WHO: ALL DULUTH RESIDENTS who value their human rights, and the protection and enforcement thereof provided by the Duluth Human Rights Office and Ordinance.

WHAT: BRING YOUR PENNIES to the Duluth City Council meeting to show support for and help fund the Duluth Human Rights Office, which is in need of $75,000 in funding from the City to stay open - that's LESS THAN ONE PENNY PER DAY PER HOUSEHOLD. Note: The City Council will be voting on a resolution to accept the grant from HUD (see brief history below).

WHEN: OCTOBER 23, 2006 AT 7:00 PM

WHERE: CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS (3rd Floor) in Duluth City Hall (411 W First St.)

HOW: When called upon, DEPOSIT YOUR PENNIES INTO THE BIG COLLECTION BOWL (at the front of the public seating area near the podium) which we will then present to the City Council as a donation to help fund the Human Rights Office.

WHY: Sometimes it takes more than letters, phone calls, petitions, and speeches to effect change. Some changes demand, and appreciate, A LITTLE STREET THEATER - delivered with deft amounts of humor and compassion.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ISSUE:

On September 7, 2006, Mayor Bergson presented his 2007 Budget for the city of Duluth, which called for the closure of its Human Rights Office (HRO) due to lack of funding. The Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has offered a grant to help provide funding for the HRO. On Monday, October 16, the HRO received the official form (HUD 1044) awarding $120,000 for 12 months effective September 27, 2006 for Capacity Building in accordance with the Interim Agreement approved by the City and signed by the Assistant Secretary of HUD on that date. The grant document, along with the statement of Work and attachments, has been given to CAO John Hall, and a copy to Bryan Brown for legal review. The City Council must now approve a resolution accepting this grant, and then it must be signed by the Mayor. An additional $75,000 is still needed to fully fund the HRO (a cost of less than one penny per day per Duluth household).

PLEASE PLAN TO JOIN "THE MARCH OF PENNIES" AND HELP PRESERVE THE HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE IN DULUTH!

Thank you and see you there,

Bridget Riversmith
Duluth Commission on Disabilities