HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-11-2025 Meeting MinutesPaducah
Human Rights Commission
December 11, 2025, Meeting Minutes
Paducah City Hall
1st Floor, Suite 106
300 South 5th Street
P.O. Box 247
Paducah, KY 42002-
0247
(270) 444-8643/8644
Fax (270) 443-8680
TDD (270) 800-247-
2510
HR
Commissioners
Jana Dawson, Chair
Charles Gurley
Irhonda Lovelace
Rachel Robinson
Anthony Walton
Kimberly Yates
Board Members Present: Chair Commissioner Robert Hernandez, Commissioners
Jana Dawson, Charles Gurley, Irhonda Lovelace, and Anthony Walton
Board Member(s) Not Present: Commissioner Rachel Robinson
Meeting called to order by Chair Commissioner Hernandez at 4:45 p.m.
Roll Call by Daisha Johnson, Human Relations Coordinator, at 4:46 p.m.
Quorum established by Chair Commissioner Hernandez at 4:47 p.m.
Invocation led by Chair Commissioner Hernandez at 4:48 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance led by Chair Commissioner Hernandez at 4:49 p.m.
Visitors – Mayor George Bray
November 13, 2025, Meeting Minutes Motion for Approval by Commissioner Gurley
with second approval by Commissioner Yates and unanimously approved.
School Presentation (Commissioner Yates) – Commissioner Yates reached out to
Paducah Tilghman High School regarding the Commission speaking at the school.
The school will follow up with Commissioner Yates in early 2026.
Fairness & Justice Event (Commissioner Walton) – No new updates as of
12/11/2025. Chair Hernandez requested that Commissioner Walton reach out to
J.W. Cleary again to review possible collaboration with PHRC. (9/11/225 -
Commissioner Walton spoke to J.W. Cleary (NAACP) about PHRC collaborating with
them in the future. Commissioner Walton has committed to attending the next
NAACP meeting to establish a connection with NAACP for future projects.
Fair Housing Event (Commissioner Gurley) – No new updates as of 12/11/2025.
Discussed having a speaker at the event to address current housing situation in
Paducah, KY. Commissioner Gurley shared a spreadsheet via email to document
updates on this event. April 14, 2026, at the Robert Cherry Civic Center has been
confirmed as the date for this event.
Paducah Pride Event (Commissioner Lovelace) – No new updates as of 12/11/2025.
Commissioner Gurley & Commissioner Lovelace attended a Pride Event at the 1857
to discuss venue for the Pride Festival. There is still no official date yet (early part of
June 2025).
Paducah Human Rights Commission
Meeting Minutes – December 11, 2025
Page 2
Paducah City Hall
1st Floor, Suite 106
300 South 5th Street
P.O. Box 247
Paducah, KY 42002-
0247
(270) 444-8643/8644
Fax (270) 443-8680
TDD (270) 800-247-
2510
HR Commission
Jana Dawson, Chair
Charles Gurley
Irhonda Lovelace
Rachel Robinson
Anthony Walton
Kimberly Yates
Juneteenth Event (Chair Commissioner Dawson) – No new updates as of
12/11/2025. Chair Commissioner Dawson reached out to J.W. Cleary to set up a
meeting to discuss. She was informed that the Juneteenth committee would
reconvene in November/December 2025 to start discussing 2026 Juneteenth. Chair
Commissioner Dawson has committed to attending that meeting if granted the
opportunity from committee members.
Potluck – Commission voted for January 24, 2026, from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm for the
100-person event to be held at the Christ Temple Church annex. It was agreed that
we would set up a table with PHRC material during the event. Commissioner Walton
reached out to Big Ed’s Restaurant for a food quote and agreed to share it with the
Commission. He stated that the quote was approximately $800.00. Commissioner
Yates agreed to reach out to Sally Michelson (The Community Kitchen) to see if she
might be interested in collaborating with the PHRC on this event.
Budget Report presentation by Chair Commissioner Dawson – The PHRC has a budget
of $16,000 until June 30, 2026.
Chair Commissioner Hernandez relinquished his duties as Commission Chair. Mayor
George Bray named him as a Duke of Paducah and was recognized for his service on
the Commission. Commissioner Dawson was appointed as the new Chair.
No update on this as of 12/11/2025 - The PHRC marketing material has been
updated. Daisha Johnson, Human Relations Coordinator, stated that she would
forward updated material to the Commission via email.
Commissioners completed documentation to begin receiving $75.00 per meeting
starting January 2026.
Meeting was adjourned at 5:31 p.m. with approval by Commissioner Gurley, a second
approval by Commissioner Lovelace and unanimously approved.
Paducah Human Rights Commission
Meeting Minutes – December 11, 2025
Page 2