Arthur Foulkes
The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — The Terre Haute Human Relations Commission is preparing to host a statewide education and training conference for civil rights advocates and professionals early this summer.
The Terre Haute HRC, in a board meeting Monday night at the Booker T. Washington Community Center, discussed plans and contracts for the four-day conference, which will take place mostly at the Holiday Inn in Terre Haute from June 22-25.
Human relations commissioners and directors from around Indiana and from parts of Kentucky and Illinois are expected to participate. Human rights “investigators, lawyers and advocates” will also take part in the conference, said Jeff Lorick, executive director of the Terre Haute Human Relations Commission.
The $39,000 budget for the conference, which is expected to have an attendance of about 150, will be covered by donations to the HRC as well as registration fees, sponsorships and a possible grant, Lorick said. Several area businesses and organizations, including Holiday Inn, The Ohio Building, Turner Coaches and the Terre Haute Convention and Visitors Bureau, have offered special rates or in-kind donations to help reduce costs for the conference, board members said.
“We’re really ahead of the game,” Lorick said.
This will be the 37th annual Indiana Consortium of State and Local Human Rights Training Conference. However, it is the first year the conference will take place in Terre Haute, Lorick said.
• Also at Monday evening’s meeting, the board voted to retain Carmen Boyd as Human Relations Commission chairwoman and Santhana Naidu as commission vice chairman. A relatively new commissioner, Linda Noble, was elected to serve as commission secretary.
The Human Relations Commission is charged with assisting people with questions or complaints concerning possible discrimination. Its mission also involves “empowering the community to eliminate barriers to equality” and encouraging cooperation among diverse groups and individuals.
The seven-member board of commissioners is composed of four members appointed by the mayor and three appointed by the Terre Haute City Council.
Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.
