CHRC to serve on City of Cincinnati "Violence Prevention Task Force"

CHRC's Executive Director, Dr. Ericka King-Betts, & Community Outreach Advocate, Pastor Pete Mingo, have been asked to serve on a Violence Prevention Task Force to explore how human services organizations can best support violence prevention in the city.

In the fall of 2014, City Council recommended the establishment of this task force to explore the aforementioned; create a city-wide collaborative focused on violence prevention; and identify a potential timeline and costs for City Council to consider.

The Task Force is compromised of representatives from local foundations, nonprofits, the Mayor’s and City Manager’s offices, the City’s Human Relations, Health, Police, and Recreation Departments, community members from the Human Services Advisory Committee, the Human Services Chamber, faith based leaders, and human services funders.

We look forward to working with the Task Force to identify and implement strategies to reduce violence prevention in our city.

Special thanks to CHRC's Senior Program Manager, Althea Barnett, for attending today's meeting.

Welcome Valarie Dowell to the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission!

Valarie has joined our team as a Community Outreach Advocate. She brings to our office a wealth of experience from her previous positions within the City of Cincinnati. Valarie is known for her resourcefulness and her ability to link individuals and agencies together. Valarie will be out and about in the neighborhood with the outreach advocates. Please take a minute to say hello. 

Congratulations to COAs Recognition before Cincinnati City Council's Budget & Finance Committee

Monday, October 26th, CHRC's Community Outreach Advocates, Senior Program Manager (Althea Barnett), and Executive Director (Dr. Ericka King-Betts) were recognized before Cincinnati City Council's Budget & Finance Committee for their hard work and dedication. We thank Council, the City Administration and the attendees for the warm applause and ovation.

The Community Outreach Advocates (COA’s) are part of the Cincinnati Initiative to Reduce Violence (CIRV). The COA’s are key on-the-ground work...ers. They are able to work in neighborhoods adversely experiencing high levels of violence alongside residents. Because of the life and personal experiences of each COA he or she is able to identify with the target population and therefore able to build a relationship of trust that can lead to changed life directions.

The COA’s work to reduce gun-related violence among chronic violent offenders affiliated with street gang/groups through community engagement, violence interruption (performing street outreach in response to group/gang member involved shootings to determine circumstances contributing to shooting and to develop better prevention strategies; and engage in conflict mediation to prevent retaliatory shooting), CIRV Message Delivery (providing testimonials of experience, strength and hope at call ins, on the streets, in the jail, prison visits, etc.); and through coaching and mentoring.

Congratulates Dr. Eric Abercrumbie!

Congratulations

to Dr. Paul Eric Abercrumbie

on receiving the Visionary Award at the

48th Anniversary Reunion Celebration

of the

University Ensemble / Gospel Ensemble of Eastern Kentucky University - Oct 22 - 25 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=ljfqwrq5Kw0&app=desktop

CYC's Chief Program Officer speaks about Student Empowerment on InFocus

Maurice Huey, Chief Program Office of the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative talks to InFocus host Bill Bell about student empowerment in keeping youth in school for those that don't having caring adults in their lives and prepare them for college and careers.

• Learn more at www.cycyouth.org
• Watch the full interview November 16-30 on CitiCable (Time Warner 23) and City of Cincinnati Livestream

InFocus on the Web
www.cincinnati-oh.gov/citicable/talk-shows/infocus/
www.chrc.us/infocus

InFocus Air Schedule
Mondays 5:30am
Wednesdays 6:30pm
Thursdays 9:00am & 3:30pm
Fridays 10:30pm
Saturdays 2:30pm
Sundays 10:30am

Awesome Fathers Taking Roles appears on InFocus TV

Mark Walker, Founder and President of Awesome Fathers Taking Roles speaks with InFocus host Bill Bell to bring a deeper awareness to the viewers on how this organization is educating fathers of special needs children and place positive male role models in the forefront in our community.

• Learn more at www.awesomefatherstakingroles.org and www.dancewithmydaddy.com
• Watch the full interview December 1-15 on CitiCable (Time Warner 23) and City of Cincinnati Livestream 

InFocus on the Web
www.cincinnati-oh.gov/citicable/talk-shows/infocus/
www.chrc.us/infocus

InFocus Air Schedule
Mondays 5:30am
Wednesdays 6:30pm
Thursdays 9:00am & 3:30pm
Fridays 10:30pm
Saturdays 2:30pm
Sundays 10:30am

"Westwood Uniting to Stop the Violence:

 A Call to Action": 

Community Public Safety Initiative Kicks Off with Program on November 14, 2015

The Westwood Civic Association, The Community Police Partnering Center, and Cincinnati Police District 3 are providing leadership for a community-engaged problem-solving process to reduce gun-related violence in Westwood. All interested Westwood residents and stakeholders are invited to Westwood Uniting to Stop the Violence: A Call to Action on Saturday, November 14, 2015 from 8:30 am – 12:00 noon at Westwood United Methodist Church, 3460 Epworth Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45211. The Call to Action on November 14, the first in a series of community work meetings, will focus on problem identification and will introduce a process for developing solutions and taking action.

Westwood residents wants to be part of positive change to stop the violence, in partnership with police, neighbors, faith-based communities, community and youth organizations, and others.

The full morning program will include presentations and group work, all aimed at data review and problem identification, so that Westwoodians can then join together to methodically develop and implement solutions and assess our progress.

Westwood residents interested in joining the effort to improve public safety and reduce gun violence should answer this call to action. The morning of November 14 will kick off a series of citizen-led initiatives that will stem the violence.

Aaron Pullins, CHRC's Community Outreach Advocate will be attending this event.

"Town Hall Discussion on Race Relations", Tuesday, November 10, 7pm

HEBREW UNION COLLEGE-JEWISH INSTITUTE OF RELIGION

3101 CLIFTON AVENUE, CINCINNATI, OH 45220

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center has utilized the Town Hall model across the community to raise greater consciousness about social justice concerns. This forum will address race relations in our community against the backdrop of Helen Suzman's efforts to abolish apartheid in South Africa. CHRC's own, Christina Brown, Community Outreach Engagement Coordinator will participate in the panel discussion.

FEATURED PANELISTS

Sean Rugless, African American Chamber

Lourdes Ribera, Hispanic Chamber

Christina Brown, Cincinnati Human Relations Commission

Leslie Mooney, Clifton Cultural Arts Center

Sean Comer, Beyond Civility Project

MODERATOR

Chris Miller, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center 

"Words & Images: A Media Debrief and Community Conversation" held on Thursday, October 8th

Last night, Dr. Ericka King-Betts had the honor to serve on a panel regarding the media coverage of the Tensing/DuBose case.

This media debrief and community conversation brought stakeholders and news media together for an informative and engaging panel discussion. The panel was moderated by former Society of Professional Journalists National President Hagit Limor, the dialogue examined all aspects of news coverage of the death of Sam DuBose by University of Cincinnati Police Officer Ray Tensing.

Additional panelist included news media from WCPO, WLWT, WKRC, WXIX and the Cincinnati Enquirer - Cincinnati and Kentucky, attorneys for both the family of Sam Dubose and Ray Tensing, Cincinnati City Manager Harry Black, and representative from the County's Prosecutor's Office.

Thank you to everyone who came out to support ‪#‎wordsandimages‬.

TODAY - "Words & Images: A Media Debrief and Community Conversation", 7:30 PM at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

Please join us TODAY (10/8/15) for a panel discussion regarding the media coverage of the Tensing/DuBose case. This media debrief and community conversation will bring stakeholders and news media together for an informative and engaging panel discussion. The panel will be moderated by former Society of Professional Journalists National President Hagit Limor, the dialogue will examine all aspects of news coverage of the death of Sam DuBose by University of Cincinnati Police Officer Ray Tensing.

Panelist will include CHRC's Executive Director, Dr. Ericka King-Betts.

Join the Community Outreach Advocates "Open House" TODAY!

Join us TODAY for the Community Outreach Advocates "Open House", 11:30am – 1:30pm, 19 W. Elder Street (near Findlay Market), Second Floor.

The Outreach Team continues to work in neighborhoods adversely impacted by high levels of violence and aid in reducing gun related violence among offenders affiliated with street/gang groups.

Come learn more about the work the Community Outreach Advocates are doing, take a tour of our new office and refreshments.

This event is FREE and Open to the Public!

CHRC Public Statement: City of Cincinnati's Disparity Study Recommendations

NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  10/1/15 MEDIA CONTACT: CHRC Executive Director Ericka King-Betts, PhD  at chrc@cincinnati-oh.gov or by phone at 513.352.3237 CHRC Public Statement: City of Cincinnati's Disparity Study Recommendations

The Disparity Study, commissioned by the City of Cincinnati at the request of the Mayor and City Council and performed by Mason Tillman Associates of the City of Cincinnati’s last five years of awarding contracts, has confirmed that a demonstrated pattern of disparity exists with regard to city contracting.

“The historic number of contracts awarded through a competitive process during the study period (January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2013) is not shocking but is disturbing. While troubling, we concur with Cincinnati City Manager Harry Black that a solid basis now exists for the city to implement specific remedies to help ensure all segments of the population are given an opportunity to compete for public dollars,” said CHRC’s Executive Director, Dr. Ericka King-Betts.

We at the Cincinnati Human Relations support the Disparity Study’s recommendations for both race and gender neutral and race and gender conscious remedies to identified disparities in City of Cincinnati contracting. These recommendations are as follows:

• Establish a race- and gender-conscious inclusion program that addresses prime contractor and subcontractor disparity findings.

• Apply bid discounts for evaluation purposes on supplies and services contracts when a member of an underutilized group is competing for the contract.

• Establish incentive credits for professional services contracts, e.g., reserve a percentage of evaluation points for members of underutilized groups.

• Set Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and Women Business Enterprises (WBE) subcontract goals on construction and professional services contracts to eliminate the documented disparity.

• Continue the Small Business Enterprise Program as the race- and gender-neutral component of the City’s inclusion program.

It is our hope that these recommendations can be sustained over time by putting an effective structure in place that promotes economic inclusion, along with a set of metrics to gauge effectiveness over time.

Since 1943, the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission has worked tirelessly to help our community to overcome prejudice and discrimination, build mutual respect and understanding, and to become more harmonious and cohesive. CHRC will continue to provide support to the City to determine if compliance is being had with non-discriminatory provisions of city contracts by contractors doing business with city departments, independent boards and commission.

We further support the City’s efforts to reverse the significant and systemic disparities in the awarding of contracts to minority- and women-owned businesses in all city contracting areas, including construction, professional services, and supplies and services contracts. We further support the City’s efforts to create a more inclusive, equitable and welcoming Cincinnati.

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TODAY - Under One Roof – Sukkah Art Exhibit & Reception – Thursday, October 1, 2015, 6:30 PM

“Food for the body, food for the soul”

Mayerson JCC, 8485 Ridge Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236

Join the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission (CHRC) along with other artists and view large multimedia fabric panels exploring this years theme “Food for the Body, Food for the Soul” in the Mayerson JCC courtyard displayed in celebration of Sukkot.*

Find out about the heart of other panels while we share the soul of CHRC’s piece.

In collaboration with Cincinnati ArtWorks and over 40 local organizations, Under One Roof is a unique space where people are invited to have a meal, conversation and view the art in this one-of-a-kind community art collaboration.

Please RSVP your attendance to: mayersonjcc.org

Looking forward to seeing you at the exhibit!

*Sukkot is the Jewish Harvest Festival and is celebrated by building a sukkah (booth) outdoors and welcoming guests.