Human Rights

Who We Are

In the Human Rights Department, we work with residents, other City departments, and community institutions to develop fair and equitable access to government and community services and to support a more inclusive community.  Specific approaches guide our work. 

What We Do

Traditionally, the Human Rights Department focused solely on reactive enforcement through civil rights laws.  We recognize there remains time when enforcement is necessary, and we encourage the public to report concerns about anything that may be a civil rights violation or that causes concerns in terms of how people are being treated in the community. 

We also recognize that sometimes there are individuals and groups in our community who are not well connected and are looking for ways to get connected or to access services.  We strive to identify needs and either connect people and groups to resources or mediate improvements in service delivery by City department and/or community institutions.  

Finally, we work with partners towards creating more sustainable solutions to civil and human rights issues. 

How You Can Be Involved

Each of us has a role to play in developing and working toward these solutions, and we invite you to contribute to these efforts through both learning and actions. Here are some ways you can get involved through our department.

• Join the Human Rights Commission
• Develop your intercultural skills and connect with others through workshops
• Volunteer with community partners to develop new work skills and to contribute skills you already have towards community efforts to meet basic needs.

We encourage the public to contact our office.  Ask us questions. Let us know your concerns. Share your ideas. Get involved. It will take all of us working together in order for our community to continually become safe, more civil, and more inclusive as we face growth and change.