CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH: "LUNCH AND LEARN SERIES" FEATURING LOCAL LEGEND, MS. MINETTE COOPER, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1:00 PM

Councilmember Yvette Simpson and CHRC
Team up to honor local Black Trailblazers
 Thursday, February 19 – Ms. Minette Cooper

Cincinnati, Ohio- In honor of Black History Month, Councilmember Yvette Simpson and the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission (CHRC) will feature Ms. Minette Cooper, Thursday, February 19, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM, at Cincinnati City Hall, 801 Plum Street, Room 312, Third Floor. Learn about the barriers this trailblazer has broken and discuss the work that remains to be done.  The community is invited to bring your lunch and converse with this Black living legend.

This event is FREE and OPEN to the public.

Immediately following the discussion, Ms. Cooper will be presented with a Proclamation from the City in City Council Chambers. Join us for this remarkable occasion.

About Ms. Minette Cooper

Ms. Minette Cooper was born in Atlanta, GA. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Howard University. August 2008, she received her Masters of Education at Xavier University.  Despite being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in her early 20's, she accepted life's challenges and went on to become an educator, wife, mother and dedicated public servant.  She served on Cincinnati City Council for eight years and was Vice Mayor under Mayors Roxanne Qualls and Charlie Luken.

Although her legislative accomplishments and contributions throughout her tenure were impressive, the one of which she is most proud was her determination to have the city install cameras on all police cars.  After researching the issue, she lobbied her colleagues and after two unsuccessful votes in council, the third time she offered the motion it passed and became law.  Recent national events illustrate the vision of her initiative.  The community now has evidence of the encounters of citizens with the police.

About the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission

CHRC was established in November of 1943 as The Mayor's Friendly Relations Committee. The goal was to appoint a committee that represented various racial, industrial and religious groups to make sure all groups felt a part of their communities and supported one another in the city of Cincinnati. As time passed the name was changed to CHRC and the mission grew to target a much larger issue, discrimination. Thus, the agency's mission is "to help our community to overcome prejudice and discrimination, build mutual respect and understanding, and to become more harmonious and cohesive."

The Cincinnati Human Relations Commission is a non-profit organization. For additional information on how you can support CHRC and its programs, please contact Executive Director, Ericka King-Betts, PhD at 513-352-3237.