From the Director
In a time of numerous challenges, now is the time for Louisville to come together and do the work to end all forms of discrimination, biases and hatred. The staff at the Louisville Metro Human Relations Commission is committed to being a customer centric department that values diversity, equity and inclusion, and incorporates those values into the services that are provided.
To the community, we have work to do and our office welcomes the community support to make Louisville the compassionate place we love.
Verná Goatley, Executive Director, Louisville Metro Human Relations Commission
|
|
What is the Human Relations Commission (HRC)?
The Louisville Metro HRC is granted both the legal authority and responsibility to investigate claims of illegal discrimination in Jefferson County, and to enforce anti-discrimination law in housing, employment, public accommodations, and hate crimes.
In order to increase the visibility of businesses owned by people belonging certain protected classes: minority, women, and disabled business owners can certify their businesses with Metro through the HRC. In March of last year, we began issuing reciprocal certifications to local LGBT-owned businesses that are already certified with national organizations. We also monitor compliance with businesses that are awarded contracts with Metro Government.
We also promote civic activities and work to make them accessible, and to foster unity and understanding between diverse groups of people. Our goal is to ensure equitable opportunity and life outcomes for everyone in Louisville.
The HRC staff takes discrimination complaints from everyday people just like you. If you have questions about a recent discrimination action you have experienced, or if you are not sure whether something that happened was illegal discrimination, we are here to help. Call us at 502-574-3631 or email hrc@louisvilleky.gov.
|
|
The CROWN Act Becomes Law
Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair, or the CROWN Act, was signed into law in Jefferson County on Thursday, June 15, 2021. The CROWN Act amends Louisville Metro Code of Ordinances Chapter 92 with an addition to the definition of National Origin protection, specifically to protect Black Louisvillians from discrimination for wearing hair naturally or in cultural hairstyles. The ordinance also includes protections against unwanted touching of hair.
Significance of the CROWN Act
Written dress codes and policy standards for hair appearance for styles perceived to be acceptable or professional are derived from white majority culture. These standards result in creating or perpetuating anti-Black bias.
In a 2019 CROWN study conducted by the beauty brand Dove, data showed that Black women's hair is 3.4 times more likely to be perceived as unprofessional. Perception of a person's hairstyle as unprofessional can lead to the person being viewed as unprofessional due to their natural hair texture or cultural hairstyle. At work, bias against Black hair can negatively affect perceived job performance, hiring, retention, and advancement.
School dress codes prohibiting natural or cultural hair styles can result in suspensions. Even though prohibited hairstyles don't affect academic performance, suspensions do. According to the ordinance, 70% of school suspensions are discretionary, and its Black students who are disproportionally suspended from school for discretionary reasons such as dress code and hairstyle violations.
By eliminating lawful discrimination against natural hair texture related to ancestry and culture, the CROWN Act aims to change for the better the perceptions and resulting bias that unnecessarily hold back Black professionals from advancement at work, and punish Black students at school.
Enforcement
Louisville Metro aims to protect the rights of people to maintain natural hair or hairstyles that are closely associated with their racial, ethnic, or cultural identities. Under the CROWN Act, claims of discriminatory actions in Employment, Housing, Public Accommodation, and Hate Crime with evidence of harm caused to a person due to their natural hair texture or cultural hairstyles - including, but not limited to, braids, locks, twists, and hair coverings - will be enforced through the HRC under the protected class of National Origin.
If you have questions about the enforcement of the CROWN Act, or if you would like to file a discrimination complaint, call us at 502-574-3631.
|
|
Mayor outlines added support for Black-owned
& Minority-owned Businesses
Mayor Greg Fischer highlighted Louisville Metro Government’s efforts to provide more support and resources to help Black and other minority residents start and grow businesses at a press conference at the Louisville Central Community Center (LCCC) on July 2, 2021.
Despite Black residents accounting for 23.4% of Louisville’s population, only 2.4% of businesses in Louisville are Black-owned.
“We recognize that we are not going to reverse the effects of redlining, disinvestment and disenfranchisement overnight. It is going to take time and dollars,” the Mayor said. “Knowing that Black- and other minority-owned businesses do not have access to the same resources that many white business owners do, we are increasing even more our intentionality around additional support structures for those businesses in the Fiscal Year 2022 budget.”
In the Fiscal Year 22 budget, Louisville Metro allocates more than $13 million to fund initiatives aimed at supporting Black and other minority-owned businesses, including:
- $25,000 to support capacity building for Black Business Association;
- $65,000 to hire a new West Louisville Senior Economic Development Manager;
- $100,000 in additional funds for a Minority Business Incubator;
- $250,000 for Equity in Procurement;
- $1.5 million to grow the METCO small business loan program;
- $2.7 million to create a new small business assistance fund; and,
- $10 million for the West End Opportunity Partnership.
Some of these efforts, such as the METCO loan program and small business assistance fund, will provide dollars directly to businesses. The longstanding METCO program aims to help individuals who face barriers to obtaining traditional capital. Details around how the small business assistance fund will operate and eligibility are still to be determined.
Learn more about the METCO loan program at https://louisvilleky.gov/government/louisville-forward/local-loan-programs.
Other initiatives, including support for the Black Business Association, a new Minority Business Incubator, and hiring of a West Louisville Senior Economic Development Manager, will bolster networking opportunities and technical support for business owners.
By hiring a third economic development manager, Louisville Metro’s small business team will be able to help more businesses get started and expand. In 2019 and 2020, the small business team assisted more than 1,000 Black and minority-owned businesses.
In addition to the small business assistance efforts, the Fiscal Year 2022 budget includes funding for work through the Equity in Contracting & Procurement Task Force. In September, Mayor Fischer established the taskforce to close the community’s wealth gap by supporting Black-owned and Minority-, Female- and Disabled-owned Business Enterprises (MFDBEs) through supplier diversity initiatives, particularly related to capital projects.
The funding allocated in this year’s budget will help with data collection, events, the creation of a new website and more.
“The Task Force has been hard at work gathering data to establish goals and timetables directed toward increasing the use of MFDBEs and Black-owned businesses,” said Verná Goatley, Director of the Human Relations Commission and task force member. “In addition to data collection and reporting, the Task Force has been working to ensure that non-discrimination, equity, and equal opportunity are safeguarded, promoted and reflected in Louisville Metro’s workplaces, as well as its decisions affecting hiring, programs, activities, services, developments and capital projects.”
The Human Relations Commission provides business certifications for Black-owned, Minority-, Women-, and Disabled-owned businesses, and reciprocal certifications for LGBT-owned businesses, all at no cost. To learn more, visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/human-relations-commission/contract-compliance-certification, or call our compliance team at 574-3631.
View the press conference in its entirety at: https://youtu.be/moqz-8DjuMw
Learn more about the Equity in Contracting and Procurement Task Force the Office of Equity website: https://louisvilleky.gov/government/office-equity/equity-contracting-and-procurement-task-force
|
|
The Village @ West Jefferson is Now Open
Rev. Jamesetta Ferguson, senior pastor at St. Peter's United Church of Christ Louisville, founded the MOLO Village Community Development Corporation (MOLO Village CDC) in 2011 with the vision to return Louisville's Russell neighborhood to the thriving neighborhood it once was, beginning with this centralized hub. A decade in the making, The Village @ West Jefferson celebrated a well-attended grand opening on July 9, 2021 with prominent local figures and media present for Mayor Greg Fischer's ribbon cutting.
The 30,000 sq. ft. mixed-use facility is now full of tenants, with a few still putting the finishing touches on their suites. The businesses and services inside The Village will satisfy community needs in 5 program areas:
- The Restored Village will support reentry and reduce recidivism;
- The Healthy Village will provide healthy living programs, health-management, exercise, recovery programs, and food distribution through community partnerships;
- The Empowered Village will support residents in developing and implementing individualized self-improvement with programming, activities, and referrals.
- The Future Village will nurture at-risk youth deeply affected by poverty and incarceration with positive cultural activities with a focus on producing an engaged citizenry; and,
- The Isiduko Village will meet the needs of Russell's senior adults with safe, consistent programming, activities, and meals.
The Village Tenants include:
The Village @ West Jefferson is located at 1219 W. Jefferson at 12th Street. Learn more at https://www.molovillagecdc.org/
|
|
Community Celebrates the Life of Bud Dorsey
In memory of acclaimed Louisville photographer Bud Dorsey, the Human Relations Commission would like to extend its sincere condolences to his family, and to the community so moved by Mr. Dorey’s visual storytelling.
This week’s edition of the Louisville Defender Newspaper honors Mr. Dorsey, where he was a photojournalist and mentor to photographers for two decades:
What a better way to remember a photojournalist than to remember them through their lens and how they made us feel and see the world.
That was Charles F. “Bud” Dorsey, Jr., he captured the hearts, mind, soul and respect of the African American Community through the lens of his camera.
“We were thankful for Bud showing up to our events, when we saw Bud coming with the camera and bag on his hip, we knew we had made it and our efforts would be documented, because he was going to, as no other could, capture the essence of the event.”
Thank you, Charles F. “Bud” Dorsey, Jr. for all you hard work and lifelong personal and professional dedication to uplifting others and using your “Gift of the Lens” that God gave you to memorialize for history the struggles, the achievements and positive aspects of the African American community!”
In Mr. Dorsey's memory, community members are asked to consider donations to the Louisville Story Program, the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, the Western Branch Library, and the Black Media Collaborative.
Bud Dorsey's book of photography, Available Light: Louisville Through the Lens of Bud Dorsey, is available at the Louisville Free Public Library, or for purchase at LouisvilleStoryProgram.org.
|
|
Community Events
Upcoming Events:
|
| |
 |
1st & 2nd Division
America's Night Out Against Crime
Tuesday, August 3rd, 2021 - 5pm to 8pm
This annual family-friendly event promotes neighborhood safety & unity; crime, drug & violence prevention; and police & community partnerships. Brought to you by Louisville Parks & Recreation, enjoy food, drinks, prizes, giveaways, and live music with Fire & EMS, LMPD Specialty Units, Neighborhood Watch, Crime Prevention information, and so much more. This event at Kroger, 2710 W. Broadway, is free and open to the public.
|
|
| |
 |
Mayor's Hike, Bike & Paddle
Labor Day - Monday, September 6, 2021
More information to come at:
https://louisvilleky.gov/government/city-events/mayors-hike-bike-and-paddle
|
| |
 |
WorldFest
Friday, September 3 - Monday, September 6, 2021
More information to come at:
https://louisvilleky.gov/government/city-events/worldfest
|
| |
 |
2021 Louisville Pride Festival
September 18, 2021 - 8am to 5pm
The Louisville Pride Foundation's 6th Annual Pride Festival is an annual street fair and concert on Bardstown Road in the Highlands neighborhood of Louisville. The 2021 festival will feature food & beverages; over 100 vendor booths will display arts, crafts, businesses, non-profits, and local service providers; national entertainers and local performers; a Wellness Zone; and Family Area.
This annual celebration of the LGBTQ community is open to everyone.
Established in 2014, the Louisville Pride Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that promotes Louisville as one community that celebrates diversity, fosters inclusion for all and embraces the LGBTQ+ community. The foundation seeks to promote this unity between LGBTQ+ people and straight allies by engaging in a conversation with the broader community about what makes us one while celebrating what makes us different.
For more information, or to sign up as a sponsor, vendor, or volunteer, visit LouisvillePride.com.
|
| |
|
|
For more Metro Department events, visit the Metro Events Calendar.
|
|
|
This Quarter in Civil Rights History
July
July 2, 1964 - President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, making segregation in public facilities and discrimination in employment illegal.
July 26, 1948 - President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981, which stated, "It is hereby declared to be the policy of the President that there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin."
On July 28, 1868 - Secretary of State William Seward declared the 14th Amendment part of the U.S. Constitution. Several weeks earlier, on July 9th, the required number of states had ratified this second of the three Reconstruction Amendments. Previously known as the Civil Rights Act of 1866, The 14th Amendment forbids states from denying any person "life, liberty or property, without the due process of law" or to "deny a to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." Even today, the 14th Amendment to the Constitution provides a basis for civil rights claims in all areas of American Life.
August
August 28, 1917 - Ten Suffragists were arrested during protest outside of the White House. Throughout 1917, more than a thousand women from across the country picketed in Washington D.C., urging President Woodrow Wilson to pass the "Anthony Amendment" to the U.S. Constitution, ensuring them the right to vote. Throughout June and November 218 women were arrested sent to the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia or the District of Columbia jail. Arrests resulted in hunger strikes and forced feedings. Wilson finally agreed to support women's suffrage the following year, though as a "war measure."
August 28, 1955 - Emmett Till, a fourteen year-old Black boy, was brutally murdered for allegedly flirting with a white woman in Mississippi. Two white men charged with the crime were acquitted by an all-white jury. They later boasted about committing the murder. The public outrage generated by the case helped spur the civil rights movement.
August 28, 1963 - The civil rights movement reached its peak when 250,000 people gathered at the Lincoln Memorial for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, which included the demand for passage of meaningful civil rights laws. Here, Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous I Have a Dream speech.
September
September 16, 1837 - William Whipper, a wealthy African American from Lancaster County, Pa., published "An Address on Non-Resistance to Offensive Aggression" in The Colored American, outlining his commitment to a nonviolent response to the evils of slavery. Whipper edited a newspaper, The National Reformer, a publication of the American Moral Reform Society, and supplied food and transportation to fugitive slaves who reached Pennsylvania along the Underground Railroad.
September 20, 1850 - The District of Columbia abolished the slave trade, though slavery itself was not outlawed. Washington D.C. became a haven for free African Americans, and by 1860, they outnumbered the enslaved by nearly four-to-one. In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln freed D.C.'s remaining ~3,000 enslaved Black people.
|
|
Global Louisville Directory & Highlights
Louisville Metro Office for Globalization has launched the Global Louisville Directory of city services, educational institutions, professional and business services, stores, restaurants, and more, of, by, and for Louisville's diverse immigrant community. Immigrant business owners, and other organizations and business offering services for the immigrant community are welcome to register themselves on the directory.
In Global Lou Highlights, find weekly suggests of diverse ethnic restaurants, bakeries, and groceries in Louisville. Try something new, find new favorites, and support Louisville's diverse small businesses.
|
|
September is Civic Awareness Month
Civic awareness is knowledge of the political and non-political functions within a community that promote quality of life among its citizens. It’s the precursor to civic engagement, which is the action of pursuing either paid or unpaid work that improves civic life for all citizens within a community.
Engagement is known to increase knowledge of current events, to improve personal and interpersonal skills, and getting involved in civic life is an intrinsic motivator for more positive actions. Civic engagement leads to a more informed citizenry and improved quality of life, making a community a better place for everyone in it.
Get Involved and Make a Difference
- Civic Opportunities in Louisville Metro Government -
Work for Metro
Louisville Metro employees make a difference throughout the city every day. Find your next job at LouisvilleKY.gov/careers.
Boards & Commissions
Are you interested in serving on a Metro Board? Board appointments are volunteer opportunities where you can work alongside other citizens to improve the quality of life for all Louisvillians, improve your professional network, and enhance your professional experience. Metro has approximately 100 boards in many areas of interest including business and economic development, land planning, parks and recreation, and public health and safety. Learn more about boards & commissions, vacancies, and the application process at: https://louisvilleky.gov/government/mayor-greg-fischer/boards-and-commissions-list
Human Relations Advocacy Board Vacancy
The Advocacy Board has one open vacancy. About this board:
The Advocacy Board shall endeavor to promote and secure mutual understanding and respect among all economic, social, religious, ethnic, and social groups in the metropolitan area, and shall act as conciliator in controversies involving intergroup and interracial relations. The Human Relations Commission-Advocacy shall cooperate with federal, state, and other local agencies in efforts to develop harmonious intergroup and interracial relations, and shall endeavor to enlist the support of civic, religious, labor, industrial, and commercial groups, and civic leaders dedicated to the improvement of human relations and elimination of discriminatory practices.
This board is comprised of 10 members appointed by Mayor Greg Fischer with the approval of Metro Council, and appointees serve a term of 3 years. If you're interested in applying for this board position, please visit: https://louisvilleky.gov/government/mayor-greg-fischer/boards-and-commissions-list and search for Human Relations Commission.
Never Miss a Metro Council Meeting
Virtual Metro Council meetings have given the public more opportunity to see our local government at work, and to get involved. Keep an eye on the meeting schedule and never miss the discussion topics that are important to you. Members of the public can also request to speak at a meeting. Meetings are broadcast live on the Louisville Metro Council Facebook page.
|
|
Did you Know?
The vast majority of police interactions never result in confrontation or use of physical force against a citizen. But, if you feel you're being treated unfairly, avoid potential problems by eliminating confrontation at the scene, and wait to object later. Always be respectful and calm throughout the interaction.
Your rights:
- You have the right to ask why you were stopped.
- If the officer is not in uniform, you have the right to ask for a uniformed officer.
- Officers are required to supply you with their name and code number if you request it.
- If they refuse, calmly record the location, date and time.
- You have the right to ask for a supervisor to respond to the scene.
If you feel you've been treated unfairly or that your civil rights were violated during an encounter with a police officer, contact LMPD's Professional Standards Unit at 502-574-7144, or contact the Human Relations Commission for assistance at 502-574-3631.
|
|
How to file a Discrimination Complaint
 If you would like to file a complaint of illegal discrimination with the Human Relations Commission, please call us at 502-574-3631 and speak with one of our Intake Officers. Simply tell us your story, and be ready with details and dates about the incident. Or, use our new, easy-to-use, online complaint form, and we will contact you.
In order to eliminate illegal discrimination, it is necessary to enforce the laws in place that protect our civil rights. If you're unsure if something you've experienced was discrimination, give us a call. We are happy to answer your questions, and if we cannot help, we will refer to you the appropriate agencies that can.
|
| |
| |
|
Louisville Metro Human Relations Commission
745 W. Main Street, Ste. 251
Louisville, KY 40202
502-574-3631
Follow us online:
Facebook: @LMHRC Twitter: @HumanMetro
Instagram: @LouKyHRC
Visit our website: https://louisvilleky.gov/government/human-relations-commission
|
| |
|
