Equal Rights Commission
The Equal Rights Commission serves to ensure equal housing and employment opportunities for all City of Milwaukee residents without regard to sex, race, religion, color, national origin or ancestry, age, disability, lawful source of income, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, past or present membership in the military service, familial status, or an individual's affiliation with, or perceived affiliation with any of these categories.
REASSESSING THE COMMISSION'S STRUCTURE, ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Since its inception in 1944 as the Mayor's Committee on Inter-Racial Relations, the Equal Rights Commission has experienced several changes in name and responsibility as City leaders have recognized the need to address shifting priorities. In 2007, Chapter 109 was amended to expand the scope of protected groups to include gender identify or expression, past or present membership in the military service, and affiliation with or perceived affiliation with these protected categories.
The City is currently assessing options to re-structure and support a viable Equal Rights Commission that focuses on broader housing and employment discrimination issues including providing oversight of City programs and activities that impact equal rights. Throughout this transition period, the Commission continues to perform intake of complaints and refers matters for investigation to state and/or federal agencies (click here for a resource list). It is anticipated that by eliminating duplicative services, the Commission will be more effective at establishing working relationships with community partners and other stakeholders to facilitate, coordinate, and/or implement awareness, prevention, and education strategies to address the City's equal rights challenges as well as increasing accountability for City of Milwaukee programs, services, and activities in meeting equal rights standards.
EQUAL RIGHTS RESOURCES LIST:
- U. S. Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
- Assistance for complaints within the Midwest Region of the Country
Reuss Federal Plaza
310 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 800
Milwaukee WI 53203-2292
Phone: (414) 297-1111
Fax: (414) 297-4133
TTY: (414) 297-1115
Office Hours: Monday-Friday (8:00 am - 4:30 pm)
Web Site: http://www.eeoc.gov/
- State of Wisconsin - Dept. of Workforce Development Equal Rights Division (ERD)
- Assistance for complaints for any City within the State of Wisconsin
819 N. 6th Street, Room 255
Milwaukee WI 53203
Phone: (414) 227-4384
Fax: (414) 227-4084
TTY: (414) 227-4081
Web Site: http://www.dwd.state.wi.us/er/
- Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council Inc
- This organization does not handle landlord/tenant issues.
600 East Mason Street, Suite 200
Milwaukee WI 53202
Phone: (414) 278-1240
Fax: (414) 278-8033
Web Site: http://www.fairhousingwisconsin.com/
- City of Milwaukee - Office Diversity & Outreach
- Employment and Housing Issues
Office of Outreach & Diversity
City Hall, 200 E. Wells Street, Room 706
Milwaukee WI 53202-3554
Phone: (414) 286-6210
TDD: (414) 286-2960
Office Hours: Monday-Friday (8:00 am - 4:30 pm)
Email: click here