Chattanooga International Human Rights Day 2018 Celebration Announced
CHATTANOOGA, TN - The celebration of International Human Rights Day will take place in Chattanooga at the Family Justice Center on December 10, 2018, from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. The theme for 2018 is #STANDUP4HUMANRIGHTS.
The event commemorates the ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations on Dec 10, 1948. This year is the 70th anniversary of this important historical document.
The program will focus on the history in Chattanooga of concerted action by human rights champions of the community as told to young people. The centerpiece of this program is an interview of Dr. Everlena M. Holmes by Bishop Allen. Dr. Holmes’ history and career is the embodiments of Eleanor Roosevelt’s quote that human rights are the world of the individual person working to add meaning in the neighborhood and communities where they live through their actions. Her work is a lesson for all to emulate.
Dr. Holmes retired as a Dean of Health Sciences to become a resident of the Glenwood Neighborhood in Chattanooga and a community advocate in 2006. She is the founding coordinator of the Glenwood, Avondale and the Glass Farm Block Leaders Units. Dr. Holmes believes strong communities, working together, build strong cities.
“Block Leaders are the life’s blood of a neighborhood, producing future neighborhood leaders and keeping residents informed and involved in neighborhood and citywide events, Dr. Holmes said.”
Because of her passion to serve others and give back to her community, she was appointed by Mayor Andy Berke to serve on several of his task force over the years: Homeless Veterans, Council for Women, My Brother’s Keeper and more recently the Council on Aging. The former Chief of Police Fred Fletcher, asked Dr. Holmes to serve as a community representative on the Chattanooga Department of Police’s R.E.S.T.A.R.T. Committee, where she continues to serve.
A committee of human rights organizations and other organizations, including the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, the Family Justice Center, Second Life Tennessee, City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, The Unity Group Chattanooga and Derryberry Public Relations work together each year to plan the event. More information is at www.tn.gov/humanrights.
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