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Provides assistance to individuals going through an equal rights issue. Staff ensures equal opportunity and fair treatment for citizens through public information, education, and enforcement of the City's Human Rights Ordinance and Equal Opportunity and Purchasing Ordinance.

This office was developed with the intent to secure an end to discrimination in the areas of Employment, Housing, Public Accommodation, and Credit on the basis of age, sex, race, color, creed, religion, education, physical or mental disability, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, sexual preference, family responsibilities, source of income, prior arrest, or conviction record.

Provides assistance to out-of-school youth ages 17-24 who are overcoming barriers to employment. Participants engage in academic programming to obtain a high school diploma or equivalency certificate and skill-building activities in construction or urban agriculture, such as building or rehabilitating housing for low-income families. Leadership development includes classes, activities, and organizational leadership roles.

Assistance is available for individuals who have experienced discrimination or unfair treatment based on age, gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or marital status. Services target youth facing low income, homelessness, or involvement with the judicial system.

Enforce Human Relations Code:

Resolution of complaints of unlawful discrimination in employment, public accommodation, and financing based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, and matriculation. Formal conciliation is attempted to resolve complaints. Failure of conciliation may lead to a public hearing of the matter before either the Commission or a Hearing Officer appointed by the Commission.

Advise and Consult:

The Commission advises the Town Council and consults with other public officials, citizens or citizen groups on matters involving racial, religious, sexual orientation, or ethnic prejudice or discrimination and may recommend appropriate actions.

Community Outreach:

Co-sponsors the Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Luncheon and seeks other opportunities to publicize the Commission and its mission and role within the Town of Normal and with its citizens and guests. Learn more about the Human Relations Commission by visiting

Ensures the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and works to eliminate race-based discrimination.

Legal representation for matters involving fair housing. Types of cases that would be considered include:

- A refusal to rent on the basis of a particular trait or status (race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, familial status).

- Offering housing on different terms on those bases than for others.

- Steering people to housing elsewhere.

- Treatment of tenants differently due to one of the above mentioned traits or statuses.

- Issues with requests for reasonable accommodations in housing due to disability.

Administers the Illinois Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status (with regard to employment), familial status (with regard to real estate transactions), age, marital status, physical or mental disability, military service, and unfavorable military discharge. The website includes forms, instructions, and links to numerous other related websites as well as detailed information on how the discrimination charge process works.

Also maintains a helpline for assistance specifically with sexual harassment and discrimination.