The Community Relations Advocacy Network (formerly Community
Relations Advisory Board of Ridgewood and Glen Rock) encourages a
welcoming, inclusive and sensitive approach to the challenges of a
multicultural society. Its mission is to develop educational and other
programs that promote intercultural communication and understanding;
to encourage regular use of sensitivity training for police, school,
personnel and other community employees; to support victims of bias-related
crimes and to encourage the reporting of such incidents. Its vision
is a society where all are able to build lives of dignity and self-respect.
The members of the Community Relations Advocacy Board of Ridgewood
and Glen Rock, following the untethering of the Board by the Village
of Ridgewood, seek to establish a new committee incorporated singularly
by the Borough of Glen Rock. The group will henceforth be known as
the Community Relations Advocacy Network.
The board is comprised of eight members, who will serve three-year
terms, with at least 50% of the members being permanent residents
of Glen Rock. Appointments will be made to include representatives
from the community, including municipal departments, such as the police
department and public library. Local community members, civic leaders,
and students will also be represented. Appointments shall be made
by the Mayor with the consent of the Council.
A. A
chairperson will be selected by the Board.
B. Decision-making
will continue to be conducted by consensus.
C. Minutes
will be recorded each meeting, with a redaction of names and identifying
details of victims and minors.
D. The
Board will hold both open public meetings once monthly (the third
Wednesday of every month from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.), as well as
closed sessions, where appropriate (to protect the confidentiality
and privacy of victims or at-risk persons).
E. The
intentions of the Board are set forth in the above mission statement.
To expand upon that statement, the chief goals of the Board are as
follows: to continue to build an aware and inclusive community; to
foster diversity and representation of all residents; to work toward
social justice and equality; to encourage dialogue and accessibility
between law enforcement and all citizens; to provide a support network
to victims of bias and discrimination; to constructively address and
abate incidences of bias and discrimination if and when they occur,
and to empower and educate residents on issues affecting themselves
and their neighbors.