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Amber Sellers

The City of Lawrence Human Relations Commission is celebrating its 60-year anniversary and inviting residents to learn more about what the commission does.

The HRC consists of nine volunteer members from diverse backgrounds who work to eliminate discrimination in employment, public accommodations and housing by accepting, investigating, ruling upon and resolving discrimination complaints, according to the HRC website. The HRC also studies the problem of discrimination and other matters that may have an adverse impact on community relations.

Farris Muhammad, director of equity and inclusion for the city and staff liaison to the HRC, commended the commission’s work over the years, but said that work continues.

“There is much to celebrate over the board’s past 60 years,” Muhammad said in a news release. “There is also much to look forward to as the Commission continues the work of making Lawrence an equitable community of choice for all.”

For the anniversary, the city is inviting residents to learn more about Chapter 10 of the city code, which contains local ordinances that prohibit discrimination within housing, public accommodations and employment, according to the release. Posters and informational postcards commemorating the 60th anniversary will be available at City Hall, the Lawrence Public Library and the Watkins Museum of History.

The HRC was established by city ordinance in 1961 to protect the rights of all individuals, regardless of race, creed, color or national origin. The HRC later helped guide the passage of ordinances that provide protections for individuals on the basis of sexual orientation in 1995 and gender identity in 2011. As of 2021, the protected classes in city code have been expanded to include race, sex, religion, color, national origin, age, ancestry, familial status, sexual orientation, disability and gender identity.

HRC chair and city-commissioner-elect Amber Sellers said in the release that she appreciated all who have served the community by being a part of the commission throughout its 60-year history.

“Our promise to advocate for citizens while ensuring they are informed of their rights and responsibilities is an invaluable service to Lawrence,” Sellers said.

The HRC meets monthly and those meetings are open to the public. More information about the HRC, including details about upcoming meetings and the complaint process, is available on the city’s website, lawrenceks.org.