Human Rights Council
of Washington County

Public Testimony Mission Goals 2007-08 Council Members History in Washington County Local Links Meetings are held the 3rd Wednesday of every month 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the Beaverton City Library (unless otherwise posted) SW 5th and Hall Free parking available.

Public Testimony
The HRC is pleased to hear public testimony and comments on human rights issues happening in Washington County.

Typical issues associated with Human Rights are: liberty and assembly; religious persecution and discrimination; due process, wrongful imprisonment and torture; racial, gender or sexual bias, threats and violence; equal rights.

1. To promote equal rights as a central part of the public and private sectors.
2. To provide valuable feedback to local leaders on issues of equity and diversity.
3. To respect and reflect the cultural diversity of our community.
4. To foster mutual understanding amongst all of our community’s residents.
5. To promote inclusiveness, justice and equity.

Carlos Perez (Chair), Hillsboro School District
Sheila Griffie (Vice-Chair), Uniting to Understand Racism
Salma Ahmad, Islamic Society of Greater Portland
Betty Bode, Beaverton City Council
Lt. John Black, Wa. Co. Sheriff’s Office
Loni Bramson, Community Member
Kathe Dimeo Coleman, Community Member
Kristie Duyckinck, Hillsboro School District
Toni Rock Garreton, Portland Community College
Emily Gottfried, American Jewish Committee
Rev. Dale Harris, Community Member
Adele Hughes, Providence St. Vincent Med. Center
Gerlinde Lamer, St. Anthony’s Catholic Church Tigard
Alfonso Lopez-Vasquez, Pacific University
Chief Ron Louie, Retired
Narcedalia Rodriguez, Portland Community College
Sabino Sardineta, Centro Cultural
Lauri Stewart, Community Member
Patti Williams, Hillsboro Fire Department

Background: Diversity and Human Rights
In response to community requests, the Vision Action Network (VAN) convened a planning team on September 9, 2004, to explore the creation of a new county-wide diversity/human rights group. The Planning Team was asked to make recommendations about the purpose, scope, community participation/representation, and administrative home for a potential new diversity/human rights group.

The Planning Team issued its recommendations (PDF, 133 KB) in January 2005. The VAN Board of Directors reviewed the Planning Team’s recommendations at their March 3, 2006, meeting. The Board strongly supported the Planning Team’s work and asked Consultant Bill Monahan to carry the project forward. Mr. Monahan conducted a community input process about the need for a county-wide human rights group.

Mr. Monahan presented his recommendations (PDF, 60 KB) to the VAN Board of Directors meeting on October 6, 2005.

The VAN Board appointed an initial Human Rights Council that would be tasked with:

• Clearly defining the group’s role
• Finding a suitable home for the future effort

The first meeting was held on October 11, 2006 and hosted by Providence St. Vincent. Members began to determine the Council’s scope of work, nominating new members, and searching for funding and a permanent home. The Council is housed temporarily at the Vision Action Network.

Over the past decade, Washington County has seen unprecedented growth and change – both in population and diversity. The Human Rights Council is the result of two years’ work by the Vision Action Network and its community partners to respond to the needs of our growing community.

Rick Van Beveren, past-chair of VAN’s Board of Directors, says, "The Human Rights Council will provide leadership to help ensure our county’s diversity is a positive and unifying experience for our community. I am proud to be part of such an important new initiative."

• Beaverton Human Rights Advisory Commission (BHRAC)
  In 1993, the City of Beaverton launched the commission to achieve the goal of embracing and celebrating diversity, eliminating bigotry, and enhancing a sense of community. In November 2004 the commission submitted, and the City Council passed an additional Civil Rights Ordinance.



• West County Council for Human Dignity (WCCHD) currently does not have their own website but is all volunteer grassroots network in the Forest Grove – Cornelius area. They are a member group of the Rural Organizing Project. WCCHD originally formed in response to an anti-gay ballot measure that the Oregon Citizen’s Alliance forwarded in Cornelius. They work on issues of civil rights, social justice and peace.

To contact council members or donate to the Human Rights Council of Washington County, call Vision Action Network offices at 503-846-5792, or email van@co.washington.or.us