HYANNIS – The Barnstable County Human Rights Commission Hosted a breakfast at the Hyannis Golf Club yesterday to commemorate the United Nation’s Human Rights Day.
The annual breakfast serves as an opportunity to gather stakeholders, celebrate the successes of the year gone by, and look ahead at upcoming opportunities to serve Barnstable County populations in need.
Susan Quinones is coordinator Barnstable County’s Human Rights Commission “We’re celebrating International Human Rights Day and it’s very important to remind people here on the Cape about all of the wonderful things that are going on that contribute to improving the human rights of the people on the cape.”
The event also allows the commission to recognize members of the community for their efforts over the past year. This year, the group honored We Can founder Jim Hurly; Penelope Duby, Chair of the Cape Cod and Islands Commission on the Status of Women; and Cape and Islands State Senator Julian Cyr.
The organization also presented the Rosenthal Award to the Barnstable Police Department’s Community Impact Unit and the town’s Department of Public Works’ Homeless Camp Clean-up Crews for their efforts to break the cycle of homelessness with compassion and respect.
Brian Morrison, a patrol officer on Barnstable’s Community Impact Unit, explained how members of the public can become more involved.
“Learn about what you can do to help out in your community, whether it be for the homeless, mental health issues, or education, get involved. Like one of the speakers today said ‘the world’s on fire, if you can stop and help somebody and held put out that fire do something, get involved.”
The nine-member volunteer Human Rights Commission was created in 2005 by the County’s Assembly of Delegates to promote equal opportunity, prevent discrimination, investigate and mediate complaints and provide human rights information.
Commissioners also work actively to strengthen community ties and reduce misunderstandings and conflicts.
By DAVID BEATTY, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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