Dear Friends of the Human Rights Council:
Once again, it has been a busy season for us — our committees have worked throughout the summer on various activities preparing for upcoming events. After running a table and game at the Picnic-in-the-Park, we prepared for the 375th Birthday Celebration Parade by contacting many of the agencies and organizations involved in issues of equity, justice and access. We invited them to march in tandem with the Human Rights Council, all wearing white sashes to demonstrate the sheer number of Concordians concerned with those issues in Concord today. Open Table, PFLaG, amnesty International, C4RJ, Concord Prison Outreach, METCO Family Friends, Concord Housing Foundation, Drinking Gourd Project and minuteman arc all agreed to march with us in the Parade — it felt good to be stating something significant while celebrating Concord’s Birthday.
This is the year we give the Biannual Climate for Freedom Award to a group or organization in our community, one that fosters a climate for freedom in its work and mission. A committee of five worked to gather updated information on the main organizations being considered for this year’s award. Three finalists were forwarded to a panel of judges, whose deliberations resulted in a recommendation to the HRC Board. This recommendation was approved unanimously by the Human Rights Council Board in early October. The recipient this year will be Minuteman Arc for their crucial work with individuals, their families and the larger community — a richly deserved recognition of the importance of their mission.
The award will be presented at the Annual Human Rights Day Breakfast on Monday, December 6th, 7:30 am at the Trinitarian Congregational Church on Walden St. All are invited to come and hear Marty Martini, Director of Minuteman Arc, who will receive the award, and be the keynote speaker. All Human Rights Council events are free and open to all. another major excitement this year was the `birth’of the Drinking Gourd Project as an official and separate 501c3, and their activities around the tours, maps and guides to the african and abolitionist history of Concord, and the saving of the Caesar Robbins house — see their website — drinkinggourdproject.org — for more of their news.
as always, thank you for your support — especially in these economically challenging times — it is very much appreciated, and we could not continue our work without it.
Polly Attwood Concord-Carlisle Human Rights Council Chair
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