The Kentucky Civil Rights Act (KRS 344.310) authorizes Kentucky cities and counties to create a human rights commission to provide for execution within its jurisdiction of the policies embodied in the Kentucky Civil Rights Act and the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 241); and to safeguard all individuals within its jurisdiction from discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or age (40 and over), disability and familial status and pregnancy.
The City of Shelbyville, the City of Simpsonville and Shelby County governments created the Shelbyville, Simpsonville and Shelby County Commission on Human Rights on May 22, 2009.
The Commission’s charge is to promote and secure mutual understanding and respect among all economic, social, religious, ethnic and racial groups in the two cities and the county and to foster an environment where citizens in the county can thrive and reach their full potential.
The ordinances, by reference to Kentucky’s Civil Rights Act, give the Commission the power and enforcement authority to prohibit discrimination in the two cities and the county. The Commission also enforces the U.S. Civil Rights Act through its affiliation with federal government agencies such as the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
The Commission has 11 Commissioners. Four are appointed by the Mayor of the City of Shelbyville, two are appointed by the Mayor of the City of Simpsonville and five are appointed by the Shelby County Judge-Executive. The Commissioners are volunteers and members of the community they serve.
The Commissioners are committed to protecting and to furthering civil rights for every person in Shelby County. These are current Commissioners:
Liza Ariza, representing the City of Shelbyville (term 2016 to 2024)
Alvin Farris, representing the City of Shelbyville (two terms, 2015 to 2024)
Faun Fishback, representing the City of Shelbyville (term 2017 to 2024)
Wesley Tré Hagler, representing the City of Shelbyville (term 2019 to 2023)
Norris Beckley, representing Shelby County (term 2015 to 2020)
Robert Marshall, representing Shelby County (term 2016 to 2020)
Robbie Smither, representing Shelby County (term 2019 to 2023)
Shauna Cook, representing the City of Simpsonville (2020 to 2024)
The Commission meets once a month, the first Monday of the month, unless is it is holiday. If the first Monday of the month is a holiday, the meeting is held the second Monday of the month.
Due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the Commission is holding virtual meetings each month via Zoom. The public is invited to observe the online meetings. Send an email to firstname.lastname@example.org by 4 pm on each meeting date to receive information by return email on how to join the 6 pm meeting.
2021 Commission meeting dates:
If you are interested in serving on the Commission or helping with its outreach activities, please do not hesitate to contact the Shelbyville, Simpsonville and Shelby County Commission on Human Rights
by email at email@example.com.