Orange County NC Website
has dealt with fair housing and employment discrimination. The report includes a transmittal <br />memo, executive summary, evolution timeline, departmental plan, and an organizational chart. <br />This information has been shared with the Chairs of the Commission for Women and the <br />Commission for Human Rights and Relations. <br />Commissioner Carey said that the County has been enjoined from being involved in the <br />employment area, and asked if anything was being done in the employment area at this time. <br />Milan Pham said that they are completing intakes for the EEC~C. They are also conducting <br />education and outreach especially to the limited English proficient communities. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that when the Commission far Women staff became part of <br />the Human Rights and Relations Department, she thinks that things got last in translation and <br />the Commission for Women did not have the staff to support it. Her concern, on page 19, is that <br />there is not anybody on staff that is only for the Commission far Women. She would like to see <br />a staff position dedicated to the Commission far Women and women's issues. <br />Commissioner Carey wants to know how the staff is currently addressing needs of the <br />various groups that are in the constituency of the department, including the Commission far <br />Women and others. He does not think that it should be segmented. He wants to hear how <br />these issues are dealt with now. <br />Milan Pham said that there are three staff members far civil rights and women issues. <br />She said that they are in constant contact with these minorities in their communities. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked far Milan Pham's opinion about the Commission far <br />Women and if the attention has been redirected since she took over as Acting Director. Milan <br />Pham said yes and the Commission is working on more substantive projects and there is staff <br />presence and the presence of the Friends of the Commission far Women. They are working on <br />three major projects: a community dialogue about women's issues called "Where my feet have <br />gone, where my feet are taking me;" an agenda assembly; and an education and health care <br />project involving childhood obesity. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked if it was safe to say that the Civil Rights Specialist on the <br />organizational chart could be rewritten to present a focus on the fact that the primary program <br />staff of the Commission for Women is coming out of this position. He asked if there was a <br />significant portion of time for this person devoted to issues dealing with the Commission for <br />Women and Milan Pham said yes. He asked how many hours per week approximately and <br />Milan Pham said at least 15 hours. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that he does not want it segmented either, but there are <br />ways that the importance can be highlighted. And the title should specify Commission for <br />Women. <br />Chair Jacobs said that the Commission for Women does a report every other year and <br />that it might be good then to have the Human Rights and Relations Board to da a report on the <br />alternate years to give a picture of what is going on. <br />Chair Jacobs made reference to page nine and enforcement related responsibilities <br />and asked if anybody was focused on farm workers. Milan Pham said that they do not currently, <br />but Scott Liles from the School of Public Health has recently approached the department to ask <br />them to work with him on a project involving day laborers and farm workers, specifically out of <br />Carrboro. They have close connections with people at Student Action for Farm Workers in <br />Durham, and they work with people in Orange County. <br />Chair Jacobs said that this is a group of people that have historically been abused, and <br />it would be nice for someone to connect with them. <br />Milan Pham answered several clarifying questions of the County Commissioners. <br />Chair Jacobs said that having someone with the primary responsibility for the <br />Commission for Women is good, and he thinks nomenclature may be part of the problem here. <br />Commissioner Gordan said that they need to address the Commission far Women. <br />She said that recruitment is pending on two positions. She respectfully disagreed with her <br />