The Climate of the Community is the Responsibility of the Citizens of the Community
Human Rights Tea and Climate For Freedom Award
Sunday, November 23rd, 2025
2:00-3:00 pm
The Goodwin Forum at the Concord Main Library
129 Main Street
Concord Center
On November 23rd, the Concord-Carlisle Human Rights Council will host our annual Human Rights Tea in the Goodwin Forum in the Main Library.
This year we will present the 2025 Climate For Freedom Award
to Second Chance Cars, a Concord based nonprofit that provides affordable used cars to working people in need.
Second Chance Cars works closely with some of the best social services agencies that select “car-ready” candidates, and partners with vocational schools that refurbish donated cars professionally and affordably.
Vehicles are carefully matched to suit the needs of each vetted applicant, ensuring they have a safe, reliable, and economical means of transportation.
Dan Holin, the founder of Second Chance Cars, will discuss the factors
that inspired him to start the nonprofit and share stories about
how it has helped so many people.
Tea and light refreshments will be served.
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This event is free and open to the public.
Please join us.
Active Bystander Training
The Concord-Carlisle Human Rights Council received a grant from the Bud Ackerman Fund several months ago, to provide Active Bystander training for the community. The timing is quite fortunate and necessary. The first three sessions filled quickly and were very successful. Quabbin Mediation will now provide a forth opportunity in Concord-Carlisle this fall:
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Tuesday, September 30th, 5:30-8:30pm at The Ellen Garrison Building - Concord Middle School
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The 3-hour training introduces the essential concepts and terminology necessary for effective responses to hate and harm and prejudice that we might witness. Can you imagine an incident that called for some action on your part, that had you temporarily shocked and incapable of doing something helpful? Active Bystander training will ready us for prompt and thoughtful action. Follow-up advanced training will be available at a later date for those interested.
We change our community one day at a time, doing the right thing at the right time to overcome hate and to promote human rights. Anti-Semitism, racism, and many other forms of bias require each of us to take a stand. We hope that these training sessions will make a difference.
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Forth Training Opportunity:
~ Tuesday, September 30th ~**
5:30 – 8:30 PM
Ellen Garrison Building
Concord Middle School
923 Old Marlboro Road
Concord, MA
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**This session is filling up quickly so register now to secure your space.
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What is the best response, when we witness someone expressing anger or disrespect
to a person “not like them?” How can we overcome bias and hate, one incident
and one person at a time?
We all have opportunities to speak up in productive ways, so as not to imply that we accept hostile words and actions that belittle and demean. How should we respond,
“in the moment,” when it matters most?
In this workshop we will learn to recognize and respond to bias incidents in productive ways.
Examine the roles of bystander, harm-doer and target, and how cycles of harm
can be overcome. Be the change. Contribute to a world that needs more
kindness and respect for others.
This introductory workshop is the foundation for additional training and opportunities for personal action. Quabbin Mediation has been resolving conflicts and
building connections since 1995.
Advance registration is advised. Please email info@cchumanrights.org for more information and to register.
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Sponsored by the Concord-Carlisle Human Rights Council
Funded by the Bud Ackerman Fund
Conducted by Quabbin Mediation​​
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The training is funded by the Bud Ackerman Fund, and no fee is required.
Light refreshments will be served.
CCHRC Co-Chair Letter to the Editors of
The Concord Bridge and The Carlisle Mosquito
Dear Editor,
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In 1978 there was a racially-motivated fight at Concord-Carlisle High School. Feeling unsafe, 36 Black students then withdrew from CCHS. In a community-wide response, a powerful question was posed by Concord resident Dr. Charles Willie: if the town could form a committee to safely fire a cannon on Patriots Day, could it also form one to ensure the safety of students of different races attending school together? This pivotal moment led to the creation of the Concord-Carlisle Human Rights Council (CCHRC).
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Today, we face a similar challenge. Recent, serious claims of antisemitism in our schools sadly highlight that some members of our community, particularly our Jewish friends and neighbors, do not always feel safe and welcome. A truly welcoming community must be a safe community, and these most recent charges demand our immediate attention and a collective response. We commend our Select Board for their prompt actions to date, which have given hope and a voice to those who have experienced pain.
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The CCHRC was formed precisely to address such moments of hate and harm and to ensure they do not happen in the future. Sadly, we believe that we must again acknowledge conditions that require our commitment and action. We must transform our small groups of concerned citizens into a large chorus, acting together to overcome bias and injustice. We call upon our elected leaders, social justice organizations, faith groups, and all citizens of good will to join in a collective effort to create a truly welcoming and safe community for all. Anti-bias work is everyone’s work. Please watch for upcoming opportunities to contribute.
Court Booth & Rich Yamartino
Co-Chairs, Concord-Carlisle Human Rights Council
Race Amity Day 2025
August 24th at The Robbins House
A celebration of cross-racial friendship, collaboration, and understanding.
This day highlights the importance of recognizing the fundamental oneness of humanity beyond superficial differences, reinforcing genuine connection to
foster unity and a more inclusive community.
Celebrating Concord 250
A beautiful day of unity and action as the Concord-Carlisle Human Rights Council and community partners marched for a welcoming community in the 250th anniversary Patriots Day Parade. The banner and marching team were organized by the Human Rights Council and sponsored by the Concord DEI Commission
Holocaust Remembrance 2025
The Town of Concord’s Annual Holocaust Remembrance, co-sponsored by the Concord-Carlisle Human Rights Council, was held Sunday, May 4 at 7:00 PM at the Concord Town House. The event was also recorded by Minuteman Media Network. To view the recording, use the link below to go to Minuteman Media Network's YouTube channel.
A beautiful day of unity and action as the Concord Carlisle Human Rights Council and community partners marched for a welcoming community in the 250th anniversary Patriots Day Parade.The banner and marching team were sponsored by the Concord DEI Commission.
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Concord Holocaust Memorial Remembrance - May 4, 2025
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We were honored to have Janet Singer Applefield as our speaker this year. Her new memoir,
Becoming Janet: Finding Myself in the Holocaust, is an account of her survival of the Nazi occupation
as a 4-year old, separated from her parents. Over the past 40 years, she has presented her story at hundreds of venues including the Massachusetts State House, Harvard University,
Westminster Synagogue in London, and countless schools
through her work with Facing History and Ourselves.
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MLK, Jr. Day of Service, 2025
To honor Dr. King's legacy of service to community, the CCHRC sponsored our annual food drive at Crosby’s Market on Monday, January 20th to benefit The Open Table food pantry.
All donations asked for were from Open Table’s “most wanted list” of non-perishable food and personal care and household cleaning items. Open Table food pantry offers groceries and prepared meals at their main facility in Maynard.
People were so generous when asked to contribute with many donating both food, supplies and money to the Open Table.
We collected and donated over 700 pounds!
The CCHRC would like to thank all of the volunteers who helped with the drive.
And a special thanks to Crosby’s Market for their continued support of the Open Table.
Human Rights Tea
On Sunday, November 24th we held our annual Human Rights Tea in The Goodwin Forum of the Concord Main Library.
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Concord public historian Richard Smith told the story of Thoreau's civil disobedience and the Reform movements of the 19th Century that made Concord a hotbed for human rights activism.
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Thank you to Richard and everyone who was able to come.
We had a great turnout and a great discussion...
and delicious tea and scones!​​
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Click on the button below to see Minuteman Media Network's recording of the tea.
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Photos: Concord Historian, Richard Smith and CCHRC Co-Chair, Rich Yamartino
RECENT EVENTS AND NEWS:
Race Amity Day
On Saturday, June 8th, the CCHRC was a co-sponsor of Race Amity Day celebrations - held this year at the Alcott School.
Race Amity, the friendships and collaboration between people of different races and cultures, has been observed annually in Concord since 2016 when Governor Baker proclaimed the second Sunday in June as “Race Amity Day” and “urged all citizens and towns of the commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance.”
The Concord Select Board has also supported the event each year by reading their own proclamation for Race Amity.
Photos: The Concord Bookshop window and the Alcott School celebrations.
Holocaust Remembrance 2024
Our Annual Holocaust Remembrance, co-sponsored by the
Town of Concord, was held on Sunday, May 5th at 7:00 PM at the Concord Town House.
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This year we were honored to welcome Werner Salinger as our speaker. Born in Berlin, Salinger and his family witnessed “Kristallnacht,” and survived the Holocaust after they fled Germany in 1939. His family eventually settled in Princeton, New Jersey. Salinger has had a long and varied career, working as an Intelligence Officer in the United States Air Force during the Cold War from 1951-1960 interrogating returning German POWs, and later as the Executive Director of the Concord-based Greeley Foundation for Peace and Justice. He has lectured around the world on topics as varied as globalization and deep sea sailing.
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Kerem Shalom Cantor Rosalie Gerut, a child of Holocaust survivors, ended the evening of remembrance speaking about her work with “One by One” an organization dedicated to transforming the legacies of conflict, war and genocide through dialogue. Rosalie shared a song inspired by this work.
The Remembrance was livestreamed to the Minuteman Media Network YouTube Channel and TV Channel 8, which is Concord's
public programming channel. To access a tape of the livestream you can use the following link:
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https://www.youtube.com/live/2-Ix8cQjI4A?si=1MwfMzf4J5IejtXa
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MLK, Jr. Celebration and
Day of Service
We held our annual MLK, Jr. Day of Service to collect food and personal care items for Open Table at Crosby's Marketplace in Concord.
As always, Crosby's customers were very generous with their donations and we ended up collecting 650 pounds of food and personal care items for Open Table.
Thank You To:
~Everyone who donated at Crosby’s Marketplace.
~Open Table for all the work they do to end hunger in our community.
~Crosby’s Marketplace for their continuing support of community organizations.
Liz Morrison, Rob Morrison and Ronni Olitsky of the CCHRC.
Human Rights Tea and
Climate For Freedom Award
UNITED NATIONS
HUMAN RIGHTS
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Dignity in Asylum receives Concord-Carlisle Human Rights Council's Climate For Freedom Award
The Concord-Carlisle Human Rights Council held our annual Human Rights Tea on Sunday, December 10th in the Goodwin Forum of the main library to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
We also presented our Climate for Freedom Award to Dignity in Asylum (DIAS) for their work helping people seeking asylum. Apart from a room for each supported asylum seeker, DIAS also provides daily meals, transportation to lawyers’ and doctors’ appointments, language classes and overall direct, caring and comforting support.
We can all make an impact in the greater world by focusing our efforts on what we can do in our communities and the CCHRC is privileged to present DIAS with this award, and to highlight the vitally important work that they do every day.
Shari Barzun of the Concord-Carlisle Human Rights Council, Andrea Woehler of Dignity in Asylum and Richard Yamartino of the Concord-Carlisle Human Rights Council.
Devastation in Afghanistan and War in Israel.
How we can help.
Afghan residents clear debris of damaged houses after an earthquake in Nayeb Rafi village, Zendeh Jan district, Herat, on Oct. 10. Mohsen Karimi, AFP/Getty Images
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A salvo of rockets is fired by Palestinian militants from Gaza toward Israel on October 10, 2023. Mahmud Hams, AFP/Getty Images
At least 2,400 people were killed and 9,000 more were injured when a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Western Afghanistan on October 7th.
Also on October 7th, Hamas attacked Israel from Gaza. The Israeli Defense Forces retaliated with airstrikes and rocket attacks and on the following day, Israel formally declared a state of war.
According to a report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the death toll has already climbed to almost 1,600; thousands have been injured and more than 123,000 people have been displaced in Gaza.
If you are looking for ways to help earthquake victims in Afghanistan as well as Israeli and Palestinian victims of the war, below is a list of organizations published in both USA Today and Time Magazine that are trying to help.
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"How you can help"
International Committee of the Red Cross
The International Committee of the Red Cross is providing health care, re-establishing health care infrastructure, and working on improving sanitation and energy supply together with the Afghan Red Crescent and other on the ground humanitarian partner organizations. To learn more, you can visit their website here.
UNICEF
UNICEF is the United Nations agency responsible for providing humanitarian relief to children around the globe. They are currently distributing emergency water and hygiene kits in the country to address the urgent needs of children impacted by the earthquake. To donate, you can click here.
Islamic Relief Worldwide
Islamic Relief Worldwide launched an urgent appeal to provide lifesaving humanitarian aid to victims of the earthquake in Afghanistan. The organization has been working in Afghanistan for more than 23 years, and is coordinating closely with the United Nations and other on the ground organizations to figure out how to best help survivors. You can read more about Islamic Relief and their work in Afghanistan here.
International Rescue Committee
The International Rescue Committee has deployed a team of emergency personnel to provide medical care and other essential services to those impacted by the earthquake. The organization has had a presence in Afghanistan since 1988 and works with thousands of villages across the country’s twelve provinces. To learn more, you can visit their website here.
Doctors Without Borders
Doctors Without Borders is currently providing support at Herat regional hospital and manages the hospital’s pediatric section. They have also sent additional supplies to other parts of the country. To donate, click here.
CARE International
CARE is one of the leading humanitarian organizations operating in Afghanistan right now and focuses on alleviating poverty and providing medical care. You can donate here.
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Alliance for Middle East Peace
The Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP) is a coalition of over 170 non-governmental organizations that includes tens of thousands of Palestinians and Israelis who share the goal of building state peace between the two communities.
On Saturday, the coalition said it is working to support members assisting in emergency responses. "We call for the immediate protection of civilian life, for urgent steps to be taken to de-escalate this situation, and for all actors to prevent this situation spiraling toward even further tragedy," ALLMEP said in a statement.
American Friends of the Parents Circle - Families Forum
The American Friends of the Parents Circle - Families Forum (AF-PCFF) is a grassroots organization that works to share narratives from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with the U.S. public to foster a peace and reconciliation process. The organization supports the Parents Circle-Families Forum which is an Israeli-Palestinian organization of over 600 families who have all lost an immediate family member to the ongoing conflict.
In response to the attacks, the AF-PCFF reaffirmed its commitment to building and fostering peace for the future.
"Let us remember that violence begets violence, and the only way forward is through peaceful dialogue, diplomacy, and a commitment to finding common ground," the AF-PCFF said in a statement Sunday. "It is a call to action for leaders, communities, and individuals alike to seek solutions that prioritize reconciliation, justice, and lasting peace."
The Carter Center
Founded by former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn Carter in partnership with Emory University, The Carter Center is a humanitarian aid organization that has been promoting peace and advocating for a viable two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades.
After Israel declared war, The Carter Center released a statement condemning the targeting of Israeli and Palestinian civilians and called for international action to end the violence.
International Committee of the Red Cross
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a humanitarian organization that aims to protect victims of conflicts and provide them with assistance. The ICRC has been present in Israel and the occupied territories since 1967. The organization is asking for donations to improve access to essential services like water and to support livelihood projects.
“All parties must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law. This is non-negotiable. Civilians and civilian objects must be respected and protected," Fabrizio Carboni, ICRC regional director for the Near and Middle East, said in a statement Saturday.
Doctors Without Borders
Doctors Without Borders is a non-governmental organization that describes itself as an "independent, impartial and neutral" charity that provides humanitarian aid to people affected by conflict, disease outbreaks, and natural and human-made disasters.
With thousands wounded by airstrikes, the organization reported overcrowding and supply shortages, including medical supplies, drugs, and power for generators, in Gaza. Medical staff are also facing dangerous conditions and are struggling to find safe ways to transport patients to hospitals, as ambulances have been hit by airstrikes.
"The situation is horrific, with massive Israeli and Palestinian casualties," Matthias Kannes, head of mission in Gaza, said in a statement. "Our Palestinian colleagues are working day and night to cope with the influx of wounded."
Doctors Without Borders is assisting with medical needs in the region by donating medical supplies to hospitals and health facilities while local staff are providing surgical and inpatient care.
Save the Children
Save the Children issued an emergency alert in response to the conflict, noting the "escalating violence" has put 1.2 million children in need of humanitarian aid. The international organization is demanding de-escalation and has called for peace talks.
The organization is providing assistance to children affected by the attacks, where many face dangerous conditions, and displacement and may suffer from "serious mental health impacts."
Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF)
National and international organizations that provide assistance to victims in the conflict include the Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF), which works to provide crucial and life-saving medical relief and humanitarian aid to conflict victims in Gaza. Before the conflict and now, access to essential resources like food, clean water, and healthcare has been severely limited.
"In light of the recent violence that has left hundreds dead and thousands injured and homeless in Gaza, we are mobilizing our resources in unwavering determination," the organization said on its website.
Emergency Shelter for Families Experiencing Homelessness
​Families have arrived for medium and long-term stays at the Emergency Shelter at the former Best Western on Elm Street in Concord. If you are looking for ways to help, please click on the button below to go to The Concord-Carlisle Community Chest website where there is updated information on how you can help.
Who Are We?
We are an organization of volunteers working together to foster respect, understanding, good will, and conciliation among individuals and groups in the community. It is dedicated to the belief that all people are entitled to dignity and respect.
Get Involved
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