View as WebpageMarch 2024 Newsletter

Hello

Amanda,

The Crucial Role of Black Male Social Workers 

I write to shed light on a topic that's too often overlooked yet essential to our society - the role of Black male social workers in the nurturing and development of Black males and children.

We live in a world where the narratives surrounding the black community are filled with tangled webs of stereotypes. These misconceptions are not just profoundly inaccurate, but they also pose a formidable barrier to the development of black children, particularly males, who often find themselves struggling to find positive role models in their lives.

This is where Black male social workers step in. They are more than just workers in the field of social care. They are role models, mentors, counsellors, and advocates. They connect on varying levels with black children, understanding their struggles and helping them realize their worth and potential in a world that too often tells them otherwise.

They hold the power of representation. They demonstrate that Black children can aspire and achieve great heights - that their futures are not confined by the limits others may try to impose. They empower these children with the mindset of liberation, encouraging them to break outside the stereotypes, to fight for their place in society and to make their voices heard.

Not just the voice, they also teach the language of resilience, courage, and ambition to ensure that every child they mentor, every teenager they guide, rises above any life's adversity with steadfast determination.

In a proverbial sense, they are sculptors, carefully molding and shaping the leaders of tomorrow. Their impact goes beyond what can be encapsulated in words. We need to celebrate their commendable contributions and simultaneously strive to provide more opportunities for Black males in social work.

Our community and our world will be richer and stronger for their efforts. Let us come together to encourage, appreciate, and champion these dedicated men who work tirelessly to change lives and transform our society, one child at a time.

Remember, the powerful tide of change begins with a single ripple. And together, we can create a wave.

Chad Dion Lassiter, MSW

Executive Director

March is Social Workers Month

Dr. La Dawn Robinson as new Pittsburgh Regional Director

First woman in 68 years of existence to serve as the Pittsburgh Regional Director

Dr. La Dawn Robinson

Pittsburgh Regional Director

Monday, January 8, 2024, I began a new and exciting journey as the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission’s first woman in 68 years to serve as the Pittsburgh Regional Director. Pursuing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion is a moral imperative. I believe that all people should be treated fairly, with dignity and respect; I take it seriously when anyone’s human and civil rights may be violated. For these reasons, I am honored to work with Pennsylvania’s preeminent civil rights leaders and social justice warriors. It is a heavy responsibility bestowed upon the Commission and I look forward to working every day to ensure that the rights of all Pennsylvania citizens are being respected and protected.

Prior to my role of Regional Director, I devoted more than 20 years in the field of Human Resources where I served in multiple management roles and lead multiple HR functions, such as Equal Opportunity /Affirmative Action, Talent Acquisition, and Employee Relations. I hold a Doctorate degree in Executive Leadership from the University of Charleston, a Master of Science degree in Professional Leadership from Carlow University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from West Virginia University. When I am not working, I spend my time fulfilling pursuits such as attending jazz and RnB performances, power lifting training and watching high action - drama television series.

The Pittsburgh Regional Office serves 23 counties in the commonwealth. I am excited to announce the PHRC Housing Equality Conference, Unlocking Housing Access on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in Allegheny County-Pittsburgh, PA. More details will be released on the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission's website soon. I hope to see you at the conference.

PHRC Celebrates Women's History Month

PHRC kicked off our third annual Women’s History Month speaker series with a discussion about Human Rights Sheroes with Dr. Alisa Warren, IAOHRA president. If you missed yesterday's virtual event, watch it here. You can also join us for one of our upcoming events. This year’s lineup of speakers includes women in Human Rights leadership roles.

Tuesday, March 12 1-2 p.m. EST

Tia Welch, Executive Director of the West Virginia Human Rights Commission. Register here.

Wednesday, March 20 1-2 p.m. EST

Diane Clements-Boyd, Executive Director of the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Human Relations Commission. Register here.

Wednesday, March 27, 1-2 p.m. EST

Kia Ghee, Esq., Executive Director, Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations. Register here.

Act 54 of 2023

Ashley Walkowiak

Director of Policy, Intergovernmental Affairs, and Mediation

On January 29, Executive Director Lassiter and various members of the PHRC team were honored to stand in solidarity with Governor Shapiro for the ceremonial bill signing of Act 54. 

Act 54 of 2023 adds Chapter 74 (Repudiation of Discriminatory Real Estate Covenants) to Title 68 to provide property owners or homeowner associations a streamlined process to remove unlawful restrictive covenants from their deeds.

An unlawful restrictive covenant is defined as a provision that purports to restrict ownership or occupancy of real estate property based on a practice or policy of discrimination against individuals or groups covered under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.

Restrictive deed covenants were a tool of systemic racism that was written into deeds, barring the sale of properties to people of a particular race or religious group. These covenants would prohibit home sales to people of color, severely limiting the real estate options for non-white families in the early 1900s.

Racially discriminatory real estate covenants were struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1948 under the Shelley v. Kraemer decision, ruling that these covenants are unenforceable under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution. However, private parties were still able to abide by the terms of the covenant. The federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 prohibited deed covenants that discriminate against protected classes. Although these covenants are no longer enforceable, this harmful and discriminatory language remain today in many property deeds. The process to remove these illegal covenants can often be challenging and expensive.

The Act 54 legislation establishes a process for property owners or homeowner associations to file a form, created by the PA Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED), with their local recorder of deeds. The new form streamlines the process and bars the charging of a fee in order to remove the racially discriminatory covenant from the deed. 

Ally

Deven A. Price

HRO Team Leader

In November 2022, effective January 2023, the residents of Pennsylvania (PA) elected a Jewish Governor.

In May 2023, the Pennsylvania Congress announced that the well-established PA Legislative Black Caucus have merged with the Jewish members of the congress to newly form the Black-Jewish Caucus. The goal of this caucus is to explore the historic relationship between the groups, reignite the current relationship, and work together (an alliance) to promote social justice and combat antisemitism and racism.

The definition of ally (non-military) is to combine or unite a resource or commodity with (another) for mutual benefit. The definition of enemy (non-military) is a person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something.

Historically, Jewish people were well-known allies of African Americans/Blacks in the Civil Rights Movement.

Historically, my family and I have always understood that Jewish people were our allies; my great-grandmother, who raised me, migrated north from the poverty of the south to become a domestic worker for a Jewish family in New York. Although, this family employed her as a domestic servant, it made sure that her future (retirement) and family were taken care of. My mother rented a house from a Jewish owner, that always made sure that our living situation was top notched and well cared for. In my youth, a coworker of my mother, Stephen Spitalny and his family, Jewish, took me, a product of a single-family home, under his wings, long before the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Organization was “a thing” in this area, and instilled in me the importance of faith, education, finances, business, interracial relations, networking, sports, and social justice. As a PHRC employee, I was pleased to be offered the opportunity to attend the FBI Town Hall meeting in response to and following the Tree of Life Synagogue tragedy in Pittsburgh, PA. 

In closing, although I do not understand the origins of the disconnect between African American/Blacks and Jewish people or the current generations hostility between us, I realize that it is a benefit to both groups that we remained allies and united on all matters concerning the current movement towards equality and anti-discrimination in housing, education, employment, and public accommodation, and not opposed or hostile towards each other. 

Upcoming PHRC Events

Join "PHRC Speaks: Fair Housing in the 21st Century" on Sunday, March 10 at 3pm on Pennsylvania Cable Network. Regis Charlton, Deputy Director, and Marlene O'Leary, Director of the Center for Independent Living Disability Options Network will join show host, Adrian Garcia to discuss Overcoming Barriers to Housing.

If you can't watch on Sunday, the recording will be available for streaming afterwards at: https://pcntv.com/phrc-speaks/ 

Interested in being more involved in protecting civil rights in your community? Join the Delaware County Advisory Council to the PHRC! Learn more during an informational session on Tuesday, March 12 at 6:00 p.m. on Zoom.

Register in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

In honor of Women's History Month, the PHRC is partnering with Temple University Beasley School of Law to present "Lessons of Resilience and Courage from German Jewish Women and Lawyer."

📆 Thursday, March 14

🕕 6-8 p.m.

📍 Klien Hall- Second Floor

📲Register here

Interested in being more involved in protecting civil rights in your community? Join the Montgomery County Advisory Council to the PHRC! Learn more during an informational session on Wednesday, March 20 at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom.

Register in advance for this meeting.

Join PHRC on Wednesday, March 27, 12-1 for PHRC Fair Housing Empower Hour: Fair Housing & Hoarding. Hoarding situations can be challenging for both housing providers and tenants to handle. In this session, you will learn:

• Fair housing laws and protected classes
• Reasonable Accommodations for individuals with disabilities
• How Fair Housing protections apply to individuals engaged in hoarding
• Resources for addressing hoarding situations
• How to file a complaint



Register today!

Outside PHRC Events

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network will host, Beyond the Rainbow: Addressing Cancer Disparities in LGBTQIA Communities on Tuesday, March 19. Register now!

The Pennsylvania Interagency Human Trafficking Prevention Workgroup will hold several events at the state Capitol on Monday, March 25. PHRC will have an informational table, and Director Ashley Walkowiak will be participating. For more information, contact MBALANDA@PA.GOV.

March is Women's History Month. It's a time to celebrate the amazing accomplishments and achievements of ALL Women!

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