Vision
Kitsap County shall be a caring, supportive, and safe community for everyone that values each individual, celebrates individual differences, and recognizes the importance of each person's contribution.
Mission
> To advise county government and the Kitsap County community on issues related to discrimination, violence and harassment based on race or national origin, religion, age, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, or economic status, and
> To promote equitable treatment of all people and reduce prejudice through education, resource referrals, and advocacy.
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News & Announcements
The Kitsap County Council for Human Rights sent an open letter to the Central Kitsap School District Board Members, Superintendent and Klahowya Secondary School Administrators in support of students who have experienced harassment related to gender diversity within Central Kitsap Schools.
Read the letter here.
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Sign up to receive Council updates and information
through the county's
electronic notification system.
Applications open for Council for Human Rights
Applications are open for a South Kitsap and At-Large Representative to join the Council for Human Rights. Read the position description here. To apply, click here.
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Past Statements
Open letter to North Kitsap School District
The Council for Human Rights sent a letter March 13, 2023 to the North Kitsap School Board, the school district's equity officer and superintendent, urging action be taken on proposed solutions to provide equal access to English language learners and foster a culture of belonging for all students as brought forth in an open letter to the North Kitsap School District from the Kitsap Latino Community.
Read the letter here.
Statement on incidents of discrimination
The Kitsap County Council for Human Rights released a statement March 18, 2022 declaring our concern and opposition to the many incidents of discrimination that have occurred within Kitsap County in recent months.
Voting Rights Forum, May 24, 2023
Kitsap County Conference for Human Rights
The Council for Human Rights organized an annual Kitsap County Conference for Human Rights each December for 32 consecutive years through 2022 to coincide with International Human Rights Day, which is observed every year on December 10 — the day in 1948 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The conference will not be held in 2023 as the council is focusing on expanding its outreach into the community by participating in other events, hosting spring and fall forums, attending community meetings, and supporting individuals and organizations in responding to racism and hate crime incidents and advocating for equity and inclusion.
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Linda Gabriel Human Rights Awards The Linda Gabriel Human Rights Awards are presented annually during the Kitsap County Conference for Human Rights. Recipients are nominated by the community for their extraordinary commitment to advancing and promoting human rights for all. The awards are named in honor of Linda Gabriel, a founder of the Kitsap County Council for Human Rights, who passed away in 2014.
For a complete list of past recipients, please click
here.
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Council for Human Rights Meetings
The Council for Human Rights regularly meets the third Tuesday of the month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the
Eagle's Nest at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds. A virtual option is also available to the public via Zoom.
Click here to join the Zoom meeting.
To join by phone, dial 253-215-8782 and enter the meeting ID number: 860 3956 6803
Public Comments
For members of the public wishing to comment during designated public comment, the following options are available. Each member of the public is limited to two minutes of Internet, call-in, or written comments. At the discretion of the meeting Chair, public comment that is overly repetitive or inappropriate (vulgar, disruptive, etc.) will be ended.
Internet Users
Please click on the raise hand feature. The sound will be unmuted, and the Internet participant should announce her or his name. The participant will be called upon to speak at the appropriate time.
Call-In Users
Callers will be unmuted one at a time and asked whether the caller wishes to offer public comment. The last four digits of the call-in number will be announced, and call-in participants should announce their First and Last name before speaking.
Written Comments
Written comments will be read during the public comment period if submitted to
rpirtle@kitsap.gov by 12 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Comments read are limited to two minutes.
To ensure written public comments are read at the proper meeting, written statement should include: the date of the meeting the written comments are intended for; participant's First and Last Name and whether they live in Kitsap County; and agenda Item and/or subject the written comments refer to.
Representative | Position | Term Ending |
Melisa Wight
| District 1
| 12/31/26
|
Dionne Deschenne
| District 1 | 12/31/23
|
Judy Friesem
| District 1
| 12/31/24
|
Erin Lanum
| District 1
| 12/31/23
|
Christina Barone
| District 2
| 12/31/23
|
Rochelle Karlsen
| District 2
| 12/31/25
|
Jim Manlove
| District 2
| 12/31/25
|
VACANT
| District 2
|
|
Cris Amburgey
| District 3
| 12/31/24
|
Shannae Peters
| District 3 |
12/31/26
|
Elizabeth Holmes
| District 3
| 12/31/24
|
Kirsten Dahlquist
| District 3
| 12/31/25
|
Augustine Lujan
| At-Large
| 12/31/25
|
Nicola D'Anella
| At-Large
| 12/31/26
|
VACANT
| At-Large
|
|
