Archive: Around Town

The Tompkins County Human Rights Commission (tcHRC) has elected officers and is moving forward with several new initiatives for 2015. Now chairing the Commission is Pat Pryor and Vice Chair is Jamila Walida Simon. Continuing officers include Talyse Hampton in the role of Secretary and Amos Malone as Treasurer.

The new Commission Chairperson, Pat Pryor, was an educator for over 30 years in Tompkins County, with a focus on Special Education; she retired in 2000 and spends her time working on human rights issues.  Pat has garnered awards for her work in the community such as a Certificates of Appreciation from GIAC, Ithaca High School African-Latino Club, AIDSWork of Tompkins County as well as past Human Rights Commission Awards.  She is a founding member of the Working Group on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Aging.  Pryor has also served as a Legislator for Tompkins County and an Alderperson for the City of Ithaca.

Of her work on the Commission Pat says, "I feel have a good grasp of both the activist perspective and the municipal culture in which the Commission functions.  As a resident of over 20 years in Ithaca and about the same in Lansing, I have experienced the concerns and issues of both city and rural residents."

Jamila Walida Simon, new vice chairperson, is the Program Specialist for Civic Engagement and Citizenship at the New York State 4-H office.  Jamila came to Ithaca by way of Cornell University Cooperative Extension of New York City where she served as the NYC CYFAR CITY (Community Improvement Through Youth) Project Coordinator.  For the past four years, Jamila has also served as the Program Manager for a 4-H After-School program offered by CCE/Tompkins County: 4-H Urban Outreach at West Hill.

Continuing as Commission Secretary, Talyse Hampton is the Assistant Director of Admissions at Cornell University and a Wells College alumna.  Relatively new to our community, Talyse is a member of Big Brothers, Big Sisters, a vocalist with the Dorothy Cotton Jubilee Singers and local bands, and serves on the board of the Ithaca Youth Bureau.

Of serving on the Commission Hampton writes, "I want to be a part of the Commission that helps to maintain the heartbeat of our community.  When citizens know their human rights are protected, they feel valued, included, respected, empowered, and loved."

Amos Malone, will continue as Commission Treasurer.  Malone is a lifelong resident of the City of Ithaca and has been active with the Commission for a few years.  

"It is very pleasing to me to have the opportunity to serve as the Treasurer," Malone says.  Malone is also actively engaged with the Commission's outreach efforts such as tabling at local events and participating in local efforts to improve police-community relations.

Human Rights Commission activities in 2014 included the Ithaca Festival Parade, tabling at numerous local events, and helping organize the recent Department of Justice's Anti-Racial Profiling training sessions that took place with the Ithaca Police Department.

The HRC's 'Human Rights Day: A Diversity of Perspectives' event that was postponed due to weather in December 2014 has been rescheduled for February 6, 2015. It will be a joint event with the Office of Human Rights' Awards Ceremony for the first annual 'What Would MLK Say Today?' Poster Contest.  The new combined event is titled "Human Rights Day Revisited."

The Commission will also be hosting a County-wide Human Rights Awards Event in April 2015.

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