The Eugene Human Rights Commission is currently accepting nominations for its 2024 Leadership Awards, looking to honor those individuals who have taken a stand to champion human rights within their community. With a deadline of 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 12, the call is out for the public to put forward names of those deserving recognition by submitting their nominations online, according to the City of Eugene, Oregon.
These esteemed awards will be formally announced at an upcoming event titled "Reimagining Resistance: HRC Award Ceremony and Community Panel," slated to happen Sunday, June 22, from 1-5 p.m. Located in the heart of the city, the celebration will unfold within the Bascom-Tykeson Room of Eugene's Downtown Library at 100 W. 10th Ave, as reported by the City of Eugene, Oregon. The panel discussion promises to feature voices that have strived, and indeed managed, to meaningfully impact the local human rights landscape over the past year.
In a statement highlighting the Commission's concerns and mission, HRC Chair Blake Burrell remarked, "The HRC recognizes and acknowledges the realistic fear created by the statements and actions of the current federal administration, especially within the most-targeted communities." Burrell emphasized that "Each and every individual has the equal right to safety, dignity, respect, and protection," as stated by the City of Eugene, Oregon. In addition to the awards and panel, the event will, too, include an open forum allowing community members to exchange resources and dialogue in an inclusive environment.
The HRC operates with the mission to integrate universal human rights values and principles thoroughly within all City of Eugene initiatives and programs and to vocalize and advocate these tenets across the community fabric. Composed of appointed community members by the City Council, the HRC acts in accordance with its bylaws, focusing both on community matters and its City Council-approved work plan. For those interested in learning more, the full breadth of the HRC's activities and additional information can be accessed on the Human Rights Commission webpage, as detailed in an alert posted on Wednesday.
