Meetings for the Human Relations Commission of Asheville occur bi-monthly, specifically in January, March, May, July, September, and November. Unless stated otherwise, they are scheduled from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the First Floor Conference Room at City Hall.
Key Responsibilities of the Human Relations Commission include:
- Recommending policies to the Asheville City Council that bolster human relations and advocate for equity within the City.
- Actively backing the City’s Office of Equity and Inclusion.
- Offering a platform for city residents to discuss human relations concerns.
- Engaging with the community about city-funded initiatives aimed at promoting human relations.
- Enhancing human relations and forwarding equity in public safety, education, arts, cultural experiences, economic growth, health services, and housing.
Please visit their official webpage for a deeper dive into the Commission’s work.
WNC Citizens for Equality is another resource worth your time. Recently, this group supported five Buncombe County locals in their federal civil rights lawsuit against the City of Asheville, stemming from an appointment disagreement rooted in racial concerns.
Meeting Updates
In a related development, City Attorney Brad Branham proposed alterations to the membership language in the ordinance (#4663) that founded the HRCA. These changes aim to reflect recent court rulings about admissions practices in institutions like Harvard and UNC-Chapel Hill. The intention is to facilitate equal opportunities for historically marginalized communities while avoiding any discrimination. The proposed amendment details can be found in the September 21 meeting documents.
In the latest meeting, Alyna Schmidt, an Equity & Inclusion Consultant/Analyst for Asheville, briefed members on the Crown Act’s status. She emphasized that the City already prohibits discrimination based on hair under its existing laws. However, recognizing its significance, Schmidt, alongside commission chair Alma Atkins, presented their case successfully to the City Council’s Equity and Engagement committee on August 15. This effort is to embed more comprehensive language safeguarding natural hair and hairstyles into the City’s nondiscrimination act. The proposal is slated for discussion in the October 10 Asheville City Council meeting.
Furthermore, Commissioner Crystal Michelle Reid shared insights on housing challenges in Asheville, highlighting system constraints and a pending 4,300 housing assistance applications at the Asheville Housing Authority. The Commissioners are mulling over inviting experts like Sasha Ratunski, the City’s affordable housing coordinator, for deeper insights.
In conclusion, while the other sub-committees of the HRCA didn’t have updates this time, the meeting showcased the Commission’s ongoing dedication to addressing the very critical issues of equity and inclusion in the City.
