The Human Rights Commission is preparing to engage with local community members through its sponsorship of Friday’s preseason Jamestown Jackals basketball game at Jamestown Community College. Screenshot by Timothy Frudd

The Human Rights Commission is honoring “Black History Month” by sponsoring a community event that it hopes will promote unity in the Jamestown community.

This week, the Human Rights Commission is preparing for its sponsorship event of a preseason basketball game for the Jamestown Jackals. The game will take place at 7:30 today at Jamestown Community College.

As part of the sponsorship of the event, the Human Rights Commission received tickets to distribute to members of the community. The Human Rights Commission will also have a table at the basketball game with all of the information regarding the commission available for the community.

Kayla Crosby, a member of the Human Rights Commission, presented the idea of sponsoring a preseason basketball game for the Jamestown Jackals in honor of the African American community in December. Since that time, the commission has worked together to sponsor the event and consider ways of utilizing the event as a way to advertise both the role and the work of the Human Rights Commission.

After discussing the need to finalize a logo, a pamphlet and a t-shirt design last month, Human Rights Commission Chairman Uvie Stewart Jr. presented the finished product of the pamphlet and t-shirt at this month’s meeting. The Human Rights Commission is hoping the event will provide an opportunity for people in the community to learn more about the role of the commission in the city.

As part of Friday’s meeting, Stewart emphasized the importance of the Human Rights Commission establishing connections with the community and being involved in various activities throughout the year.

“I want to make sure this year we’re connected to all the festivals and group’s activities,” he said. “We’re trying to promote togetherness and all that, and it would be great if we can attach ourselves, have a table out there, to all the various festivals.”

Stewart’s statement echoes the comments of Kimberly Knight, a member of the Human Rights Commission, who previously described how the commission could interact with community members.

“It’s talking with people,” she said. “That’s what we need to be doing, talking with the real people in the community.”

In addition to discussing the upcoming basketball game and plans for the commission to interact with the community, Stewart announced the resignation of one of the Human Rights Commission members, resulting in a vacancy that will need to be appointed by Mayor Eddie Sundquist and approved by the City Council.

During last week’s meeting, the Human Rights Commission also changed the day and time for the monthly meeting. Instead of meeting at 6 p.m. on the third Friday of the month, the Human Rights Commission will now meet at 5 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month.

Corporation Counsel Elliot Raimondo expressed his belief that the commission’s decision to change the day and time of the monthly Human Rights Commission meetings could provide better engagement with the local community.