About Us:
There are many factors contributing to an unprecedented
focus today upon man's relationship to man. The more
obvious ones are the moral, religious, and concerns
for democratic processes. But, just as potent is the
influence of the great ideological struggles of our
day, the plain fact is that the majority of the world
is colored and unless each citizen makes it his patriotic
- as well as his religious duty to constructively
eliminate prejudice and discrimination, our country
is weakened in its efforts to effectively persuade
world opinion that it means what it says about freedom.
The place for each citizen to strengthen himself
and his country is where he lives by insuring his
fellow citizens' rights to equal opportunity in employment,
education, housing, voting, and public accomodations.
The Human Rights Commission of South Bend reflects
the moral, religious, and democratic sentiments of
the citizens of South Bend to completely abolish discrimination
and segregation on the basis of race, color, religion,
national origin, or ancestry from the city.
Brief History:
On May 14, 1956, the Common Council
of the City of South Bend enacted a Fair Employment
Practices Ordinance providing for the creation of
a Fair Employment Commission to eliminate discrimination
in employment.
On July 6, 1963, former
Mayor Frank J. Bruggner appointed a voluntary thirty-four man
Bi-Racial Committee to study the problems of racial discrimination
in South Bend with Thomas H. Singer as its first
Chairman.
On December 13, 1965, Ordinance Number 4820,
repealing Ordinance Number 4091, was passed by the Common Council,
thus eliminating the Fair Employment Practices
Commission.
On December 24, 1965, the new ordinance became
law and on January 1, 1966, the newly-appointed Commissioners began
the task of developing policies and setting a new city department
into operation.
On April 1, 1966, the Commission employed its
first Executive Director, who, besides having a Master's degree
from the University of Chicago, brought with him a fund of
knowledge, background, and experience in the field of inter-group
relations and social science.
