The Indiana Consortium of State & Local Human Rights Agencies was officially organized on February 18, 1972 when Ms. Tommie Beatrice Holland, Executive Director of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission called to order several directors and chairpersons of state and local civil and human rights commissions at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.
The creation of the Indiana Consortium was made possible by the Indiana Civil Rights Law and the Indiana Civil Rights Commission Deputy Director, Osma Spurlock’s invitation to local directors to meet monthly for the purpose of discussion, training, exchanging ideas and experiences.
The Consortium conducted their first training conference for local commissions and agencies on April 26, 1973 at Indiana University’s Law School in Indianapolis, IN. A manual covering civil rights laws and operating procedures was prepared under the direction of William Pearson, a member of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission staff. This comprehensive operations manual was provided to all participants.
The Indiana Consortium’s mission is to make program recommendations to the Indiana Civil Rights Commission on all matters related to civil rights; to coordinate and channel information among local commissions and agencies; to promote the implementation of efficient and professional complaint processing procedures; to establish uniformity in operations and terminology among local commissions; to hold training conferences and workshop opportunities; to pool resources for purposes of legislative recommendations and mass media exposure; and to broaden and strengthen the power of local commission and agencies.