“It is easier to interest men in war than in peace; it therefore requires more moral courage to talk peace than war.” Paul Harris

1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Shaun Eyring told us about the Swarthmore Human Relations Commission (HRC). What is the purpose of the HRC? Shaun showed us the following slide:

“The Human Relations Commission receives, investigates and passes on complaints related to discrimination in housing, employment or use of public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identification, and educates the public in order to prevent discrimination and foster equal opportunity. The Commission also addresses incidents of bias that may lead to tension between racial, ethnic, and other groups.”

Shaun said the HRC was established in 2006. It has a website at https://www.swarthmorepa.org/2209/Human-Relations-Commission with links to forms to file official complaints and anonymous reports. (see next article for more details).
As might be expected for a town such as Swarthmore, Shaun said in a follow-up email that there has been only one official complaint and no anonymous reports since the HRC was established.
The HRC also conducted four public meetings with the help of a grant from our club. This description of the meetings is taken from the HRC website:

“As part of our mission to educate the public in order to prevent discrimination, the Swarthmore Human Relations Commission (HRC) has organized a 4-part Community Conversation series facilitated by Danielle N. Gadson, Ph.D., Stephen A. Sheridan, MPA and Teresa M. Boyer, Ed.D. The first three conversations focused on race and LGBTQIA issues. The fourth and final session brings it together in “What It Means To Be An Ally In Your Community.” The conversation explores how to be an effective, thoughtful, and useful supporter to fellow neighbors who identify as *BIPOC, **LGBTQIA, and other marginalized communities. Participants will discuss allyship as a verb and will leave the session with tools and resources for practicing allyship in daily life.

*BIPOC - Black, Indigenous, People of Color; **LGBTQIA - Lesbian,Gay, Bisexual,Transgender,Queer/Questioning,Intersex,Asexual”

Shaun said the meetings were well attended with 40 persons at one Zoom meeting. She thanked the Club for our support and said a report will be issued soon.