ST. PAUL, MN – The Minnesota Department of Human Rights announced it is expanding its St. Cloud office hours to every other Wednesday beginning March 23, 2016.
A MDHR enforcement officer will staff the St. Cloud Human Rights Office from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every other Wednesday to provide intake services, to investigate discrimination complaints and to meet members of the public. MDHR is providing experienced enforcement officers and senior-level civic engagement services to connect St. Cloud to statewide initiatives. Additionally, enforcement officers are available by calling 1.800.657.3704 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
“By expanding MDHR’s presence in St. Cloud to every other week, St. Cloud area citizens will have a more consistent presence in the community until a stable funding source can be established,” Commissioner Kevin Lindsey said. “We hope that leadership in both chambers of the Legislature will join the Governor in supporting funding levels for the Department to support the St. Cloud office being open 40 hours a week.”
As part of a statewide effort to eliminate racial and economic disparities, Governor Mark Dayton has included $900,000 in his 2016 supplemental budget for MDHR to improve enforcement of state law and make it easier for Minnesotans to file human rights complaints. These new resources will allow the Department to expand community outreach efforts, improve its enforcement efforts, and reopen a Regional Office in St. Cloud.
Commissioner Lindsey will speak at the St. Cloud Technical and Community College Student Success Day from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on March 31, the Global Social Responsibility Conference at St. Cloud State University on April 6, and the Holiday Inn & Suites Annual Human Rights training on May 4. Commissioner Lindsey will be meeting with community members on April 6 to discuss regional and statewide issues, diversity and inclusion efforts, and the Minnesota Human Rights Act.
MDHR has been providing temporary staffing since October 2015 after the resignation of its local enforcement officer. Since then, an enforcement officer has staffed the office once a month.
If you believe you have been discriminated against in violation of the Minnesota Human Rights Act, please contact MDHR’s enforcement unit at 651.539.1100, 1.800.657.3704 or online at
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Contact: Christine Dufour at 651-539-1118
or Christine.Dufour@state.mn.us
Minnesota Department of Human Rights, Communications Department
Freeman Building, 625 Robert Street North, Saint Paul, MN 55155