Citizens with the skills and passion to provide leadership in supporting and enhancing human rights in Tacoma may apply for four open positions on the Tacoma Human Rights Commission.

These positions are open to anyone willing to serve for a three-year term. The Tacoma Human Rights Commission is especially interested in applicants who live in currently underrepresented parts of the City, such as Upper Tacoma, the Northeast and the South End of Tacoma, and who bring diversity to the 15-member group. The commission encourages those in the Hispanic, African American, Russian and Asian Pacific Islander communities to apply.

The commission’s role is to review and hear appeals on formal cases filed under the City’s anti-discrimination ordinance; initiate discrimination complaints when deemed appropriate; conduct studies on relevant issues and submit conclusions and recommendations to the Tacoma City Council; and organize special committees that focus on areas such as hate, violence, police/community relations, equal opportunity, employment and education.

The Tacoma Human Rights Commission meets for study sessions on the second Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in Room 434, and for business meetings on the third Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in Room 708 of the Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market St. To apply, visit http://www.cityoftacoma.org/HumanRightsCommission or contact Cindy DeGrosse at (253) 594-7848, Mayor’s Office, Room 1200, Municipal Building, 747 Market St., Tacoma, WA 98402. Applications should be submitted by April 30 to the Mayor’s Office.