Beacon Human Relations Commission
City Services/Commissions and Committees

Statement made to Beacon City Council, June 2002
by Imam Malik Shabazz, Chairman of the Beacon Human Relations Commission

Honorable Mayor Clara Lou Gould, distinguished City Council Members, County Executive Steinhaus, County and City elected officials, Commissioners of the Human Relations commission, Family, Friends and Neighbors:

Greetings:

We are here this evening in concert to witness and affirm our collective commitment towards investing in those ideals, principles and activities that help to create a climate and environment for open, constructive, candid and meaningful exchange among concerned residents, city officials and city agencies. Our exchanges, irrespective to the levels of animation or different points of view, should be focused ultimately towards improving the quality of life of the residents of our beautiful city, that offers great promise for a more progressive future. Approximately nine months ago, a compelling human relations issue arose within our community that required the attention of our Mayor and City Council. They, in turn, responded by initiating the Human Relations Commission by identifying concerned residents who they thought would play an integral role within this viable entity to assist in the process of addressing human relations concerns.

We believe that the Mayor and City Council of this great city has taken into consideration the changing & challenging dynamics of a growing city that will require vision, insight, sensitivity, prudence, collaboration with concerned residents and the expending of resources to insure the efficient and effective operation of the City of Beacon Human Relations Commission, in order to respond adequately to any perceived or actual Human Relations concerns or issues that will have a direct impact on the confidence of the residents on how they see their city leaders and subsequently the quality of life. Therefore, the City of Beacon Human Relations Commission is dedicated and committed to the initiative led by our Mayor and City Council, to achieve the following:

a.       To foster mutual respect and understanding among all persons in all groups, with specific sensitivity to Beacon’s diverse racial, religious and nationality (ancestral) groups.

b.      To identify and evaluate any areas of human relationship within Beacon that will aid in achieving the general goals of this Commission.

c.       To inquire into incidents of tension and conflict among or between any groups (with particular emphasis on racial, religious and nationality groups) and to rake actions designed to alleviate these tensions and conflicts.

d.      To conduct and recommend educational programs that, in the judgment of this Commission, will increase goodwill among the residents of Beacon and open new opportunities into all phases of community life for all inhabitants of Beacon.

We are proud to announce that we have achieved the following:

1.        Compiled a relatively comprehensive directory of services and activities offered within our city.

2.        Initiated the First Annual leadership Breakfast of service providers, which approximately 120 people attended.

3.        Initiated the First Police Community Symposium and we look forward to initialing other pro initiatives.

In conclusion, as we move forward in creating a new paradigm, we look to securing space and staff to ensure that the quality of service is enhanced, for we believe this follows the logic to its final conclusion. Special “thank to Councilwoman Eleanor Thompson, who has been foremost in her advocacy on behalf of the Human Relations Commission. And we look forward to the continued support of the Mayor and City Council.