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Human Rights Commission
A joint statement from the Town Manager, Police Chief, and School Superintendent
2019 Annual Human Rights Youth Heroism Awards
The Amherst Human Rights Commission’s primary purpose is to promote a community of mutual respect and to honor the diversity of our community. We strive to promote attitudes of compassion and concern for our neighbors. To encourage these values in Amherst, we have initiated the Human Rights Youth Heroism Awards, an annual celebration of Amherst area youth. 2019 represents the fourteenth year of these awards! It is the Commission’s intent to identify and celebrate youth who have shown a special gift from the heart or an ability to love and care for one another. We are looking for young people who have demonstrated acts of kindness, unselfishness, social courage and/or community service within their families, their schools, or the community. Please help us by nominating a youth you have observed displaying one or more of these traits in the past year. Youth groups may also be nominated.
Submit your nomination here
Submit your nomination here
Our Mission
To ensure that no power goes unchecked, and that all citizens are afforded equal protection under the law.
The Human Rights Commission shall act to promote the Town of Amherst’s Human Rights Policy, to insure that no person, public or private, shall be denied any rights guaranteed pursuant to local, state, and/or federal law on the basis of race or color, gender, physical or mental ability, religion, socio-economic status, ethnic or national origin, affectional or sexual preference, lifestyle, or age for all persons coming within the Town of Amherst.
The Commission shall advise the Town and assist the Town Manager and Human Resources and Rights Director in the achievement of affirmative action/equal opportunity objectives, conduct and participate in educational activities related to its responsibilities, provide mediation, and review matters brought to its attention.
Meetings
Human Rights Commission meetings are open to the public and are generally scheduled from 5:45 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month, summer excluded. Please check the Town calendar for date and time of the next meeting.
Human Rights Events Calendar 2019
2017 Human Rights Commission Committee Liaison roles:
- Public Safety-Matthew Charity, Elizabeth Cahn, Sid Ferreira
- Education- Emily Boutilier, Sophia Maldonado
- Other municipal Human Rights groups- Emily Boutilier
- Housing-Sid Ferreira
- Public Health- Elizabeth Cahn
- Interfaith- Emily Boutilier, Elizabeth Cahn
- Amnesty International & NAACP- Matthew Charity
Members
Year Appointed Term Expiration| Elizabeth Cahn | 2017 | 2020 |
| Matthew Charity, Chair | 2017 | 2022 |
| Sidonio Ferreira | 2015 | 2020 |
| Benjamin Herrington | 2019 | 2021 |
| Sophia Maldonado | 2017 | 2020 |
| Deborah Neubauer | 2019 | 2021 |
| Gazit Chaya Nkosi | 2019 | 2021 |
| Romarin Speck | 2019 | 2022 |
| Jennifer Moyston, Staff Liaison |
Appointed by the Select Board: 9 members / 3 year term
How to Become a Commission Member
Commissioners are Amherst residents appointed to rotating 3 year term. If you are interested in becoming a Commissioner, please complete and submit the Citizen Activity Form. In addition to Commission meetings, membership involves networking with other social justice groups, planning and conducting public events, advocacy, and promotion of the mission. At full capacity, the Commission has nine members.