Lexington-Fayette Urban County
Human Rights Commission
Eighth Annual Fair Housing Luncheon
Over 240 people joined the LFUC Human Rights Commission to celebrate April as fair housing month during its Eighth Annual Fair Housing Luncheon on April 9th. This year was a special year because the Commission launched its new Police Community Relations Award Program. The program is to honor outstanding police officers in the Lexington-Fayette County Community who go above and beyond the call of duty to foster stronger relationships between police and community and to educate constituents about crime prevention.
The 2002 winners were Officer
Michael Bandy, University of Kentucky Police,
and from the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Division of Police, Assistant
Chief Ulysses Berry, Officer Joan Root, Officer Debbie Wagner, and Officer Gary
Wilson.
Commission Chair, Samye Miller
welcomed the crowd and assisted Lexington Mayor Pam Miller and Housing Committee
Chair Carolyn Edwards as they presented the awards for the Harrison Elementary
Fair Housing Coloring Contest. Angela Slaton, from the Lexington Fair Housing
Council, presented the Council’s Fair Housing Poster Contest awards.
Mayor Pam Miller was presented a
gift of appreciation from the Commission for her years of leadership and support
during her two terms. Commission Community Relations Committee Chair Jeff Jones
joined Mayor Miller to present the police community relations awards. This
presentation was followed by housing committee member, Commissioner Paul Engel,
who introduced guest speaker, Andrew D. Plepler,
Senior Vice President of Housing and Community Initiatives, Fannie Mae
Foundation. Plepler spoke to the group about three approaches to effectively
deal with predatory lending: legislative, enforcement and education. Plepler
stressed the importance of educating community members and especially youth to
be financially knowledgeable and responsible as the most effective means of
eradicating predatory lending.
Commissioner Brian Berthiaume presented Mr. Plepler with a book on Kentucky, featuring works by internationally renowned photographer James Archembault and an essay by esteemed Kentucky historian Thomas Clark. After the presentation Commissioner Trime Persinger gave closing remarks and conveyed the Commission’s appreciation to everyone who supports fair housing.
Click
here to view a photo gallery of the luncheon.
Eighth
Annual Fair Housing Luncheon Co-Sponsors:
Bluegrass Fairness Alliance
Center for Women, Children and Families
Community Action Council
Community Reinvestment Alliance of Lexington
Community Ventures Corporation
East End Community Outreach Partnership Center
Fannie Mae Corporation - Kentucky Partnership Office
Hispanic Initiative Network
Homebuilders Association of Lexington
Homeless & Housing Coalition of Kentucky
HOPE Center
Kentucky Chapter of NAHRW
Kentucky Commission on Human Rights
Kentucky Fairness Alliance - Bluegrass Chapter
Kentucky Housing Corporation
Kentucky Migrant Network Coalition
Lexington Apartment Association
Lexington Bluegrass Association of Realtors
Lexington Commission on Race Relations
Lexington Fair Housing Council
LFUCG Division of Adult Services
LFUCG Division of Community Development
LFUCG Division of Planning
LFUC Housing Authority
LFUC
Urban League
Lexington Hispanic Association
Mortgage Bankers Association
National Conference for Community & Justice
REACH, Inc.
Realtor Community Housing Foundation
Tenant Service & Housing Counseling, Inc.