all its forms in York County (published in 2020). 🟠 “We the following voters, taxpayers, leaders, educators, pastors, rabbis, ministers, entrepreneurs, business owners, organizations and advocates respectfully submit the following open letter for peace, equality and justice for all in York County. We think and believe that a pressing need exists for an effective York County Human Relations Commission. We recognize that we are a sampling of the larger, rich, growing diversity and broad walks of life in York County. We know that many more friends and neighbors support and will support this cause. An effective County Human Relations Commission is important for York County to heal, nurture, be competitive, and thrive in the 21st century. We sincerely thank our honorable York County Commissioners for their service and consideration.

Jamiel Alexander (York City), Reverend Aaron Anderson (York City), Dr. Monea T. Abdul-Majeed, Naomi Asper of Pride Hanover (Spring Grove), Rabbi Jeffrey R. Astrachan (Temple Beth Israel, York), Charlie and Mary Anne Bacas (York City), Chad Baker (Manchester Township), Anu Banks of the Movement (York City), Rena Borkhataria, Ph.D. (Director of the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program Collaborative, York City), C. Kim Bracey (former Mayor, City of York), Vernon Bracey (Springettsbury Township), John Brenner (former Mayor, City of York), Rev. Dr. Bruce Bouchard (Jackson Township), Jeanne Buckingham, York City Human Relations Commissioner (City of York), Steve Busch (York City), CASA (organizing, advocating for, and expanding York’s Latino and immigrant communities), Tony Campisi, Chairman Glatfelter Insurance Group (Springettsbury Township), Ophelia Chambliss (Manchester Township), Dommonick Chatman (York City), David Christiansen (Chancellor, Penn State York), Rev. Carla Christopher (Hanover), Cheril Chronister (Dover, Vice Chair, York City Human Relations Commission), Anne Clark (York City), Matthew Clay-Robison (Spring Garden Township), Mabusha Cooper (York City), Frank Countess (Spring Garden Township), Rebecca Countess (Spring Garden Township), Richard Craighead (York City), Karen Crosby (York City), Heidi Doe Cox (York Township), Thomas and Cynthia Donley (Spring Garden Township), Samantha Dorm (Spring Garden Township), Tanya Dozier (Shrewsbury Township), Shawn Fink (West Manchester Township), Pastor Joel Folkemer (United Lutheran Church), Maria Gable (York City), Tim Gallagher (Red Lion), Anne K. Gray (Spring Garden Township), Shae Habersham (York City), Representative Carol Hill-Evans (York City), Mayor Michael Helfrich (City of York), Linda Hengst (York City), Alicia Hoover (Springettsbury Township), Kevin and Anika Jackson (West Manchester Township), Matthew Jackson (Hanover Borough), Mike Jefferson (Spring Garden Township), The Jewish Community Center , Eleanor Justice (Stoverstown), Christina Kauffman (Spring Garden Township), Angela Kessel (Penn Township, Hanover), Rabiya Khan (York City), Dr. Jamie Kinsley (Springfield Township), Jeff Kirkland (York City), Rabbi Marshal Klaven (York Jewish Community Center, Acting CEO/President), Latinos Unidos of York , Rachel Leach (Springettsbury Township), Willa Lefever (North Codorus Township), Frank LittleBear (Lower Windsor Township), Margorie Mattis (Dover Township), Janelle Mancuso (Sterwartstown), Shawn Mauck (Borough Manager, West York), Rev. Joan Maruskin (York City), Dr. Judith McCormick-Higgins (Lower Windsor Township), Shannon McElroy (York City), R. Eric Menzer (York City), George Moore (York Township), Harold Myers (Springettsbury Township, York City Human Relations Commissioner), Montez Parker II (Springettsbury Township), The Parliament Arts Organization, Mark Platts (President, Susquehanna National Heritage Area), Melissa Plotkin (Spring Garden Township), the Honorable Jeanine Pranses (Borough Councilwoman, Hanover), Rainbow Rose Center, Mark Rhodes (York City, York City Human Relations Commissioner), Rev. Chris Rodkey (Dallastown Borough), Dr. Sherry Roland-Washington (York City), Karin Rollins-Fitch (Chair and Commissioner, York City Human Relations Commission), Delma Rivera-Lytle (Springfield Township), George Sanders (Red Lion Borough), Henry Senatore (Penn Township, Hanover), Ralph Serpe (York City), Ronald Sexton (East Manchester Township), John Shadle (York Haven), Jody Shaffer (Executive Director, YWCA of Hanover), Erin Shrader (Dover Township), J.J. Sheffer (Manchester Township), Bobby Simpson (CEO, Crispus Attucks Association), Bill Shipley (Chairman, Shipley Energy), Tyson Singletary (York City), Beth A. Smith (York Township), Mike Smith (York City), Christina M. Stetler (Manchester Township), William Swartz III (Spring Garden Township), Julie Swope, Commissioner, York City Human Relations Commission (York City), Tesla Taliaferro (York City), The Honorable Bryan Tate (York City, York County Register), John Terlazzo (York City), Sandra Thompson, Esq., President, NAACP of York (City of York), Jean M. Treuthart (CEO, YWCA York), Tonya Thompson-Morgan (York City), Terrell Turner (Stewartstown Borough), Bryan Wade (Hallam Borough), Shaleeta Washington, Esq. (Newberry Township), Calvin Weary II (York City), Peg and Delma Welch (York City), Brenda Wintermyer (Dover), Dr. Ken Woerthwein, Commissioner, York City Human Relations Commission (Felton), York County Hispanic Coalition , Danny Lynn Wineholt (West Manchester Township), and Bob Wood (York City), joined by all elected officials of York City Council and these supporters with strong York County roots or connections: Abe Amoros (Susquehanna Township), Matthew Apol (Syracuse, New York), Lou Appell (San Diego, California), Erin James (Dauphin County), Emily Leader (City of Harrisburg), Joan Mummert (New Oxford, Adams County), Dr. Amanda Rich (Baltimore, MD), Pam Becker Royer (Fairfax, Virginia), urban expert David Rusk (Washington, D.C.), and Kelly Summerford (City of Harrisburg).

🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴
Open Letter: County-wide and County-wise Human Relations Commission For York County

When adequately staffed, 48 human relations commissions do good work throughout Pennsylvania. In addition to these 48, about 150 operate throughout the nation.

If the Golden Rule (treating our neighbors as we want to be treated) is to be our county’s earned reputation and if we want to help prevent racial violence and acts of hate, we need a well-functioning human relations commission for all of York County, w hich has 72 municipalities and 17 school districts, spans 911 square miles, and keeps growing to over 450,000 people.

An adequately staffed York County Human Relations Commission, approved by the York County Commissioners and funded by the County as well as perhaps multi-year “lockbox” commitments from private partners, would lead to healing real wounds and build trust between our police and people while working to ensure equality and peace with liberty, justice and basic dignity for ALL in York County.

A county-wide human relations commission is an important tool, among others, to level the playing field for all those individuals who are perceived as “others” or “different” and to stamp out systemic racism and discrimination.

For a multi-part approach to combating bigotry and discrimination, see this 2018 column calling for a county human relations commission and other measures.
https://www.ydr.com/story/opinion/columnists/2018/05/10/racism-york-county-community-leaders-submit-action-plan-letter/598632002/

Throughout our commonwealth and nation, human rights commissions build bridges between all peoples and between the marginalized and institutions.

Based on best practices from human relations commissions throughout the nation and based on guidance from the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, a county-wide human relations commission’s primary focus would be outreach, training, education (workplaces, board rooms, schools, places of worship), anti-bullying, building bridges between citizens and police departments, and media relations.

A secondary focus, when all of the above are not effective, would be intervention, conflict de-escalation, mediation and conflict resolution. The vast majority of the commission’s efforts would be on these two focuses.

When necessary and when threshold, documented evidence (not hearsay) will be established by trained officials, as a last resort, the human relations commission would process civil legal complaints, in accordance with state law and due process as well as standards of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission.

Local human relations commissions are the primary local means to root out and deter any Jim Crow and Jim Crowesque practices that discriminate in housing, employment, transportation, shops, restaurants, coffee shops, lunch counters, gyms, malls, parks and other public places against people who are “different” because of religion, disability, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, sexual identity, familial status, veteran status, or use of a support dog.

Here’s a nutshell summary of what a human relations commission is.

To learn more about the effectiveness and approaches of human relations commissions, please see the authoritative book on the subject: Human Relations Commissions: Relieving Racial Tensions In The American City ( 2020), by Professors Brian Calfano and Valerie Martinez-Ebers. For an overview and a list of functioning commissions throughout the nation, see also:
https://www.briancalfano.com/human-relations-commissions

The authors conclude that human relations commissions are effective agents of peace, tolerance and equality, as well as racial, inter-ethnic, and social understanding and cohesion, when they are properly funded and staffed.

Also, a county-wide human relations commission would be county- wise. Fostering empathy, awareness, collaboration, and innovation, such a commission would have the important benefit of positioning York County as an authentically open-minded place open for business, open to ideas, open to collaboration and partnerships, and open to visitors.

We can flip the script. We can turn over the old narrative of York County as a behind-the-times, closed off, drive-through rustbelt between Amish Country to the east and world-famous Gettysburg to our west.

Launching a dynamic county commission with a full-time executive director focusing on robust education, training, seminars, intervention, and media and crisis outreach would be an important element in York’s story as one of our nation’s great comeback metro-areas, an underdog that beat the odds and overcame its past to seize the day and win the race.

We can become known as an open-minded place open for business, open to ideas, and open to visitors. That brand is in our grasp. We can walk that talk.

We can build and be an inclusive brand.

York County has had its fair share of well-publicized lapses and hurtful, humiliating incidents. Unfortunately, there will likely be more incidents. However, a human relations commission director serving as a crisis communications spokesperson can do wonders to show our pro-active leadership and commitment to inclusiveness and peace.

We can turn brain drain into brain gain and make our home a place our children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and their friends want to explore, live in, and celebrate.

We can be one York, a beloved community, with liberty, equality and justice for all.

Background Sidebar

In 1996, community, business, and non-profit leaders came together to publish the first Rusk Report, which contains a host of civic renewal proposals called “challenges for change.” Author David Rusk is a highly respected, data-driven, urban expert who has studied over 100 metro areas throughout the nation.

In 2004, United Way of York County, WellSpan Health, York College, York County Chamber of Commerce, York Community Foundation, Better York, Healthy York County Coalition and other leaders distilled many of these proposals as “ready solutions” under the name of York Counts. One such solution was establishing a countywide human relations commission.
https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:38959cc4-f991-4c92-9034-d9ea0c3b7bd9 =1

Doing so is, first and foremost, about equality, inclusion, peace, justice, and equity for all, regardless of religion, disability, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, sexual identity, familial status, veteran status, or use of a support dog.

But it’s also about smart, good economics and leaving a good, moral legacy and fair playing field.

York County has been in the national news at least 11 times in recent years for issues of intolerance and racism. (Baltimore Sun, USA Today, Newsweek, New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, CNN, ESPN, BBC News, The Hill).

Because our brand is how others perceive and talk about us, not how we want others to see us, too often, backwardness and intolerance, if not racism, unfortunately have become York County’s not-so subliminal brand.

Our timing couldn’t be worse because soon, more than half the population of the United States will be non-white. Already, neighboring Maryland is over 50% non-white. The Mid-Atlantic is becoming a multi-cultural polyglot. Will we embrace diversity as a beautiful strength to seize in the 21st century? Or will we lag behind and get lost in the crowd?

We want our neighborhoods, employers and colleges to attract and retain the best and brightest, but that quest gets stressed when we are turning off half the best and brightest.

We can do better. With moral courage and commitment, and based on best practices, we can be poised to flip the script and seize our destiny as an open-minded place open for business, open to ideas, and open to visitors.

We can be the inclusive brand we are destined to be. We can thrive together as a beloved community of unity, One York with equality, liberty and justice for all.

🔵Here’s a unanimously approved York City Council Resolution supporting robust dialog on establishing a York County Human Relations Commission.
https://www.yorkcity.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Human-Relations-Commission-Countywide-2-FINAL.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0jsq2PbJgoTHt980f7XH_t_O60CIocBY3q5qW0gA9n_ykaRYw7hznHj18

🔵Here’s a solid overview from the Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service entitled Guidelines for Effective Human Relations Commissions
https://www.justice.gov/archive/crs/pubs/gehrc.htm

🔵Here’s a recent petition to the York County Commissioners on change.org that already has over 700 signatures.
https://www.change.org/p/york-county-commissioners-establish-a-york-county-human-relations-commission-in-pa

🔵Here is the 2004 commitment made by business, political and community leaders to found a countywide human relations commission: “Secure the commitment of York County Commissioners to endorse the establishment of a County Human Relations Commission and to actively support the enforcement of its mission and outreach efforts.” Page 21 of YorkCounts Action Plan.

https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:38959cc4-f991-4c92-9034-d9ea0c3b7bd9 =1http://yccf.org/wp-content/uploads/YorkCounts-Action-Plan-February-2004.pdf

🔵Here’s a link to some of the many times York County has been in the national news in recent years for intolerance and racism:
https://m.facebook.com/groups/1019957458208273/permalink/1391201177750564/

🔵Here’s a link to the authoritative book on human relations commissions: Human Relations Commissions: Relieving Racial Tensions In The American City ( 2020), by Professors Brian Calfano and Valerie Martinez-Ebers.
http://cup.columbia.edu/book/human-relations-commissions/9780231191012
Calfano and Martinez-Ebers delve into the history and current efforts of human relations commissions in four cities: Los Angeles, Cincinnati, Fort Worth (Texas) and Pittsburgh in promoting positive, intergroup outcomes and enforcing antidiscrimination laws. The authors conclude that human relations commissions can be effective agents of peace, tolerance and equality; and racial, inter-ethnic, and social understanding and cohesion, when they are properly funded and authorized.

🔵York is on the national stage in a good way! From the national Human Rights Consulting Group (HRC Group), click this link, https://www.hrcgroup.org/news, scroll down to read where the HRC Group writes: "Read more about the critical efforts by our partners in York, PA:
https://www.ydr.com/story/opinion/columnists/2018/05/10/racism-york-county-community-leaders-submit-action-plan-letter/598632002/"

🔵 https://www.iaohra.org/
This is the link to the homepage of the International Association of Official Human Rights Associations.

🔵 https://www.phrc.pa.gov/About-Us/Pages/About-PHRC.aspx
This is the link to the homepage of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commissions.

OPEN LETTER &York), rhttps://www.facebook.com/100628971813325/posts/135487674994121/?d=n

🔵 https://www.iaohra.org/
This is the link to the homepage of the International Association of Official Human Rights Associations.

🔵https://www.phrc.pa.gov/About-Us/Pages/About-PHRC.aspx
This is the link to the homepage of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commissions.

🟠 Here’s the link to site telling you everything you ever wanted to know about a countywide human relations commission. https://www.facebook.com/countywidehrc/

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A Better Quality of Life for All: York County Human Relations Commission is brought to you by THE VALLEY: Building Community, Connections & People Power in the Susquehanna Valley. Our Mission: "To uplift diverse lives & protect our environment through member-sourced Awareness, Alliances, Advocacy and Activism."
Our Justice-minded Vision: The Beloved
Community Imagined and Happening Locally & Globally."

Link to THE VALLEY: Building Community, Connections & People Power in the Susquehanna Valley: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1019957458208273

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Here’s the link to A Better Quality of Life for All: York County Human Relations Commission: https://www.facebook.com/countywidehrc/

“To fight discrimination in all its forms” - OVER 100 business, political and community leaders (plus many leading York County organizations and non-profits) have now signed this letter to support a countywide human relations commission to fight discrimination in all its forms. Check out the names of signers. https://www.ydr.com/story/opinion/2020/09/08/county-wide-and-county-wise-human-relations-commission-york-county/5750092002/

A county-wide and county-wise human relations commission for York County An adequately staffed York County Human Relations Commission would heal real wounds while working to ensure equality.

Open Letter to the York County Commissioners (with over 100 signers) urging the establishment of a COUNTYWIDE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION to fight discrimination in all its forms in York County (published in 2020). 🟠 https://www.facebook.com/countywidehrc/ : “We the following voters, taxpayers, leaders, educators, pastors, rabbis, ministers, entrepreneurs, business owners, organizations and advocates respectfully submit the following open letter for peace, equality and justice for all in York County. We think and believe that a pressing need exists for an effective York County Human Relations Commission. We recognize that we are a sampling of the larger, rich, growing diversity and broad walks of life in York County. We know that many more friends and neighbors support and will support this cause. An effective County Human Relations Commission is important for York County to heal, nurture, be competitive, and thrive in the 21st century. We sincerely thank our honorable York County Commissioners for their service and consideration.

Jamiel Alexander (York City), Reverend Aaron Anderson (York City), Dr. Monea T. Abdul-Majeed, Naomi Asper of Pride Hanover (Spring Grove), Rabbi Jeffrey R. Astrachan (Temple Beth Israel, York), Charlie and Mary Anne Bacas (York City), Chad Baker (Manchester Township), Anu Banks of the Movement (York City), Rena Borkhataria, Ph.D. (Director of the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program Collaborative, York City), C. Kim Bracey (former Mayor, City of York), Vernon Bracey (Springettsbury Township), John Brenner (former Mayor, City of York), Rev. Dr. Bruce Bouchard (Jackson Township), Jeanne Buckingham, York City Human Relations Commissioner (City of York), Steve Busch (York City), CASA (organizing, advocating for, and expanding York’s Latino and immigrant communities), Tony Campisi, Chairman Glatfelter Insurance Group (Springettsbury Township), Ophelia Chambliss (Manchester Township), Dommonick Chatman (York City), David Christiansen (Chancellor, Penn State York), Rev. Carla Christopher (Hanover), Cheril Chronister (Dover, Vice Chair, York City Human Relations Commission), Anne Clark (York City), Matthew Clay-Robison (Spring Garden Township), Mabusha Cooper (York City), Frank Countess (Spring Garden Township), Rebecca Countess (Spring Garden Township), Richard Craighead (York City), Karen Crosby (York City), Heidi Doe Cox (York Township), Thomas and Cynthia Donley (Spring Garden Township), Samantha Dorm (Spring Garden Township), Tanya Dozier (Shrewsbury Township), Shawn Fink (West Manchester Township), Pastor Joel Folkemer (United Lutheran Church), Maria Gable (York City), Tim Gallagher (Red Lion), Anne K. Gray (Spring Garden Township), Shae Habersham (York City), Representative Carol Hill-Evans (York City), Mayor Michael Helfrich (City of York), Linda Hengst (York City), Alicia Hoover (Springettsbury Township), Kevin and Anika Jackson (West Manchester Township), Matthew Jackson (Hanover Borough), Mike Jefferson (Spring Garden Township), The Jewish Community Center , Eleanor Justice (Stoverstown), Christina Kauffman (Spring Garden Township), Angela Kessel (Penn Township, Hanover), Rabiya Khan (York City), Dr. Jamie Kinsley (Springfield Township), Jeff Kirkland (York City), Rabbi Marshal Klaven (York Jewish Community Center, Acting CEO/President), Latinos Unidos of York , Rachel Leach (Springettsbury Township), Willa Lefever (North Codorus Township), Frank LittleBear (Lower Windsor Township), Margorie Mattis (Dover Township), Janelle Mancuso (Sterwartstown), Shawn Mauck (Borough Manager, West York), Rev. Joan Maruskin (York City), Dr. Judith McCormick-Higgins (Lower Windsor Township), Shannon McElroy (York City), R. Eric Menzer (York City), George Moore (York Township), Harold Myers (Springettsbury Township, York City Human Relations Commissioner), Montez Parker II (Springettsbury Township), The Parliament Arts Organization, Mark Platts (President, Susquehanna National Heritage Area), Melissa Plotkin (Spring Garden Township), the Honorable Jeanine Pranses (Borough Councilwoman, Hanover), Rainbow Rose Center, Mark Rhodes (York City, York City Human Relations Commissioner), Rev. Chris Rodkey (Dallastown Borough), Dr. Sherry Roland-Washington (York City), Karin Rollins-Fitch (Chair and Commissioner, York City Human Relations Commission), Delma Rivera-Lytle (Springfield Township), George Sanders (Red Lion Borough), Henry Senatore (Penn Township, Hanover), Ralph Serpe (York City), Ronald Sexton (East Manchester Township), John Shadle (York Haven), Jody Shaffer (Executive Director, YWCA of Hanover), Erin Shrader (Dover Township), J.J. Sheffer (Manchester Township), Bobby Simpson (CEO, Crispus Attucks Association), Bill Shipley (Chairman, Shipley Energy), Tyson Singletary (York City), Beth A. Smith (York Township), Mike Smith (York City), Christina M. Stetler (Manchester Township), William Swartz III (Spring Garden Township), Julie Swope, Commissioner, York City Human Relations Commission (York City), Tesla Taliaferro (York City), The Honorable Bryan Tate (York City, York County Register), John Terlazzo (York City), Sandra Thompson, Esq., President, NAACP of York (City of York), Jean M. Treuthart (CEO, YWCA York), Tonya Thompson-Morgan (York City), Terrell Turner (Stewartstown Borough), Bryan Wade (Hallam Borough), Shaleeta Washington, Esq. (Newberry Township), Calvin Weary II (York City), Peg and Delma Welch (York City), Brenda Wintermyer (Dover), Dr. Ken Woerthwein, Commissioner, York City Human Relations Commission (Felton), York County Hispanic Coalition , Danny Lynn Wineholt (West Manchester Township), and Bob Wood (York City), joined by all elected officials of York City Council and these supporters with strong York County roots or connections: Abe Amoros (Susquehanna Township), Matthew Apol (Syracuse, New York), Lou Appell (San Diego, California), Erin James (Dauphin County), Emily Leader (City of Harrisburg), Joan Mummert (New Oxford, Adams County), Dr. Amanda Rich (Baltimore, MD), Pam Becker Royer (Fairfax, Virginia), urban expert David Rusk (Washington, D.C.), and Kelly Summerford (City of Harrisburg).

🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴
Open Letter: County-wide and County-wise Human Relations Commission For York County

When adequately staffed, 48 human relations commissions do good work throughout Pennsylvania. In addition to these 48, about 150 operate throughout the nation.

If the Golden Rule (treating our neighbors as we want to be treated) is to be our county’s earned reputation and if we want to help prevent racial violence and acts of hate, we need a well-functioning human relations commission for all of York County, w hich has 72 municipalities and 17 school districts, spans 911 square miles, and keeps growing to over 450,000 people.

An adequately staffed York County Human Relations Commission, approved by the York County Commissioners and funded by the County as well as perhaps multi-year “lockbox” commitments from private partners, would lead to healing real wounds and build trust between our police and people while working to ensure equality and peace with liberty, justice and basic dignity for ALL in York County.

A county-wide human relations commission is an important tool, among others, to level the playing field for all those individuals who are perceived as “others” or “different” and to stamp out systemic racism and discrimination.

For a multi-part approach to combating bigotry and discrimination, see this 2018 column calling for a county human relations commission and other measures.
https://www.ydr.com/story/opinion/columnists/2018/05/10/racism-york-county-community-leaders-submit-action-plan-letter/598632002/

Throughout our commonwealth and nation, human rights commissions build bridges between all peoples and between the marginalized and institutions.

Based on best practices from human relations commissions throughout the nation and based on guidance from the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, a county-wide human relations commission’s primary focus would be outreach, training, education (workplaces, board rooms, schools, places of worship), anti-bullying, building bridges between citizens and police departments, and media relations.

A secondary focus, when all of the above are not effective, would be intervention, conflict de-escalation, mediation and conflict resolution. The vast majority of the commission’s efforts would be on these two focuses.

When necessary and when threshold, documented evidence (not hearsay) will be established by trained officials, as a last resort, the human relations commission would process civil legal complaints, in accordance with state law and due process as well as standards of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission.

Local human relations commissions are the primary local means to root out and deter any Jim Crow and Jim Crowesque practices that discriminate in housing, employment, transportation, shops, restaurants, coffee shops, lunch counters, gyms, malls, parks and other public places against people who are “different” because of religion, disability, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, sexual identity, familial status, veteran status, or use of a support dog.

Here’s a nutshell summary of what a human relations commission is.

To learn more about the effectiveness and approaches of human relations commissions, please see the authoritative book on the subject: Human Relations Commissions: Relieving Racial Tensions In The American City ( 2020), by Professors Brian Calfano and Valerie Martinez-Ebers. For an overview and a list of functioning commissions throughout the nation, see also:
https://www.briancalfano.com/human-relations-commissions

The authors conclude that human relations commissions are effective agents of peace, tolerance and equality, as well as racial, inter-ethnic, and social understanding and cohesion, when they are properly funded and staffed.

Also, a county-wide human relations commission would be county- wise. Fostering empathy, awareness, collaboration, and innovation, such a commission would have the important benefit of positioning York County as an authentically open-minded place open for business, open to ideas, open to collaboration and partnerships, and open to visitors.

We can flip the script. We can turn over the old narrative of York County as a behind-the-times, closed off, drive-through rustbelt between Amish Country to the east and world-famous Gettysburg to our west.

Launching a dynamic county commission with a full-time executive director focusing on robust education, training, seminars, intervention, and media and crisis outreach would be an important element in York’s story as one of our nation’s great comeback metro-areas, an underdog that beat the odds and overcame its past to seize the day and win the race.

We can become known as an open-minded place open for business, open to ideas, and open to visitors. That brand is in our grasp. We can walk that talk.

We can build and be an inclusive brand.

York County has had its fair share of well-publicized lapses and hurtful, humiliating incidents. Unfortunately, there will likely be more incidents. However, a human relations commission director serving as a crisis communications spokesperson can do wonders to show our pro-active leadership and commitment to inclusiveness and peace.

We can turn brain drain into brain gain and make our home a place our children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and their friends want to explore, live in, and celebrate.

We can be one York, a beloved community, with liberty, equality and justice for all.

Background Sidebar

In 1996, community, business, and non-profit leaders came together to publish the first Rusk Report, which contains a host of civic renewal proposals called “challenges for change.” Author David Rusk is a highly respected, data-driven, urban expert who has studied over 100 metro areas throughout the nation.

In 2004, United Way of York County, WellSpan Health, York College, York County Chamber of Commerce, York Community Foundation, Better York, Healthy York County Coalition and other leaders distilled many of these proposals as “ready solutions” under the name of York Counts. One such solution was establishing a countywide human relations commission.
https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:38959cc4-f991-4c92-9034-d9ea0c3b7bd9 =1

Doing so is, first and foremost, about equality, inclusion, peace, justice, and equity for all, regardless of religion, disability, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, sexual identity, familial status, veteran status, or use of a support dog.

But it’s also about smart, good economics and leaving a good, moral legacy and fair playing field.

York County has been in the national news at least 11 times in recent years for issues of intolerance and racism. (Baltimore Sun, USA Today, Newsweek, New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, CNN, ESPN, BBC News, The Hill).

Because our brand is how others perceive and talk about us, not how we want others to see us, too often, backwardness and intolerance, if not racism, unfortunately have become York County’s not-so subliminal brand.

Our timing couldn’t be worse because soon, more than half the population of the United States will be non-white. Already, neighboring Maryland is over 50% non-white. The Mid-Atlantic is becoming a multi-cultural polyglot. Will we embrace diversity as a beautiful strength to seize in the 21st century? Or will we lag behind and get lost in the crowd?

We want our neighborhoods, employers and colleges to attract and retain the best and brightest, but that quest gets stressed when we are turning off half the best and brightest.

We can do better. With moral courage and commitment, and based on best practices, we can be poised to flip the script and seize our destiny as an open-minded place open for business, open to ideas, and open to visitors.

We can be the inclusive brand we are destined to be. We can thrive together as a beloved community of unity, One York with equality, liberty and justice for all.

🔵Here’s a unanimously approved York City Council Resolution supporting robust dialog on establishing a York County Human Relations Commission.
https://www.yorkcity.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Human-Relations-Commission-Countywide-2-FINAL.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0jsq2PbJgoTHt980f7XH_t_O60CIocBY3q5qW0gA9n_ykaRYw7hznHj18

🔵Here’s a solid overview from the Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service entitled Guidelines for Effective Human Relations Commissions
https://www.justice.gov/archive/crs/pubs/gehrc.htm

🔵Here’s a recent petition to the York County Commissioners on change.org that already has over 700 signatures.
https://www.change.org/p/york-county-commissioners-establish-a-york-county-human-relations-commission-in-pa

🔵Here is the 2004 commitment made by business, political and community leaders to found a countywide human relations commission: “Secure the commitment of York County Commissioners to endorse the establishment of a County Human Relations Commission and to actively support the enforcement of its mission and outreach efforts.” Page 21 of YorkCounts Action Plan.

https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:38959cc4-f991-4c92-9034-d9ea0c3b7bd9 =1http://yccf.org/wp-content/uploads/YorkCounts-Action-Plan-February-2004.pdf

🔵Here’s a link to some of the many times York County has been in the national news in recent years for intolerance and racism:
https://m.facebook.com/groups/1019957458208273/permalink/1391201177750564/

🔵Here’s a link to the authoritative book on human relations commissions: Human Relations Commissions: Relieving Racial Tensions In The American City ( 2020), by Professors Brian Calfano and Valerie Martinez-Ebers.
http://cup.columbia.edu/book/human-relations-commissions/9780231191012
Calfano and Martinez-Ebers delve into the history and current efforts of human relations commissions in four cities: Los Angeles, Cincinnati, Fort Worth (Texas) and Pittsburgh in promoting positive, intergroup outcomes and enforcing antidiscrimination laws. The authors conclude that human relations commissions can be effective agents of peace, tolerance and equality; and racial, inter-ethnic, and social understanding and cohesion, when they are properly funded and authorized.

🔵York is on the national stage in a good way! From the national Human Rights Consulting Group (HRC Group), click this link, https://www.hrcgroup.org/news, scroll down to read where the HRC Group writes: "Read more about the critical efforts by our partners in York, PA:
https://www.ydr.com/story/opinion/columnists/2018/05/10/racism-york-county-community-leaders-submit-action-plan-letter/598632002/"

🔵 https://www.iaohra.org/
This is the link to the homepage of the International Association of Official Human Rights Associations.

🔵 https://www.phrc.pa.gov/About-Us/Pages/About-PHRC.aspx
This is the link to the homepage of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commissions.

OPEN LETTER &York), rhttps://www.facebook.com/100628971813325/posts/135487674994121/?d=n

🔵 https://www.iaohra.org/
This is the link to the homepage of the International Association of Official Human Rights Associations.

🔵https://www.phrc.pa.gov/About-Us/Pages/About-PHRC.aspx
This is the link to the homepage of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commissions.

🟠 Here’s the link to site telling you everything you ever wanted to know about a countywide human relations commission. https://www.facebook.com/countywidehrc/