Human Relations Commission 2022 First Quarter Newsletter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

From the Director Welcome to 2022. The Louisville Metro-Human Relations Commission (HRC) has entered the New Year moving in the fast lane by processing Fair Housing, Employment, Hate Crimes, and Public Accommodations complaints and serving our diverse business community through certifications and monitoring equitable business practices. Through education and outreach, the HRC staff works daily to continue to look at improving the economic opportunities available in our community and seeks to create opportunities for people of all backgrounds and experiences to connect with community partners and leaders, both inside and outside local government. These relationships are an essential part to fostering equitable representation and for promoting community wellness and personal achievement. Our office is excited about the development of these collaborations and partnerships that present educational opportunities through facilitating panel discussions, hosting webinars, and supporting economic initiatives. Please follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and/or Facebook to read the updates of these scheduled events. Thanks for being interested in the work that we do and for believing in fairness for citizens of Louisville. Verná Goatley, Executive Director, Louisville Metro Human Relations Commission

What is the HRC?

The Human Relations Commission (HRC) was established by the City of Louisville to protect its citizens from unlawful discrimination on March 27 in 1962. This year, we are celebrating our 60th year of service to the Louisville community. Our mission statement is to "promote unity, understanding, and equal opportunity among all people of Louisville Metro and to eliminate all forms of bigoty, bias, and hatred from the community."

The HRC protects individuals in Louisville Metro from discrimination based on: race, color, religion, national origin, familial status, age, disability, sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Once the HRC receives a discrimination complaint, the investigators on staff review the facts in order to find out if discrimination can be proved. The HRC helps to mediate the dispute to ensure that no future discrimination will occur, and monitors the completion of these agreements to ensure compliance.

The HRC also employs compliance analysts who certify minority, women, disabled, service-disabled veteran, and LGBTQ owned businesses. These businesses have to be at least 51% owned by a member of one or more of the aforementioned protected classes. These businesses are certified to allow Louisville Metro, and its citizens, to make mindful purchase decisions which encourage a diverse business environment.

2022 Board Calendars

Human Relations- Advocacy Board

This body is composed of ten members, appointed by the mayor and approved by the Louisville Metro Council. The Advocacy Board endeavors to promote and secure mutual understanding and respect among all economic, social, religious, ethnic, and social groups in Louisville; and acts as conciliator in controversies involving intergroup and interracial relations.

Advocacy Board letter to JCPS Board of Education in regards to racial equity

Advocacy Board letter to JCPS Board of Education in regards to SSO/SRO

Human Relations- Enforcement Board

This body is composed of seven members, appointed by the mayor and approved by the Louisville Metro Council. The Enforcement Board is tasked with investigation and enforcement of local anti-discrimination laws.

Newly certified businesses

The Human Relations Commission certifies minority, woman, disabled, service-disabled veteran, and LGBTQ owned businesses. Join us in congratulating these newly certified or recertified businesses:

October certified businesses

November certified businesses

December certified businesses

January certified businesses

Employee highlight: Malka Churchill

Malka Churchill is a sophomore engineering student at the University of Kentucky and worked at the HRC as an Executive Assistant in January and early February. She was an invaluable asset to the HRC team and completed every task with creativity, professionalism and excellence. Malka credits her success to her parents, who gave her the best life possible, as well as her teachers who she said helped her become the individual she is today.  Now that Malka has wrapped up her work with the HRC, she has gone to South Korea to study abroad at Korea University in Seoul. Her desire to study abroad comes from a willingness to explore, challenge herself, and create a stronger sense of independence by exploring a foreign place surrounded by strangers. Malka's explorative nature doesn't end with her formal education however, she strives to gain experiences through her career path, world travel, and whatever opportunities present themselves.

Black History Month

February is celebrated as Black History Month in the United States. Black History Month celebrates the innumerous contributions of African Americans in every historical category such as politics, science, music, art, literature, geography, and so much more. This is also a month for recognizing the underrepresentation of African Americans in historical contexts and is an opportunity for educators to highlight some of the many influential African Americans who would be otherwise overlooked by the education system. Black History Month was founded by black historian Carter G. Woodson, sometimes referred to as the "father of black history," who first proposed the holiday in 1926 in the second week of February. He choose the second week as it encompassed both Abraham Lincoln’s birthday on the 12th and Fredrick Douglass' birthday on the 14th; both of whom were deceased for over 30 years, and whose birthdays were already celebrated among the African-American community.

Women's History Month

March is Women's History Month. This month highlights the significant contributions of women to every facet of society. From music, art, science, politics, literature and beyond; women have unquestionably shaped the world we live in. Unfortunately, many of these contributions to society are either attributed to men or overlooked entirely; this month is an opportunity for educators, as well as the rest of us, to highlight some of the influential women who have altered the course of history. Women's History Month coincides with International Women's Day which was first held in 1911 and began occurring yearly on March 8. The holiday grew to Women's History Week in 1978 and grew even further in 1980 because of a presidential proclamation by Jimmy Carter urging educational centers to promote women "leaders who struggled for equality" during the week of March 8. Women's History Week grew once again in 1987 when congress passed a joint resolution designating March 1987 as Women's History Month.

S-Walk, Inc. dba Seven Seas Construction

We are happy to highlight one of our certified minority owned businesses, S-Walk, Inc. dba Seven Seas Construction, for making it onto Louisville Business First’s Fast 50 List, which ranks private companies in the area by revenue growth. Seven Seas Construction’s accomplishment was recognized during a luncheon at the Galt House this past October.

Seven Seas is a general contractor based in Jefferson County and has been involved with over 30 contracts with Louisville Metro Government (LMG) since 2012. Despite the unprecedented times of a global pandemic, Seven Seas achieved a remarkable feat of growing company revenue which earned them the recognition of being ranked number 26 on the Fast 50 list.

Soran Walker, President of Seven Seas, has been certified as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) with LMG since June 2011. Listed as a prime contractor on 17 LMG owned jobs, Seven Seas has also been listed as a subcontractor with 19 other LMG owned jobs totaling in over $20 million dollars of revenue. Soran credits their company growth by saying, “The MBE certification has helped with my business growth by introducing me to multiple companies that may not have used us otherwise. By helping companies achieve MBE goals on their projects it got our foot in the door to do work with them. This allowed Seven Seas to earn even more of their business once we had proven to them that we could do the job on time. A lot of these companies use us regularly now even when there aren't any minority goals set forth on the project. This has been a critical part of how we have grown to the size company that we are today.”

Recently, Seven Seas added a new location at 2304 Ralph Avenue in the South End of Louisville. Everyone at the Louisville Metro Human Relations Commission is ecstatic to see the viable growth of Seven Seas.

Social media update

If you have been following the Human Relations Commission's social medias, you may have noticed a few changes in the past couple of weeks. The HRC is striving to highlight certified businesses and bring awareness to your rights as a Louisville citizen. We have also been promoting inclusive and diverse events throughout Louisville; some of these are hosted by organizations in the community while others are hosted by Louisville Metro Government. If you do not already follow the HRC's social medias, click the icons below to stop missing out!