Human Relations Commission
The Human Relations Commission was created to encourage understanding and respect between residents of Skokie with various racial, ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds. The Commission is responsible for and actively involved in the enforcement of the Fair Housing Ordinance. The Commission sponsors human relations workshops, and works in the schools and community to further equal opportunity for all Skokie residents as well as celebrate the community's ethnic and cultural diversity.
Youth Community Service Recognition
Diversity Action by Youth - See What a Difference a D.A.Y. Makes!
Click here for a copy of the application.
Click here for a copy of the brochure.
The goal of this initiative is to show the value of diversity and to promote cultural awareness through volunteer work performed by Skokie's high school students that addresses unmet needs in the community.
Rules and Procedures:
Applicant must be a Skokie resident; or enrolled in a Skokie school. Eligible grades are 9 through 12. Applications are limited to one entry per person. Applicant must perform a minimum of 24 hours of community service related to helping someone or a group that is different from you. Eligible activities are ones that engage you directly with a person or group of people who are different from you.
Examples of activities that would qualify include:
- Read a book to a younger child, a sight impaired person or an older neighbor.
- Make and personally deliver get well cards for people in hospitals and convalescent homes.
- Conduct a clothing repair or sewing workshop for needy people.
- Work in an adult daycare center.
- Distribute food to clients at a food pantry.
- Prepare and serve food at a shelter or soup kitchen.
- Work at an immigrant welcome center.
The services you perform may be at more than one location and may occur over more than one day. The key is that the activities should involve helpful interaction with a person or people who are different from you. Examples of activities that do not qualify (because you are not interacting with people different from you) include: dog walking, mowing the lawn or shoveling the walk for your neighbor; baby sitting for a relative; cleaning up litter; visiting your own relative in a nursing home or stocking shelves in a food pantry.
What the Skokie D.A.Y. applicant needs to do:
Complete the Skokie D.A.Y. application indicating hours of participation.
Submit an essay of 300-500 words describing the experience (i.e. in 300-500 words tell how you helped another or other in our community, different from you, explaining how it was meaningful to you). Each essay will be evaluated on how well it addresses such topics as:
- How you increased your understanding of differences in cultures, religions, ages, socio-economic levels, family structures, physical abilities, and/or educational background
- Social challenges associated with discrimination you identified
- Respect and appreciation gained for cultural differences and/or differences in abilities
- Effort made to bridge differences to eradicate some form of discrimination
The essay must be solely and exclusively your work. Essays must be suitable for public distribution or display. Participation in the Skokie D.A.Y. Initiative gives permission to the Village to publish the material submitted; however, the contestant retains the copyright. Entries become the property of the Village, and will not be returned to contestant.
All entries must be submitted to the Human Services Division Office by 4 p.m. Friday, March 5, 2010.
Recognition and Awards:
Entries will be reviewed by a panel assembled by the Human Relations Commission, Education Committee and awards will be determined based on the written essay. Recognition and honors will be given at the 2010 Festival of Cultures to students and schools for participation in the D.A.Y. initiative. Depending on the number of entries, up to three winners (1st, 2nd, and 3rd) will be selected for each grade level. Each winner will receive an official certificate from the Village of Skokie. Awards will be presented on the last day of the Festival of Cultures, Sunday, May 16, 2010. Winning entries may be displayed in the Skokie Public Library.
Send or bring entries to Maureen DiFrancesca, Human Services Division - Village of Skokie, 5120 Galitz, Skokie, IL 60077. If you have any questions about what may or may not be an eligible activity, please contact the Human Services Division 847/933-8208.
Commission size: 21 members
Term: Each member shall serve for three years
Meeting date: 4th Thursday night
Human Relations Commission Members
Marcia Arenson
Cesar Borja
James O. Coney
Victor Dye
David Eingorn
Krishna Goyal
Michael Halliburton
Lina Hoffman
Fumie Ikeda
Kirit Madhiwala
Amy L. Memis-Foler
Maria E. Monastero
Alfred S. Nathan
Don Perille (Liaison from Village Board)
Michelle Reitman
Pearl W. Rubenzik
Ralph Ruebner
Linda Sargon-Swenson
Karen Lise Sherman
Etelca F. Tatar
Victoria Yan
Liaison: Maureen DiFrancesca