MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contact: Emily Gottfried at 503-295-6761 or 503-750-8916 emily.gottfried@oajconline.org
Allan Lazo at 503-201-5417 portlandhumanrights@gmail.com

Portland Human Rights Commission presents

1st Annual Human Rights Awards Luncheon on December 10

The Portland Human Rights Commission is pleased to announce the 1st Annual Human Rights Awards Luncheon to be held on Monday, December 10, Human Rights Day. The event will be held at NW Natural, 220 NW Second Ave in Portland, beginning at 11:45 AM. The Commission will be presenting Human Rights Awards to Kathleen D. Saadat (Lifetime Achievement), The Oregon Human Trafficking Task Force (Organization), and Chabre Vickers (Emerging Leader). Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum will be the keynote speaker.

Reservations are required for this event. The cost is $20 per person. Reservations can be made at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/295735.

Kathleen Saadat is currently the Diversity Development/Affirmative Action Manager for the City of Portland. Prior to coming to the City, Kathleen worked at Cascade AIDS Projects. Kathleen has also served as the State Director of Affirmative Action, Assistant to Portland City Commissioner Gretchen Kafoury, and Strategic Plan Coordinator for Multnomah County Oregon's Department of Community and Family Services. Ms. Saadat earned a BA in Psychology at Reed College. Her community activities include serving as a Commissioner on the City of Portland’s Human Rights Commission; Member of Oregon State University's Board of Visitors for Minority Affairs; Member Steering Committee of No On 9 Campaign; Coordinator: African Americans for Human Rights; Member and Co-Chair of Portland Rainbow Coalition; Mediator with Portland's King Neighborhood Facility; Board Member of the Bradley Angle House; Member of the Community Organization and Planning Committee of United Way; and Member of the first planning committee for Portland's Black Women's Gathering; and much more.

The Oregon Human Trafficking Task Force (OHTTF): Promotes public awareness regarding the realities of human trafficking within the state of Oregon: Provides training and education to Oregon citizens, professionals, and service providers regarding ‘best practices’ in identifying trafficking victims, connecting victims to critically needed services, and helping to bring human traffickers to justice; Coordinates victim resources, and improves support services available to human trafficking survivors in the state of Oregon; Investigates trafficking cases and assists in the aggressive prosecution of human traffickers within the state of Oregon and ; Provides statistical research to the Department of Justice in their ongoing effort to measure the scope of human trafficking within the U.S. and the sufficiency of the government’s response. Oregon Human Trafficking Task Force members include representatives from the following groups: Bureau of Labor and Industries, Catholic Charities Outreach and Support to Special Immigrant Populations, Cares Northwest, Clackamas County Sheriff’s office Child Abuse Team, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Janus Youth, Internal Revenue Service, Lifeworks NW New Options for Women (NOW), Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Multnomah County Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) Program, Portland Police Bureau, Salvation Army White Shield Center, Sexual Assault Resource Center (SARC)

Chabre Vickers is the Director of Community Relations and Diversity Programs of Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest. As the Director of the African American Mentoring Board, she is leading the effort to recruit more African American men to mentor children who need positive role models. Since 2010, Chabre has served with the Minority Evaluator Program convening on multiple bids for the City of Portland.. Her leadership has also been instrumental with facilitating Portland’s first annual Community Healing Days. Chabre’s passion for her community is demonstrated by her association with the Office of Youth Violence Prevention and the Mayor’s Gang Violence Task Force. She serves in a leadership capacity with the Young Professionals of Portland as the Vice President of Civic Involvement and as a member of the Urban League of Portland’s Young Professional’s Group. She serves as the Co-Board Chairperson for the local environmental justice nonprofit Groundwork Portland. Chabre has also recently joined the steering committee for the Portland African American Leadership Forum, and serves as the Co-Board Chair for the Civic Engagement and Leadership Development committee. She is the co-chair for the African American Council to the Chief of Police for the Portland Police Bureau.

The Portland Human Rights Commission works to eliminate discrimination and bigotry, to strengthen inter-group relationships and to foster greater understanding, inclusion and justice for those who live, work, study, worship, travel and play in the City of Portland. In doing so, the Commission is guided by the principles embodied in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. For more information about the event and about the Commission go to www.portlandonline.com/equityandhumanrights.

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Mission of the Office of Equity and Human Rights:

Engaging city staff and elected officials through education and technical support

to recognize and remove race and disability related systemic barriers to equal opportunity

and access, thereby making equitable policies, programs, and practices an organizational priority.

To help ensure equal access to services and activities

the City ofPortlandwill reasonably modify policies and procedures and provide

auxiliary services to persons with disabilities.

Please call 503.823.9970, TTY 503-823-6868 with requests or

go to: http://www.portlandonline.com/ADA_Forms