The Human Relations Division
mission is to ensure that all residents of the City of Kansas City, Mo., are free to exercise their economic, social and human rights.
This mission is achieved by providing quality service in the areas of vendor
certifications, contract compliance, business development, dispute mediation, and civil rights enforcement. Our guiding principle is to exceed normal standards of customer expectations and accountability through the following section operations:
The Civil
Rights Enforcement Section, enforces the City's Civil Rights Ordinance which protects our citizens against discrimination
in employment, housing and public accommodations on the basis of race, national
origin, sex, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, familial status
and marital status. The ordinance is substantially equivalent
to state and federal laws. If you feel that you have been discriminated
against on any of these basis, file a complaint with our office, and an investigation will
be conducted.
The Mayor's Human
Rights Commission serves
as the citizen appointed body which reviews patterns of discrimination and hate crimes within the city, and serves as the hearing arm on
substantiated civil and human rights complaints.
Commission members are empowered to (1) develop task forces (e.g. education,
labor, religion, hate and bias crimes, gay and lesbian resources,etc.); (2) work with civil rights and
community organizations to review patterns of discrimination and hate crimes
in Kansas City; and (3) hold hearings regarding issues on general or specific
civil and human rights affecting citizens.
Spanish speaking immigrants can learn how to "Succeed in America" and understand Kansas City's social service and legal systems, through a series of streamed videos.
The DMWBE Certification Section coordinates
the City's Disadvantaged
Minority and Women Business Enterprise Program and is responsible for certifying companies as a disadvantaged,minority or women owned business, as well as, sets goals to ensure DBE/MBE/WBE firms participate in the city's procurement of construction, professional services,
goods and supplies, and other service contracts. The DMWBE program also ensures that the
city is in compliance with federal, state and city contracting requirements. View
directory of certified DMWBE contractors.
The
Affirmative Action Section
ensures that
all vendors and contractors doing business with the city are in compliance
with the mandates of the city's Civil
Rights Ordinance #930612. The unit assist vendors and contractors in developing
positive affirmative action plans to ensure that a good faith effort is made
to employ minorities and women at all levels of the vendor's or contractor's
workforce.
Vendors and contractors now have the opportunity to submit their program proposal
on-line. The on-line version of the Affirmative Action Program
Proposal provides a step-by-step
breakdown for completing an action plan.
The
Contract Compliance/Prevailing Wage Section, ensures that
all contractors who have been issued a contract to work on city projects are in compliance with the State of Missouri Prevailing Wage Law, Chapter 290.210-290.340 RSMO.
The
Small Business Development Section
provides professional services which result in the development, growth and ecomomic stability of Kansas City's entrepreneurial community. SBDS is a member of the National Business Incubation Association.
The Section 3 Office
serves to regulate the city's federal requirements to provide hiring and economic opportunities to neighborhood residents and businesses which are located in what has been identified as an economically disadvantaged area, based on the Section
3 HUD Act of 1968.
The Community
Relations/Dispute Resolution Section provides
mediation and alternative dispute resolution services that help citizens resolve minor criminal, civil and community based disputes(e.g. landlord and tenant, neighbors, family and domestic matters,
employer and employee, business and consumer, contractors, student conflicts, racial conflicts).
Any situation where the disputants have the likelihood of
an on-going relationship. Opportunities to train and volunteer as a mediator are also available.
Receive updated information and assistance on your rights and responsibilities as landlords and tenants, or search on your own for Missouri landlord-tenant
laws.
Citizens interested in any of the division's services or would like a staff member to speak to your organization or group should e-mail or visit our office at the address below.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Human Relations Division
Phillip Yelder, Administrative Director
City Hall, fourth floor
414 E. 12th St.
Kansas City, MO 64106
Phone: (816) 513-1836
Fax: (816) 513-1805
E-mail: humanrelations@kcmo.org
