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Membership Application (See bottom of page) - You too can be a member of MCMR!


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1. What's new?
2. Mission Statement
3. Guiding Principles
4. History
5. Membership Application
6. Links


What's new?


Please see Calendar of Events for Details


Farmington/Farmington Hills:


3/19/09    Annual Rainbow Recognition Awards Breakfast
              Costick Center in Farmington Hills


Mission Statement

The Farmington/Farmington Hills Multicultural Multiracial Community Council recognizes that all people are integral to the community’s health, harmony, and successful future.  We explore and celebrate our differences and embrace our commonalities.


Guiding Principles

  1. We believe that all members of the human family should be respected and their rights supported including those encompassing factors such as, but not limited to, race, religion, culture, ethnicity, economic status, gender, age, disability, and sexual orientation.
  2. We believe the face of our community should be reflected in all segments of our community life.
  3. We believe that healthy communities maintain a comprehensive and balanced menu of public and private services which are inclusive of and accessible to all citizens.
  4. We believe in equal educational  opportunities.
  5. We believe in equal employment opportunities.
  6. We believe in equal access to housing.We believe in equally safe neighborhoods.

History

In 1988, the Farmington Hills/Farmington community began working on diversity concerns arising from conflict between Chaldean and Jewish teens.  Initially, Farmington Public Schools, both city administrations - including police representatives, and parents were initially involved in discussions to remedy these issues.  Soon after, faith leaders, business representatives, residents, and other community organizations joined this effort and organized as the Multicultural Multiracial Community Council of Farmington/Farmington Hills.  MCMR currently consists of 26 members representing these community groups.    

Funding for annual programming and MCMR Council administration is approximately $3,500 and is provided by the Cities of Farmington Hills and Farmington and the Farmington Public Schools.  Funds are administered through the City of Farmington Hills; however, we have a 501c3 account through the Farmington Hills/Farmington Community Foundation for additional program contributions from the community.

Monthly informational forums began in the community and initiated community members with early thoughts of inclusivity.  Since the MCMR Council's inception in 1990, the mission has been revised twice - once in 1995 when Guiding Principles were also adopted by both Farmington and Farmington Hills' City Councils and the Farmington Public Schools' Board of Education.  The second mission and guiding principles revision arose as the result of a two-year strategic planning process.

During the years of 1995 - 2002, the MCMR Council implemented many new programs, including:

  1. Annual Rainbow Recognition Breakfast:  400+ attendees to award community members who have worked toward our mission that year with keynote speaker to impact community attendees, (please see Appendix D for list of speakers)
  1. Annual Heritage Week:
    1. Swearing-in Ceremony:  250 new citizens sworn in, voter registration and training in collaboration with International Institute, Homeland Security, City Clerk's Office, League of Women Voters
    2. Mini-Conference: regarding cultural or religious education
    3. Heritage Festival: with multicultural food, juried art exhibit, entertainment, cultural and community organization displays, children's activities and games
    4. Leadership Luncheon, new this year to encourage more involvement of local businesses and community organizations
  1. Annual Rev. Dr. King Candlelight Walk:  to honor Dr. King and all those who have worked on civil rights issues and remind the community of The Dream
  1. Annual Luncheon:  to explore cultural background of one of community's racial or ethnic groups, (please see Appendix E).
  1. Annual Student Diversity Conference:  200 high school students from all five high schools, (four public and Mercy High School).
  1. Four community forums to address issues of concern in the community or educate the community about ethnic or racial topics
  1. Annual year-in-review: to gain input from community regarding the year's progress and goals for the next year, (please see Appendix F).

While MCMR was making an impact with significant attendance and local press coverage of these events, we also knew there were many community members who were still unfamiliar with the work of the Council and, most definitely, many honest conversations about race and additional diversity issues that needed to occur.

Together, with the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ), MCMR embarked on a two-year strategic planning process that began with considerable effort to brainstorm with MCMR Council members and other formal and informal community leaders who would help us reach broader in participation and deeper in our conversations.

The first of the two-year initiative was scheduled as an educational sharing and information gathering process to determine the future needs and goals of MCMR in the community.  We began with a weekend retreat of 100 community members deepening their understanding and adding input to the goal of inclusivity in Farmington Hills and Farmington.  For the remainder of the year, this community group met to determine goals and objectives for the subjects this group identified and developed into four subject areas requiring significant focus, listed as follows:

  1. Programs and Services
  2. Community Education
  3. Neighborhoods and Housing
  4. Business and Employment

Upon conclusion of the initial strategic planning year, three new subcommittees were developed and the existing Community Education Subcommittee was expanded; all four began reporting to the larger MCMR Council regarding these subject areas meeting independently to develop their own action plans.  As numerous action plans and enthusiasm developed, it became apparent that many of these additional initiatives required leadership and oversight that a solely volunteer and already extremely busy organization was unable to provide.

MCMR believes we have laid significant groundwork with a clear vision in sight to build on and accomplish these new action plans.  However, we require funding assistance to enable us to support these new initiatives with appropriate resources, including a half-time Executive Director to implement new initiatives while sustaining existing programming.  With sufficient support, we believe we can continue to set an example that is quite different from the resegregation many communities in the metro Detroit area have experienced. 

While great strides have been made in the United States with civil rights issues in the last 60 years, we also know that ethnic and racial issues are still keeping us from sharing the benefits of successful integration.  In Farmington and Farmington Hills, we know there are still significant challenges ahead to maintain and celebrate our integrated community, but we also know we have already gained extensive experience in understanding and facilitating the joys and challenges of integration that many communities across America are avoiding or trying to grapple with, as we once did.  Our experience could be a role model for the Detroit region, often considered the most segregated metropolitan area in America, as well as for other communities across America.

Membership Application

    December 15, 2007


    The Farmington/Farmington Hills Multicultural Multiracial (MCMR) Community Council recognizes         that all people are integral to the community’s health, harmony, and successful future.  We explore     and celebrate our differences and embrace our commonalities.   

 

    This vision of inclusiveness has been the goal of the MCMR Council since 1990.  MCMR is comprised of a             diverse group of individuals representing both Farmington and Farmington Hills’ governments, public and             private schools, businesses, local community organizations, religious leaders, and residents.  (Please see the     enclosed list of steering committee members).

 

    We have a community that respects and values our diverse population.  Eighty-five languages are spoken in     the homes of Farmington Public Schools’ students.  We are home to every race and all major religious             institutions.  Our current success is due in large part to the proactive efforts in years past from the leadership     of the MCMR Council and the participation of many community members.  Together, we have worked to             address our differences and commonalities in a public way and discuss tough issues when they arise. 

 

    During a yearlong strategic planning process, the community determined that we were already accomplishing     many educational initiatives which needed to continue, such as Heritage Week, the Rainbow Breakfast, our         Dr. King Candlelight Walk, an annual cultural luncheon, and speaker forums.  However, it was determined         work still needing implementation needed to be addressed through the establishment of the following sub-         committees:  Neighborhoods and Housing, Programs and Services, Business and Employment, Education, and     Publicity.  It was also determined that a part-time Executive Director was required to guide these new             initiatives.

 

    Initial funding was developed from contributions generated by the Robert Bosch Corporation, the Cities of         Farmington Hills and Farmington, and the Farmington./Farmington Hills Community Foundation.  A part-time         Executive Director was hired.  In recent months, our accomplishments include the training of four facilitators     for implementation of a community dialogue process, the inclusion of twenty-seven citizens in completed         dialogues, the development of the www.mcmr.org web-site, production of four segments of a cable television     show entitled, “Many Voices, One Future,” as well as training for our local police department. 

 

    Future success in maintaining a harmonious and healthy diverse community will only be achieved through         additional proactive work accomplished today.  To continue this progress, additional funding is required.   We     are counting on you as valued community members to help make possible this critical work and lend your         financial support to these efforts.

 

        Please reference our guiding principles in the enclosed brochure along with the strategic plan and upcoming         event information at www.mcmr.org.  We hope to have your continued support for implementation of the             goals of the Multicultural Multiracial Community Council.

 

        Membership Benefits:

 

All         -All members will be publicized on our web-site, in print media, and on cable t.v. for their level of                        sponsorship. 
            -All members will receive notification of dialogue/training opportunities & programming notices.           
            -Member and sponsor contributors will receive a certificate stating their level of support.
            -Donors will receive a plaque stating their significant contribution as a visionary donor.

 

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                 Individual Members:  $          25.00               Individual Member                    ______

 

                                                          100.00               Program Sponsor                     ______

 

                                                          500.00+             Visionary Donor                       ______

 

 

            Organization/Business         $    250.00               Faith Institution Members          ______

                      Members:

                    500.00               Org./Bus. Member                    ______

 

                                                        1,000.00               Program Sponsor                      ______

 

                                                        2,500.00               Visionary Donor                        ______

 

                                                        5,000.00               Charter Members                       ______

           

            The Multicultural Multiracial Community Council has a 501C3 designated fund with the Farmington Hills                     Farmington Community Foundation.  Contributions are tax deductible, to the extent of the law.

                                   

            Please make your checks payable to the Multicultural Multiracial Community Council or MCMR and send to:       

MCMR                                                Questions, please call:

                        Longacre House                                              

                        24705 Farmington Rd.              Karen Bolsen, Exec. Director - MCMR

                        Farmington Hills, MI   48336                248-871-2512

 

        Member’s Name:   ______________________________________________

        Organization:        ______________________________________________

        Street Address:     ______________________________________________

        Email Address:      ______________________________________________

        Phone:                 ______________________________________________

MCMRCC Forum

Farmington Public Schools

City of Farmington

City of Farmington Hills

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