Somerville Human Rights Commission Co-Commissioner Christopher Spicer-Hankle.

By Fernando Cervantes Jr.

On Thursday, August 26, the Somerville Human Rights Commission held a monthly virtual meeting focusing on the overall functioning of the commission.

The meeting, hosted by Commissioners Christopher Spicer-Hankle and Lara Versari, mainly concentrated on the pressing need for an Executive Director for the Human Rights Commission.

Members of the public wishing to give their input into the proceedings of the commission also attended virtually. The town hall was held through Zoom and a recording of this meeting is available online on the Somerville government website.

After a quick introduction and pleasantries between Commissioners Spicer-Hankle and Versari, the commission moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting on July 29.

The July 29 minutes included a summary of a previous visit by members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. These members spoke on anti-hate and anti-bias efforts.

According to the minutes, “Commissioner Christopher introduced his guests from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. First, he gave background on the HRC’s prior discussions on the topics, including note of the events at Noor restaurant earlier in the year, the offering of bystander training (last year and upcoming), online form to report hate incidents through the SPD webpage (now available to be submitted anonymously), and voiced concerns of one town resident earlier in the year.”

Following the approval of these minutes, the commission began to discuss their need for an Executive Director.

“We’re partly advocating that we participate in that process, what we’re doing is holding the conversation to say we should have an Executive Director,” Spicer-Hankle said. “Much of June was spent offline, just doing the advocacy to say it’s part of our charter.”

In addition to their search for an Executive Director, the commission also wants to fill the seats of the commission in order for it to function.

One of the members of the public, Derrick Rice, summarized the goals of the commission concisely.

“Filling a position as soon as possible for an Interim Director so that this commission can function, and one of those primary metrics of functioning is filling the seats,” Rice said.