What is the role of the PHRC Civil Rights Outreach Division?
- Provide complex facilitation and conflict resolution services for communities facing conflicts and tensions related to race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, LGBTQ+ status, national origin, familial status, or disability status pursuant to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.
- Provide training and consultation services to public officials and community representatives and provides them with the skills and mechanisms necessary to prevent and resolve future tensions.
- Lead local projects or initiatives, as assigned by leadership to improve the Civil Rights Outreach Coordinators' visibility, ability to deliver services, and ability to anticipate and prevent conflict in jurisdictional communities.
- Develop and implement comprehensive outreach plans targeting communities in conjunction with the PHRC Advisory Councils and the PHRC Social Justice Ambassadors Program.
- Engage in proactive outreach to educate the public about the dangers of bias and hate and the importance of anti-racism.
How can my community engage with the PHRC Civil Rights Outreach Division?
If you have questions about the PHRC Civil Rights Outreach Division, you should contact your closest regional office. A PHRC intake team member will explain your rights on how to file a discrimination complaint and go over the investigation process. If the issue your community is facing does not warrant a formal investigation, a Civil Rights Outreach Coordinator will contact you to discuss other available resources.
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PHRC Overview & How to File a Complaint - July 15Register for our upcoming PHRC Overview & How to File a Complaint webinar. Learn more about discrimination protections in housing, employment, education and public accommodations. PHRC will give an overview of the Commission, the Civil Rights Outreach Division and discuss how to file a complaint with the PHRC. Date: Wednesday, July 15 Time: 7:00-8:30 p.m. Platform: Zoom Featuring: PHRC Civil Rights Outreach Director, Sherly Meck and PHRC Civil Rights Outreach Coordinator, Montrell Smith Come share your experiences and ideas on how we can work together to combat discrimination and promote equality for all community members. This training is hosted by Parents for Inclusion and is open to the public.
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Humanity & Civility Workshop - August 11Register for our upcoming Humanity & Civility Workshop! We will present a Humanity and Civility workshop and provide PHRC resources for the community. The event will be co-hosted by Moving Circles, Not in Our Town (NIOT) Carlisle, the Greater Carlisle Community Response Network (CRN), and the Cumberland County Advisory Council to the PHRC. Date: August 11, 2026 Time: 7:00 p.m. Location: Cumberland County Historical Society, 21 N. Pitt Street, Carlisle, PA 17013 Presented by: PHRC Civil Rights Outreach Director, Sheryl Meck and PHRC Civil Rights Outreach Coordinator, Montrell Smith.
