PROVIDENCE – “Discrimination is illegal.” That’s the name, and the message, of a multimedia ad campaign from the city’s Human Relations Commission.
The campaign features print and radio ads, plus display ads on R.I. Public Transportation Authority buses and bus shelters. They are designed to inform people of their rights, in the areas of housing, employment, credit, education and public accommodations, and tell them how to report discrimination.
Melba Depena, the PHRC’s new executive director, said the campaign’s goal is to encourage residents who feel that they have been victims of discrimination to file complaints with the commission.
“We’ve worked hard over the past year to strengthen the Human Relations Commission to ensure that it meets the current needs of our residents,” Depena said. “In addition to promoting social justice through advocacy, training and education, we stand ready to investigate any complaints of alleged discrimination.”
The campaign was announced yesterday at a Breakfast of Champions for community leaders that was the first in a series of public events the PHRC is hosting, both to gain community input on how to better accomplish its goals and to reach out to those affected by discrimination.
Upcoming events include a July 31 workshop, Intercultural Communication in the Workplace, aimed at fostering better relationships among co-workers of different race and ethnicity; and an Aug. 7 workshop, Fair Housing in Rhode Island, that will review state and federal fair housing practices and laws as it applies to housing providers, to help them avoid discrimination against tenants and rental applicants.
The Providence Human Relations Commission promotes understanding among the city’s diverse populations and investigates discrimination complaints, police-community issues and complaints under the Americans with Disabilities Act. For more information, visit www.providenceri.com.
