Human Rights Committee members reported turnout and reaction to recent community events and said the town will order multilingual “know-your-rights” cards for distribution in public buildings.

Committee members described an immigration forum that drew more than 100 in-person attendees and additional participants by Zoom. Presenters addressed legal basics and local resources; participants remained after the formal presentation to ask individual questions. One member said the forum “was a very engaging talk” and praised the speaker for mixing practical details with personal stories that attendees found helpful.

The committee also reviewed the town’s Martin Luther King Day programming and said volunteers and young performers received positive feedback. Members noted operational lessons — for example, specifying logistical items (podium, parking-lot clearing) earlier in event checklists — to avoid last-minute searches.

Town distribution of language materials: Committee members said the town will order pocket-sized “know-your-rights” cards in multiple language pairings for display across municipal locations. A town staff member reported the initial plan is to order English-Spanish, English–Haitian Creole, English–Portuguese and to consider English–Russian; the committee later discussed adding Chinese (Mandarin/Cantonese) editions. The cards will be placed at sites such as the Council on Aging, the library, the Park and Recreation building, the pool, and the health department. A staff member said the manufacturer had sold out nationally and the town is exploring local printing options to meet demand.

Why it matters: The outreach materials and public programs are intended to make legal-resource information accessible to residents who may fear contacting public agencies, and to broaden community engagement through multilingual distribution.

Ending: Committee members said they will follow up on distribution logistics and consult with school and municipal departments about making the cards available in high-traffic public locations.