Young Winners of Human Relations Commission Contest Recognized by Officials in Courtroom Ceremony

Norristown, PA: Sixteen 4th grade students from Paul V. Fly Elementary School in East Norriton were “guests of the county” (in the best sense of the word) at an awards ceremony held Tuesday at the Montgomery County Courthouse.

The students, winners of the 2015 East Norriton Human Relations Commission / Norristown Area School District’s “Creative Expression” contest were selected from more than 50 entries (art, essay, and video production) based on the theme of “Unity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Respect”.

The ceremony was held in historic Courtroom A. Students and their parents were greeted by a full roster of county officials including Commissioners Josh Shapiro and Bruce Castor, District Attorney Risa Vetri-Ferman, Prothonotary Mark Levy, Recorder of Deeds Nancy Becker, Jury Commissioners Joanne Cisco Olszewski and Merry Woods, and Deputy Treasurer William Caldwell.

In addition to county officials the students met with officials from the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and from the offices of Congressman Brendan Boyle, State Senator Daylin Leach, and State Representative Matt Bradford….all of whom presented the students with certificates for their hard work.

East Norriton Human Relations Commission Chairman Don Benn along with East Norriton HRC Commissioner Evelyn Hampton (who also served as judges in the contest) described the day as “perfect”. Benn stated “the room was filled with elected officials from both political parties who don’t always see eye to eye on everything…but were completely united in the belief that it’s never too early for students to be good citizens….and these kids are going to be great”.

The East Norriton Human Relations Commission is one of more than a dozen such commissions in Montgomery County. It’s goal is to prevent, deter, or address complaints of discrimination. Chairman Benn stated that “events like these which allow us to prevent or deter discrimination through early education is always preferable to addressing complaints that could have been prevented”. Benn told the crowd that the true (long-term) goal of any Human Relations Commission is to “become obsolete, unnecessary, and nothing more than a footnote on the right side of history”. He views events like this as the quickest way (in a long path) to achieve this goal.

The East Norriton Human Relations Commission can be reached at hrc@eastnorritontwp.org.