MISSION

The Huntington Beach Human Relations Task Force (HRTF) promotes and celebrates diversity in our community through education and understanding.

BACKGROUND

On May 6, 1996, the City of Huntington Beach City Council unanimously adopted a Declaration of Policy About Human Dignity, which prompted the creation of the HRTF in 1997. Ten years later, at the February 6, 2006, City Council meeting, the City Council reaffirmed the Declaration and recognized the work of the HRTF by publicly signing a new proclamation.

The Huntington Beach community-wide effort to promote human dignity is an important element in building a better community. Today, the HRTF works closely with the Police Department to strictly enforce and monitor all incidents that could be classified as hate crimes. Huntington Beach places a high priority on investigating and reporting these types of crimes immediately to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and the Orange County Human Relations Commission. The HRTF discusses preventative actions and develops programs to encourage community education, interaction and relationship building.

HRTF meetings are publicly noticed per the California public meeting law (the Brown Act). Two City Council members also serve as liaisons to HRTF to facilitate council-task force communications and updates.

PARTNERSHIPS

• Huntington Beach Police Department
• Huntington Beach Coordinating Council
• Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council
• Orange County Human Relations Council

PROGRAMS OVERVIEW

TRACKING

The HRTF works with the Huntington Beach Police Department (HBPD) to review and follow up on reported hate incidents and hate crimes within the City of Huntington Beach. The HRTF reviews reports by the HBPD on incident and crime investigation, and tracks the progress of hate crimes filed by the HBPD with the Orange County District Attorney’s office.

PREVENTION

STUDENT LIAISONS
The HRTF works with student representatives from seven high schools in the Huntington Beach Union High School District and local middle schools to facilitate cultural programs, education and activities in the schools. Student representatives conduct or participate in cultural awareness activities, such as the District-Wide dialogue, leadership training, and diversity weeks.

SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Partnerships with Orange County Human Relations have enabled the development of student human relations leadership training and diversity programming at local High Schools. Two of these programs include BRIDGES and the Parent Leadership Institute.

The mission of the BRIDGES program is to improve inter-group relations by partnering with schools and communities to create, advocate for, and sustain a safe, inclusive and equitable campus climate that respects society's diversity. Students acquire the skills to work with a diversity of people while improving the human relations climate on campus.

The Parent Leadership Institute is a program designed to assist parents for whom English is a second language. The program assists parents in understanding the school system to better guide their children to success. Parents learn how to participate in school and community activities.

At the request of the Huntington Beach City Council, the Human Relations Task Force completed a study on bullying, entitled Bullying: A Report from the Huntington Beach Human Relations Task Force (May 2012). The objective was to evaluate the findings and make a recommendation to the City Council as to whether an ordinance was needed to address the issue specifically. After careful consideration of all of the factors involved, the HRTF concluded that a specific anti-bullying ordinance was not needed. However, the task force identified a number of interventions related to bullying, including the adoption of a citywide proclamation.

On October 15, 2012, in celebration of National Bullying Prevention month, the City Council signed a Proclamation Against Bullying proclaiming its ongoing commitment to address bullying in all its forms and encourage schools, students, parents, community organizations, and religious institutions to engage in a variety of awareness and prevention activities designed to make our community safer for all students and all citizens.

SCHOOL GRANTS
The HRTF has provided grants to high schools and middle schools for student field trips to the Museum of Tolerance, after which students report back to the HRTF regarding their experience.

HUNTINGTON BEACH READS ONE BOOK

HB Reads began as a committee of the HRTF. Now, a volunteer committee of the Library Services Department, HB Reads brings the community together to read and discuss books that illustrate the diversity and humanity found in all people and cultures. Adults, students from seven local high schools, book clubs and families read the selected annual book and participate in a variety of discussions and events that bring the book to life. The program culminates with a visit by the author at a multi-school assembly and a meet-the-author program for the community. Read more at www.HBReads.org.

Donations for HRTF programs made payable to the City of Huntington Beach may be sent to:

  Huntington Beach Human Relations Task Force
  c/o Community Services, City of Huntington Beach
  P.O. Box 190
  Huntington Beach, CA 92648-2702

Be part of your community! The HRTF welcomes the public to its meetings for discussion and program suggestions. The HRTF meets monthly on the first Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. For more information about the Huntington Beach Human Relations Task Force, please contact the Huntington Beach Community Services Department, 714-374-5486.

Presidential Service Award Progam www.presidentialserviceawards.gov/index.cfm 

HRTF Agenda

Task Force Members

• Joe Dagley
• Don Garrick
• Ron Knowles
• Sunny Lee-Goodman
• Minzah Malik
• Linda MacDonell
• Matthew Parr
• Kesha Sowell
• Janice Tyler