In order to continue to receive food from our Food Bank partner, every volunteer that interacts with clients must review a set of slides that, in the eyes of the government, promote a better understanding of civil rights protected by federal civil rights laws. 

 

I'm going to level with you - in my opinion, as a training device for the information they are attempting to convey, the slides are highly ineffective, with the key takeaways getting lost in a morass of legalese. But we need the food, so we must do the training. Every year.

 

You can review the slides by clicking on this link or by looking through the binders available in the Pantry (in the cabinet above the sink). Then you can EITHER submit a form certifying you have completed the training by clicking on this link OR just answer "Yes" to the "Have You Completed The Civil Rights Training?" question next time you sign in (assuming you have, of course). 

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Our "Agency Number" (needed to complete the form) is  A1137-1 .

 

Please complete the training by February 28.  Once you let me know you have done so (via the sign-in is fine), you will be entered in a draw to win a $50 gift card from Radical Tea Towel. But really, you are completing the training because it is the right thing to do and your real prize is you will be a better person for it.

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As you plod through the slides, keep in mind the core principles at stake:

 

• Don't treat people differently because of their:

  • Race

  • Color

  • National Origin

  • Disability

  • Age

  • Gender/Gender Identity

  • Religion/Faith

  • Veteran Status

  • Citizenship

• These are (most of) the so-called federally protected classes. Not all are included specifically in the requirements for food distribution programs, but I'd rather err on the safe side. In fact, I'd go even further and say if you are going to treat ANYBODY differently because of ANY characteristic, you need to examine your motives pretty closely.

• Be aware that we all have biases and prejudices and can treat people differently quite unconsciously - or by failing to do something rather than doing something (e.g., not helping someone with a disability, or assuming everyone can speak English).

• Know how to help someone who has a civil rights-related concern, and don't retaliate against someone if they have or want to file a complaint - see the "Justice for All" poster in the Pantry, or the link on the home page of our website.

• Treat everyone as you would like to be treated. Unless you don't like to be treated nicely and fairly, in which case ignore this last bullet.