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Reorganization Letter to the Community

Posted on: February 15, 2024 - 9:32pm

February 5, 2024

In response to the evolving human rights needs of our community, and in accordance with the current city charter, a motion has been proposed and passed to realign the Melrose Human Rights Commission (MHRC). The objective of this initiative is to forge partnerships with local organizations and groups, entrusting them with the primary responsibility of hosting community events. This strategic decision not only empowers these organizations but also guarantees the authenticity and sincerity of events dedicated to recognizing and celebrating a variety of groups within our community.

MHRC Chair, Bonnie Clapp, successfully engaged Mayor Paul Brodeur and Mayor-elect Jennifer Grigoraitis, who have expressed their enthusiasm and support for the restructuring. They acknowledge that this is an opportunity for the Melrose Human Rights Commission to return to its fundamental role as a local resource for the community.*

Mayor-Elect Grigoraitis stated “I look forward to partnering with the MHRC in the new year in assessing its capacity, focus, and priorities. This is an opportunity to include the numerous religious, cultural, ethnic, and racial organizations and affinity groups within Melrose and beyond and enable them to collaboratively inform and execute these community events in a way that will be sustainable for years to come”.

By suspending the primary hosting of events for the current fiscal year (July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024) the Melrose Human Rights Commission will work to accomplish the following critical tasks:

  • Assess the current human rights needs of our community.

  • Find and uplift local partner organizations to plan, inform, and host events historically hosted by MHRC (e.g., Diwali, Iftar, Pride);

  • Establish a mission, purpose, vision, and values that guide the MHRC forward based on the above needs and charter guidance.

  • Build and further utilize MHRC communications (e.g., Melrose HRC HUB, MHRC social media) to highlight and honor multicultural, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging events throughout the year;

A sample timeline of the restructuring task that Melrose Human Rights Commission hopes to accomplish during FY24 is as follows:

November 2023: 

  • Share the motion of interest with Mayor Brodeur and Mayor-Elect Grigoraitis.

December 2023: 

  • Develop and share a restructuring statement with identified community stakeholders and individuals via email, social media, Mayor’s Office distribution list.

  • Identify and uplift local partner organizations to plan, inform, and host events historically led by MHRC (e.g., Diwali, Iftar, Pride); *If you are an organization and/or individual who is interested and willing to plan and host a new and/or previously HRC-hosted community event, please fill out this Google form. 

January-March 2024: 

  • Assess the current human rights needs of our community.

  • Recruit community members interested in serving on the Melrose Human Rights Commission to achieve full membership 

  • Recruit student interns from MVMMS and MHS student groups.

  • Connect and facilitate discussion of affiliated individuals and/or groups who expressed interest in planning and hosting a new and/or previously HRC-hosted community event (e.g., Diwali, Iftar, Pride).

  • Build and further utilize MHRC communications (e.g., Melrose HRC HUB, MHRC social media) to highlight and honor multicultural, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging events throughout the year.

April-June 2024: 

  • Establish a mission, purpose, vision, and values that guide the MHRC forward based on the needs identified in the community survey and charter guidance.

On behalf of all members of the Melrose Human Rights Commission and the Mayor’s Office, we thank the community for its support and encouragement during this time of restructuring. If you have any questions and/or interest in participating during this time of restructuring, do not hesitate to contact the MHRC via email at melrosehrc@cityofmelrose.org.

Sincerely,

The Melrose Human Rights Commission

Linda Apple
Randall Carter
Bonnie Clapp
Doug DiBrielle
Kelsey Lima
Joe Phillips
Jake Rogers
Jen Strasburger
Fatma Ulku Duru

*History of the MHRC