Neighborhood Safety Forum for District 3 Cedar Rapids at 7 p.m. Monday, January 23 at St. Paul's UMC

We begin the fourth week of 2012 in Cedar Rapids this week.

Council Member Pat Shey is hosting the Neighborhood Safety Forum. Pat Shey represents District 3 on the City Council for Cedar Rapids.

The purpose of this forum is to provide information to help residents make their homes and neighborhoods safer. We will discuss current crime statistics, what you can do to protect your home, how you can make your neighborhood safer, and what you should do if you experience a crime or witness suspicious activity.

Pat Shey to Host Neighborhood Safety Forum on Jan. 23
City Council Member Pat Shey will host a Neighborhood Safety Forum on Monday, January 23, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, located at 1340 3rd Ave SE, especially for residents of District 3.

“The purpose of this forum is to provide the citizens of Cedar Rapids with information that will help them make their homes and neighborhoods safer,” said Shey. “We will discuss current crime statistics, what you can do to protect your home, how you can make your neighborhood safer, and what you should do if you experience a crime or witness suspicious activity.”

The forum will feature a panel discussion, moderated by Shey, which will include the following experts from the Cedar Rapids Police Department: Lt. Jerry Potter, Sgt. Matthew Welsh, Investigator Michael Bailey and Crime Analyst Dawn Stanford. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and share concerns during the forum.

Residents with personal experiences to share are encouraged to submit a written narrative or statement before the forum and send them to Pat.Shey@cedar-rapids.org. All statements will be compiled, scanned and share with all who are interested.

City of Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission has new Dolphin Mascot

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION TEACHES KIDS ABOUT DISCRIMINATION USING DOLPHIN MASCOT

The Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission will unveil its newest member, Donald the Anti-Discriminatory Dolphin, tomorrow night at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. Donald, a dolphin mascot that teaches children about discrimination, will make a cameo appearance at the museum’s Pajama Storytime event at 7pm, before he begins conducting presentations in Cedar Rapids classrooms next month, as well as a special presentation for the Landlords of Linn County on Thursday, April 14.

The Donald the Anti-Discriminatory Dolphin Youth Education Project was funded by a grant through the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. Donald and Commission staff will present to pre-school through elementary age students and make appearances at Commission events. Donald teaches children about discrimination based on characteristics protected by the Cedar Rapids municipal code as well as the resources available to community members when they face discrimination.

The lessons are implemented by performing a skit starring the new mascot. Donald begins the skit as a discriminatory landlord who denies potential sea creature tenants based on assumptions he has about certain groups. A member of the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission confronts Donald about his behavior and says if Donald were to be a victim of discrimination, he would feel like a fish out of water. Donald gets upset, because he is not a fish – he is a mammal. He tells the staff person it’s wrong to make assumptions based on appearance. After realizing he has been guilty of assumptions as well, he vows to stop discriminating.

The Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission is looking for future groups to view the presentation. If you or someone you know is interested in having Donald the Anti-Discriminatory Dolphin present to your group or classroom, contact the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission at (319)286-5036.

Contact:

Paul Nemeth

Community and Educational Outreach Coordinator/AmeriCorps VISTA Associate

Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission

paul.nemeth@cedar-rapids.org

(319)286-5132

Karl Cassell Executive Director

Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission

k.cassell@cedar-rapids.org

(319)286-5036

Who Is My Neighbor

Happy New Year: New Ordinance Focus Groups 1/10 and 1/11 in Cedar Rapids

We hope the New Year is off to a good start for you ...

Ordinance change would protect Section 8 housing applicants - The Gazette
Imagine you’re a low-income person with a low-paying job and the good fortune of having a federal housing voucher to help with rent. Now, that person in Cedar Rapids and most other cities has the task of finding a landlord willing to accept the voucher as partial payment of rent. Some landlords don’t want to ...

New Ordinance Focus Groups will be hosted by the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission on Monday, January 10Th and Tuesday, January 11Th. Different subjects will be presented each session.

• The city commission forum on Monday will be held from 6 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. at the Cedar Rapids Public Library’s location in Westdale Mall. Proposed ordinance changes related to marital status will be discussed first followed by those related to gender identity.
• The Tuesday forum will be held at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 1340 Third Ave. SE, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Proposed ordinance changes related to lawful sources of income will be discussed first followed by changes related to construction and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
  

Who is my Neighbor?

St. Paul's UMC to host Panel Discussion on "Rebuilding for the Future" on Friday, June 25Th in Cedar Rapids ...

Panel Discussion: Call to Action - Rebuilding for the Future

Friday, June 25, 2010

• Reception: 4:30 - 5:30p.m.


• Panel Discussion: 5:30 - 7:00p.m.

at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
1340 3rd Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403

Features panelists from law enforcement, education, legal, city government, county government, labor, non-profit and more.

A Fair Housing Conference in Cedar Rapids will be held Thursday, June 24Th.

Who is my neighbor

As we head into Mother's Day weekend May 7-9, 2010 ...

The Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission will be hosting its 2Nd Annual Fair Housing Conference; "Sustainability: Rebuilding After the Flood." The goal for the conference is to raise awareness of Fair Housing issues as well as issues related to flood recovery.

The keynote speaker, the Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, John Trasviña. "HUD continues to demonstrate their commitment to fair housing," and according to Karl Cassell, Executive Director of the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission, "we are grateful for the partnership."

The Civil Rights Commission is asking local organizations for sponsorships for the Fair Housing Conference that is coming to our community. Three levels of sponsorships are available: Gold, Silver and Bronze. For information, you can contact Commission at 319.286.5036.

As we enter the Mother's Day weekend, we want to wish mothers everywhere the very best.

Have a Healthy Mother's Day

We invite you to send an eCard

the following:

Text that will be added to your eCard:

May we work toward a healthy world for all mothers.

Support healthy families at:

http://www.umchealthyfamilies.org/

Who Is My Neighbor?

This Day in history: April 5Th ...

Today in 1856 - Booker Taliaferro Washington, American political leader, educator, orator and author educator, was born in Franklin County, Va. He was born a slave on the farm of James Burroughs. After the Civil War, Washington became founder and first principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial School.(April 5, 1856... ~ Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission

More on Booker T. Washington ...

Who Is My Neighbor

Community Spotlight: The Central Cedar Rapids Weed and Feed

Central Cedar Rapids Weed and Feed

The Weed and Seed Strategy

Operation Weed and Seed is foremost a strategy--rather than a grant program-- which aims to prevent, control, and reduce violent crime, drug abuse, and gang activity in targeted high-crime neighborhoods across the country. The strategy involves a two-pronged approach: law enforcement agencies and prosecutors cooperate in "weeding out" criminals who participate in violent crime and drug abuse, attempting to prevent their return to the targeted area; and "seeding" brings human services to the area, encompassing prevention, intervention, treatment, and neighborhood revitalization.

A community-orientated policing component bridges weeding and seeding strategies. Officers obtain helpful information from area residents for weeding efforts while they aid residents in obtaining information about community revitalization and seeding resources.

Key Elements in the Weed and Seed Strategy

• Law Enforcement


• Community Policing


• Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment


• Neighborhood Restoration

Who Is My Neighbor

Celebrating the Fall of the Berlin Wall: September 9, 1989

European leaders mark 20 years since fall of Berlin Wall‎ - The Sun Daily
Berlin (Nov 10, 2009) - With a walk through Berlin's iconic Brandenburg Gate, ... France and Italy marked on Monday the sudden opening of the Berlin Wall 20 ...

MTV Europe Awards to celebrate fall of Berlin Wall‎ - The Associated Press

Berlin Commemorates Fall of Berlin Wall, 20 Years Later - CafeSentido.com

The Berlin Wall separated East and West Berlin, ensuring that capitalist ad democratic West Berlin remained surrounded on all sides by the Communist German ...

Visit the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights on Facebook: Cedar Rapids Civil Rights

"Twenty years go today, on November 9, 1989, was The Fall of the Berlin Wall. The East German government announced that visits in West Germany and West Berlin will be permitted. Thousands of East Berliners passed into West Berlin as border guards stand by. People begin tearing down the wall." - Cedar Rapids Civil Rights on Facebook

peace

Election Day in Cedar Rapids and the State of Iowa is Tuesday, November 3rd

Make sure that on Tuesday, November 3, you find time to cast your vote. Voting day information, including candidate profiles can be found on the Linn County Auditors web site.

peace

A discussion of Social Justice in Cedar Rapids

CLARENCE DARROW’S SEARCH FOR JUSTICE

Price: Tickets: $10 in advance; $12 at the door
Date: Sunday, September 20, 2009
Time: 2:30pm - 5:30pm
Location: St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
Street: 1340 3rd Ave. SE

Gary Anderson, a nationally-renowned Darrow portrayer, will showcase “the most hated and celebrated lawyer in America.”“Darrow as a legal warrior, returning to engage our government and justice system in a presentation that trembles with inescapable timeliness.” He fought Creationism in public schools, racism, the death penalty, conspiracy laws, and attacks on civil liberties. “Anderson’s Darrow is in the same league as Holbrook’s Mark Twain.”At the end of the show, Civil Rights Commission Director Karl Cassell will present statistics on racial and economic issues in Cedar Rapids. Discussion to follow.

Sponsored by the:

• Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission
• St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
• The Peoples’ Church Unitarian Universalist Congregation.

July 2009 is here!

We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable July 2009!

The July 2009 Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Newsletter is out. Highlights include:

• Recap of June 25, 2009 Fair Housing Conference
• New Commissioners: Dr. Ruth White and Anthony Arrington
• RESULTS OF THE CORRIDOR’S DIVERSITY CLIMATE STUDY
• The Persistence of Racial and Ethnic Profiling in the United States
• Facts on: HATE CRIMES, PREJUDICE, AND STEREOTYPES ...
• What Do You Know?
• more facts and information on the Civil Rights Commission

JULY CIVIL RIGHTS EVENTS IN OUR HISTORY

• July, 1839 -
  Iowa was among the earliest states to enact prohibitions against race discrimination, especially in education. In the very first decision of the newly founded Iowa Supreme Court, In Re the Matter of Ralph, the Court rejected slavery in a decision that found that a slave named Ralph became free when he stepped on Iowa soil, 26 years before the end of the Civil War.
• July 26, 1948 -
  President Truman signs Executive Order 9981, which states, "It is hereby declared to
  be the policy of the President that there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin." The order also creates the President's Committee on Equality of Treatment and opportunity in the Armed Services.
• July 2, 1964 -
  President Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The most sweeping civil Rights legislation since Reconstruction, the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination of all kinds based on race, color, religion, or national origin. The law also provides the federal government with the powers to enforce desegregation.

peace

The Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival is in Full Swing through July 4Th

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY... June 21, 2009

• You can join the tradition of getting a button in Cedar Rapids
• The schedule of events for the 2009 Freedom Festival
• Check out the latest news on the Freedom Festival
• The 26Th annual Freedom Festival ... look at the event

The Freedom Festival kicked off on June 18, 2009 this year in Cedar Rapids. This community festival will run for 17 days through Independence Day - July 4, 2009!

Many events are free to the public. Specials often apply with purchase of an official Freedom Festival button. Other events do require an admission fee.

peace

Iowa and Cedar Rapids Juneteenth Observances ...

2009 Theme:

Iowa Families: Guardians of Freedom, Liberty & Citizenship

From Iowa's official Juneteenth web site:

Nationally, there are 29 states (and the District of Columbia) that have
made Juneteenth an official holiday or observance. There is a national campaign
to make Juneteenth official in all 50 states.
Juneteenth is authentic
American history and the Iowa Juneteenth Observance is authentic Iowa history!
Appreciate your history and participate in Juneteenth activities across
Iowa! - Iowa Juneteenth site

In Cedar Rapids, Juneteenth events are planned June 19 and 20, 2009 for this year's observance. On June 19, 2009, a dinner and dance is scheduled at the Celebration Hall African American Museum of Iowa. On June 20, 2009, a free Celebration Day event is scheduled at Viola Gibson Park at 12Th Ave. and 10Th St. SE from 9:00 am-5:00 pm.

peace

This date in History: June 18 ...

On Facebook, the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission pointed out:

"On June 18, 1873 Suffragist Susan B. Anthony was fined $100 for attempting to
vote in the 1872 presidential election."

A Famous Speech by Susan B. Anthony proceeded her Being Convicted Of Voting In The 1872 Presidential Election.

This date in history June 18, 1873

peace

Community comes together for Town Meeting and Panel Discussion

St. Paul's UMC hosted on Tuesday night a Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission sponsored event titled "Community Connections: Taking Ownership For Where We Live."

The Gazette article in the April 15, 2009 edition of the paper was titled About 250 gather to talk about race, police, violence. Link The Gazette story includes link to video replay of event.

The Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission web site provided the following highlights:

Over 250 people gathered to discuss social issues on April 14 at St. Paul's
United Methodist Church. The discussion included concerns about parenting,
absent landlords, and issues concerning the police and the people they serve.
Every person in Cedar Rapids needs to be responsible and help work
together to be able to solve these problems. Panelist, Lloyd, Smith summed this
up by stating "the solution is out there," indicating the audience. "Not up
here. It has to be worked out there."

Panelists included:

• Terry Bilsland, President of Wellington Heights, Neighborhood Association
• Dedric Doolin, Iowa/Nebraska NAACP State Conference Secretary
• Pastor Harlan Gillespie, Senior Pastor of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
• Greg Graham, Cedar Rapids Police Chief
• Dr. Dave Markward, Cedar Rapids Community School District Superintendent
• Lloyd Smith, Retired Juvenile Officer
• Dr. Ruth White, Executive Director of The Academy for Scholastic and Personal Success
  

Event moderated by:

• Beth Malicki, News anchor/reporter for KCRG TV Channel 9
• Dean Borg, Senior Correspondent for Iowa Public Radio and public affairs anchor for Iowa Public Television

Cedar Rapids Crime Stoppers

Other articles related to this story - various sources, Alleged attack on police spurs Cedar Rapids forum on race from DesMoinesRegister.com and Assault on Cedar Rapids officer raises fears from KPTM-TV (AP).

4/14/2008 Community Connections: "Taking Ownership For Where We Live"

Karl Cassell, Executive Director of the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission spoke to a group at Noon today. He informed the group in attendance of the following upcoming event.

Upcoming Event: Community Connections: "Taking Ownership For Where We Live" Tue. April 14 at 6pm at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church 1340 3rd Ave SE sponsored by CR Civil Rights Commission - in part this is a response to the violence that has directly impacted lives of a Cedar Rapids Police Officer, children, and adult neighbors in our city's core neighborhoods.

This event is open the general public. If time permits in your schedule next week, you are encouraged to attend.

What is the "Who Is My Neighbor" Award?