Santa Rosa, CA – March 21, 2017 – The
Sonoma County Junior Commission on Human Rights believes that shelter is a
human right, and are committed to fighting to end homelessness in our own
community. They believe the first steps
to solutions are advocacy and awareness.
The Commission’s Homelessness Committee, made up of high school students,
are hosting a forum to address concerns at Chops Teen Club on Wednesday, March 29th from 5:00 to 6:30.
The forum seeks to spread awareness and hopes to attract teens
as well as adults. Committee member
Bella Nadler says, “An estimated 3,000 county residents are living without the
basic human right of shelter. Being
homeless is something that people don’t think about every day, until they are
facing it. I feel like as a community we are incredibly blind to the struggles
that many of us face. We hope to help
change that with this project and address ways in which concerned citizens can
help.”
Attendees will hear from a panel of speakers: George
Malachowski, Program Development Manager of the Sonoma County Human Services
Department; Jennilynn Holmes, Director of Shelter and Housing at Catholic
Charities; Akash Kalia, owner of the Palms Inn Homeless and Veteran’s housing
project; Enrique Yarce, event organizer for the Black Student Union at SRJC,
and a representative from Social Advocates for Youth’s Dream Center. The diverse group of speakers will share
their insights while creating an engaging and informative event. There will also be an exhibit of photographs
and interviews with unhoused Sonoma County residents entitled “Unheard
Voices”. Please bring any items that you
would be willing to donate to the homeless community. Items of need include new socks, new or
gently used shoes and clothing, clean blankets, jackets, sleeping bags, new
personal care items and towels.
The
Junior Commission on Human Rights is a project of the Commission on Human
Rights, an appointed advisory board to the County Board of Supervisors. The Junior Commission is intended to provide
high school aged youth with the opportunity to participate in advocacy, take an
active role in County government, provide education about human rights issues
that impact their lives and empower youth to make a positive impact on their
communities.
For more information about the Junior Commission, visit the
CHR website at:
http://www.sonomacountychr.org/
or follow us on Facebook
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