Monday, June 20, 2011
Tonights NAACP General Body Meeting Has Been Moved to Country Kitchen
There has been a fire today at the Lincoln University Library As a result, the NAACP General Membership meeting has been moved to Country Kitchen here in Jefferson City. Please call 816-309-5009 for more details regarding the meeting.
Governor Nixon Does It Again! In the second of two powerful vetoes, Governor Jay Nixon protects Missouri from unconstitutional measures passed by the Missouri Legislature.
Three dad sit around a kitchen table stuffed from the feast and start talking about politics, the responsibilities of an educated electorate, and the opportunities that their children can expect to have in the future.
It was a good conversation to have and you know it took place at dinner tables around the nation. This conversation was especially timely because on June 17, 2011, Governor Nixon vetoed SB 3 so that all Missourian's can vote without paying a fee for the privilege. The legislation was of course worded in specific language not mentioning the fee, but requiring certain forms of ID that you have to pay a fee for - paying a fee for the right to vote is a poll tax at its essence - and that is what SB 3 added up to. Nonetheless, this is the second time that Missouri's legislature has passed such a "poll tax"in a decade.
Some bad ideas are hard to silence.
In the mid 2000s, Missouri's own Supreme Court struck down a similar law as unconstitutional.
Thank goodness for three separate and distinct branches of government and for good people in every branch, but more specifically in these cases - a bright and fair-minded Governor and Supreme Court Judges who follow the law. Otherwise, Missouri would be a much worse place - one where you have to pay a fee in order to vote.
All in all, it is the best result that the dads could have hoped for - government protecting the rights of its citizens from a clear violation of civil rights; a future for the children; and a demonstration that the constitution in a living document that is vital to issues in everyday life.
Thats something worth celebrating.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Columbia, MO Human Rts Update - just got this and looks like today would have been worth doing
City of Columbia
Division of Human Services
Human Rights Update
The following information is being shared on behalf of the
individuals/organizations below. Please contact the
individual/organization directly with questions or for further
information.
___________________________
Subject: Implicit Racial Bias Symposium
Date/Time: June 14, 2011 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Location: MU Campus - Gannett Hall (
http://map.missouri.edu/
Forum)
Contact: Bruce Bartholow 573-882-1805 or bartholowb@missouri.edu
Description: The scientific study of racism has evolved from the use of
questionnaires -- simply asking people for their race-related attitudes
-- to sophisticated, computerized tasks designed to uncover hidden or
implicit racial biases that respondents are either unwilling or unable
to report. Such methods have proliferated in the past 20 years and have
even begun to capture the public's imagination. Do tasks like the
implicit association test really reveal differences in racial prejudice?
How should performance on such tasks be interpreted? This symposium
brings together experts in the fields of social cognition and cognitive
science to discuss the issues and present their latest research
findings.
____________________________
Subject: World Refugee Day
Date/Time: June 18, 2011 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Location: Refugee Garden at Broadway Christian Church
Contact: Broadway Christian Church at 573-445-5312
Description: From 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. there will be a Community
Garden Bike Tour and from 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. there will be a community
celebration featuring international food, children activities and
entertainment.
____________________________
Subject: The Annual Juneteenth Days
Date/Time: June 18 and June 19, 2011 3:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Location: Douglass Park
Contact: Bill at 573-874-6379
Description: Celebrating African-American heritage-bands, choirs,
speakers, games and food.
____________________________
City of Columbia
Human Rights Enhancement Program
Through the Human Rights Enhancement Program (HREP), the City of
Columbia is interested in contracting with local organizations to
provide human rights educational services in our community. Services
pertaining to the issues of discrimination, diversity, inclusion,
tolerance, multicultural education and related human rights issues are
considered for funding. The HREP is also intended to encourage
collaboration between organizations and individuals concerned with human
rights issues and assist them with leveraging other monies in the
support of these issues.
Contracts for up to $500, for human rights enhancement educational
services, are solicited on an on-going basis utilizing a standing
Request for Proposals (RFP) process. HREP funding is made available
annually, subject to budget appropriation, based on the City’s fiscal
year (October 1 – September 30). The HREP RFP for each fiscal year is
issued on a first come, first served basis from August 16 through August
15 (or until all funding is allocated). Proposals submitted by the 15th
of each month are considered at the next regularly scheduled meeting of
the HRC. If HREP funding is recommended by the City of Columbia Human
Rights Commission for a proposed program service, this recommendation is
forwarded to the City Manager for approval.
Proposal forms, along with detailed information about the HREP, can be
accessed on the City of Columbia web site:
http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/
or by contacting the Division of Human Services at (573)874-7488 (v),
(573) 874-7356 (tty) or emailing humanrights@gocolumbiamo.com (
mailto:hrc@gocolumbiamo.com ).
__________________________
If you have information pertaining to human rights and/or diversity
issues in Columbia that you like to be included in the Human Rights
Update, please send the following information via e-mail to
humanrights@gocolumbiamo.com:y
the name of a contact person
brief summary of the information or event
as applicable, the date, time and location of the event
The Division of Human Services reserves the right to reject or edit
submissions for the Human Rights Update. Final determination of
publication rests solely with the Division of Human Services.
Civil War Archaeological Dig Open to the Public - Will You Take This Historic Missouri Fight For Freedom Into Your Own Hands?
Public invited to archaeological digat Civil War site June 18
JEFFERSON CITY, MO., JUNE 10, 2011 – Have you ever wanted to witness important Missouri history being uncovered at an archaeological excavation? This rare opportunity will be possible June 18 at a Civil War site near Butler in Bates County.The site, owned by Missouri State Parks, is associated with the Battle of Island Mound where black soldiers fought for freedom for the first time in the Civil War. An archaeological excavation is being conducted at the site to answer important research questions about the events that took place at this historic location in 1862.On June 18, the public is invited to visit the site during a public archaeology day from 10 a.m. to noon. The day will include a visit to an archaeological lab followed by a tour of the actual excavation site. Visitors are asked to meet at 10 a.m. at the Bates County Museum, located at 802 Elks Drive in Butler. At the museum, they will tour the archaeological lab where objects found at the site are washed, weighed and measured. After touring the lab, visitors will car pool to the actual excavation site. Archaeologists and staff from Missouri State Parks will give a brief history of the Battle of Island Mound and provide a tour of the site, explaining what they have found during the excavation.In 1862, the site was the setting of the Toothman Farm, which members of the First Kansas Colored Infantry used as their camp that they called Fort Africa. On Oct. 29, 1862, 30 black soldiers from Fort Africa were ambushed by some 130 rebel horsemen near a low hill known as Island Mound close to the Marais-des-Cygnes River. The excavation at the site will help archaeologists answer research questions related to the location of Fort Africa as well as the individuals, events and conditions associated with the conflict.“This is an important site in the history of our state and our nation. We are fortunate to be able to offer the public an opportunity to be part of this event,” said Bill Bryan, Missouri State Parks director. Bryan added he hopes the event will also promote awareness and appreciation for archaeology and archaeological sites and the stories they can reveal.The area is currently under development and is normally closed to the public except for the public day on June 18. The site, which will be part of the Missouri state park system, is anticipated to open in the fall of 2012 during the commemoration of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War.The excavation site is in an open field with no amenities so the public is asked to come prepared for weather and other conditions. Although the terrain is mainly flat, accessibility may be a challenge.Reservations for the event are requested. For more information or to make a reservation, call the Bates County Museum at 660-679-0134.