Human Rights Commission

 

The Commission's ​Work

The Ann Arbor Human Rights Commission (HRC) works to protect the human and civil rights of the people of Ann Arbor. Its duties are laid out in the Ordinance Creating the Commission (Chapter 8, Sec. 1:221).  It has been instrumental in updating the Ann Arbor Non-Discrimination Ordinance (Chapter 112) and creating both the Fair Chance Access to Housing Ordinance (Chapter 122) and the Ordinance Prohibiting Conversion Therapy on Minors.

The HRC helps to enforce the Ann Arbor Non-Discrimination Ordinance (Chapter 112) and Fair Chance Access to Housing Ordinance (Chapter 122) by investigating and helping to resolve complaints of violations of these ordinances. The Human Rights Commission Flyer and Fair Access to Housing Flyer The HRC's nine members are Ann Arbor residents appointed for three-year terms by the Mayor and City Council.

​​​​Public Office Hours

Public office hours of the Human Rights Commission are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00pm-5:00pm and Wednesdays from 9:00am-12:00pm. Public office hours are intended for use only by those wishing to talk to the commission’s Staff Liaison about Human Rights Commission-related matters. Members of the public wishing to meet with the Staff Liaison during public office hours must first make an appointment by contacting the Staff Liaison. 

Kennedi Blair Cummings, Boards and Commission Office Manager
Office Phone: 734-794-6291 Extension: 42091
Email: KCummings@a2gov.org

Meetings

Human Rights Commission meetings are open to the public. They are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m., usually in Basement Conference Room A and sometimes in City Council Chambers, at Larcom City Hall, located at 301 E. Huron St.  For HRC meeting information go to http://a2gov.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx . 

The HRC encourages and relies upon input from community members, who are welcome to speak during the public comment period of HRC meetings or contact the commission by  emailing HRC@a2gov.org or calling 734-794-6141.

The commission adheres to these public comment period procedures at its meetings, in accordance with its by-laws: 

  1. Guests who wish to speak must indicate their request on the sign-in sheet prior to the start of each meeting.
  2. The Chair shall give up to 6 members of the community 5 minutes each to address the Commission. The Chair may extend an individual's speaking time at his/her discretion.
  3.  Public comment on non-agenda items may be limited at the Chair's discretion.
  4. If more than 6 people sign up to speak, the Chair may limit the time or number of comments per topic to allow more topics to be heard. 
  5. Guests shall demonstrate respect for one another and the commissioners.
  6. Guests shall not participate in the commission meeting except during their own presentation. There shall be no interruptions of a guest's presentation.
  7. Following the public comment period, commissioners may ask speakers for brief clarifications.  In some instances, commissioners may choose to place topics raised in public comment on future agendas.  Speakers may then be asked to return to speak to the commission when those agenda topics are discussed.
  8. The Chair reserves the right to ask any guest to leave the meeting if they do not honor these rules.​

Submitting Complaints to the Human Rights Commission 

Complaints of Non-Discrimination Ordinance Violations

Discrimination ​​​Complaints​

You can read the comp​lete Non-Discrimination Ordinance here:  Link to Non-Discrimination Ordinance

The Non-Discrimination Ordinance prohibits unlawful discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations. Unlawful discrimination includes discrimination because of actual or perceived age, arrest record, color, disability, educational association, ethnicity, familial status, family responsibilities, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, government-issued identification card, height, HIV status, marital status, national origin, political beliefs, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, source of income, veteran status, victim of domestic violence or stalking, or weight.

If you believe you have been discriminated against in violation of Ann Arbor's Non-Discrimination Ordinance and wish to file a complaint, please complete and submit your complaint using this online form: Link to Discrimination Complaint Form. If you cannot use the online complaint submission form please email the HRC at HRC@a2gov.org or call 734-794-6141 to report your complaint and leave your phone number and/or email address so that the HRC can contact you.

Right to Sit ​​​Complaints​

The Non-Discrimination Ordinance also gives employees the right to sit, when sitting does not interfere with their ability to do their jobs​.​

If you believe that your right to sit has been violated and wish to file a complaint, please complete and submit your complaint using this online form: L​ink to Right to Sit Complaint Form.​​

 

Complaints of Fair Chance Access to Housing ​​​Ordinance Violations

The Fair Chance Access to Housing Ordinance eliminates the use of criminal history in tenant selection by Ann Arbor housing providers so that people with criminal records have a fair opportunity to compete for rental housing and reside with family members and others.

You can read the complete Fair Chance Access to Housing Ordinance here: Link to Fair Chance Access to Housing Ordinance​

If you believe your rights under Ann Arbor's Fair Chance Access to Housing Ordinance have been violated, please complete and submit your complaint using this online form:  Link to Fair Chance Access to Housing Complaint Form

Filing Complaints with State and Fed​eral Agencies

There are also state and federal agencies where you may be able to file complaints if you believe your rights under state and/or federal civil rights laws have been violated.  Here are some links that may be helpful.

Local Resources

Local organizations that may also be able to help you resolve your civil rights related concerns include these:

HRC Reports and Resolutions

HRC Annual Reports

Police Review

Other Resolutions

 Subscribe for updates ​

Human Rights Commission
P.O. Box 8647
Ann Arbor, MI 48107
Voice Mailbox: (734) 794-6141
E-mail: HRC@a2gov.org

City Staff Liaison: 

Kennedi Blair Cummings
kcummings@a2gov.org
Office: (734) 794-6291​​

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