Nearly one year into its relaunch, the Human Relations Commission (HRC) continues to establish itself as a voice for the diverse Troy community. The HRC's stated purposes are:
- To study the problems that affect diverse groups within Troy, and the way those groups relate to one another.
- To engage community cooperation to combat prejudice.
- To cooperate with the city, local agencies, schools and employers to further community education on issues of equity in Troy.
- To ensure that complaints about alleged discrimination in the City of Troy are reviewed appropriately.
The Commission serves as an advisory board to Troy’s Mayor, City Council, and staff.
On June 22, 2020, Mayor Robin Oda presented 12 initial members to City Council for ratification. The HRC has met at least monthly since July of 2020, inviting various community groups such as representatives from Troy City Schools, Troy Police and Fire Chiefs, Miami County Board of Elections, Troy Area Chamber, The Troy Foundation, and several of Troy's major manufacturing companies to understand the programs, projects and concerns within Troy. In its first annual report to Mayor Oda and City Council on January 19, 2021, the HRC identified a list of 11 initiatives to address their specific goals.
The next scheduled HRC meeting will be held on Thursday March 18th, at 6 p.m. at the Troy Senior Citizens Center, located at 134 North Market Street. The HRC has begun distributing literature to inform residents about what they do, and about other resources available in the community.
Current Commission members are Marvin Major (Chairman), Sharrie Brown (Secretary), Kane Feltner, David Fong, Sonia Holycross, Jon Keller, Loretta Phillips, Troy City Councilman Todd Severt, and Ruby Villalobos.
HRC member information, including links to meeting schedule and agendas, the listed resources, as well as their 2020 annual report, can be found at www.troyohio.gov/hrc.