Orange County NC Website
justice is a tough issue to deal with and it is so broad. The HRC thinks that, "The aim of <br /> social justice is full and equal participation of all groups in a society designed and <br /> mutually shaped to meet their needs." He said that the report includes certain particular <br /> areas of social justice that were discovered in the research that was done over several <br /> years. <br /> Vivette Jeffries-Logan listed the categories for social justice ranked in <br /> descending order, based on the amount of money allotted to each category by Orange <br /> County residents. Approximately 550 residents spent $7,169.02 on social justice at <br /> different listening sessions across the County using the Pennies in a Jar Tool. These <br /> are listed on page 8 of the report. <br /> 1. Elimination of Oppression <br /> 2. Economic Self-Sufficiency (incoming wealth, health care, and housing) <br /> 3. Physically and Mentally Safe Communities <br /> 4. Environmental Justice <br /> 5. Civic Participation (voting) <br /> 6. Other (tax relief, transportation, reproductive justice, animal protection, and <br /> taking money from the rich to give to the poor) <br /> Bryant Colson explained the Pennies in a Jar, where each citizen was allotted 13 <br /> Orange dollars, and was asked to allocate the dollars to the five areas of social justice. <br /> There were three public listening sessions, and the advisory boards were also solicited <br /> for opinions. People were also questioned at University Mall and Hog Day. <br /> Bill Hendrickson read from the Memo of Transmittal that, The enclosed report <br /> proposes to achieve social justice in Orange County and the County shall perform <br /> government duties including policy-making and budgeting..." He said that the County <br /> Commissioners are the implementers and budgeters, and the HRC includes just the <br /> advisory people. He said that the County Commissioners would be congratulated for <br /> initiating the first justice goal for any county in the whole country. <br /> Bryant Colson added that, during this process, the commission learned a lot <br /> about Orange County's residents and one another. He said that he has a newfound <br /> respect and appreciation for his colleagues through this process. <br /> Commissioner Carey asked how the HRC came up with the five categories. <br /> James Spivey said that there were lots of subcommittee meetings and brainstorming. <br /> He made reference to page 20, and the summary of the topics. <br /> Barbara Chapman said that the first step was to educate themselves after they <br /> were asked to do this report. Staff put together a workshop for the HRC on Overcoming <br /> Oppression, which was very challenging. There was also a subcommittee that <br /> brainstormed ideas. She said that they tried to make it as inclusive as possible, but <br /> manageable in terms of people understanding categories. <br /> Shoshannah Smith made reference to page 28 and the list of events/groups <br /> solicitations of ideas. <br /> Jack Vogt said that he came in at a later stage in this process and he looked at it <br /> quite critically. He said that the core of it is on page 10 and the Social Justice Vision. <br /> He said that he had some difficulty with the term, "oppression," and he would prefer <br /> "discrimination." He thinks the report is as good a statement of social justice that he has <br /> seen. He does have some questions about some of the costs of the recommendations <br /> and who should bear them. He said that the recommendations are meant to highlight <br /> what the general point means. <br /> Bill Hendrickson said that this goal is now on the table and he does not want it to <br /> gather dust. The HRC would like it to remain a living creature. <br />