ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION

The Commission fulfills requests from the general public for programs on civil rights and related topics. During FY 89, the Commission presented 63 educational programs around the state (separate from the housing mobile programs). All professional staff participate in planning and presenting these speeches, workshops and seminars. The topics range from an explanation of the agency's jurisdiction and services to specific subjects such as preventing sexual harassment, employee selection, equal employment opportunity and affirmative action, and fair housing practices.

During FY 89 the Commission received 4,358 telephone calls from the public requesting information about civil rights or about filing a complaint. The calls about filing a complaint were handled by the Intake Unit, with other compliance staff responding to general information calls.

Publications during the year included three issues of the agency's newsletter, Iowa Civil Rights Commission Communicator, and Annual Reports.