Getting to
Know You Human
Relations Task
Force
Welcomes
Newcomers,
Strengthens
Community
By Nate Paige
Jood Alharbi flying
the Saudi flag,
and Erika Estrada
Acosta flying the
Mexican flag, in the
2019 Memorial Day
Parade.
A key component of Shaker Heights’ identity is its sense of community.
The City’s Human Relations Task Force, chaired by Council Member Sean
Malone, is working to strengthen that sense of community and to make Shaker
an even more welcoming place.
The Task Force, comprised solely of volunteers, came into being in early
2018 and meets at City Hall on the third Thursday of every other month. The
group’s goals are to increase residents’ access to opportunities to interact
more meaningfully with fellow residents from all over the City and to help
welcome new residents of all backgrounds into Shaker.
“We started out with 10 or 11 resident members, but I’ve always had
a policy of welcoming anybody in the community who wants to attend and
participate,” says Malone. “We’re trying to encourage people already living
here to get to know each other better, especially people living in different
parts of the City who might not have the same social networks.”
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