HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-09-2025 Meeting MinutesPaducah
Human Rights Commission
October 9, 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
Robert Hernandez,
Chair
Jana Dawson
Charles Gurley
Irhonda Lovelace
Rachel Robinson
Anthony Walton
Kimberly Yates
Board Members Present: Chair Commissioner Robert Hernandez, Commissioners
Jana Dawson, Charles Gurley, Irhonda Lovelace, Rachel Robinson, Anthony Walton,
and Kimberly Yates
Board Member(s) Not Present:
Meeting called to order by Chair Commissioner Hernandez at 5:00 p.m.
Roll Call by Specialist Johnson at 5:00 p.m.
Quorum established by Chair Commissioner Hernandez at 5:01 p.m.
Invocation led by Commissioner Robinson at 5:02 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance led by Chair Commissioner Hernandez at 5:04 p.m.
No visitors to acknowledge
September 11, 2025, Meeting Minutes Motion for Approval by Commissioner Yates
with second approval by Commissioner Dawson and unanimously approved.
School Presentation (Commissioner Yates) – Waiting for a date that members of
PHRC can give presentation to Tilghman students. Commissioner Yates is waiting for
follow up from Tilghman principal.
Fairness & Justice Event (Commissioner Walton) – 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) – 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) – Commissioner Lovelace confirmed
that events for Pride have moved to the early part of June 2025, so as not to
interfere with other holidays that month.
Paducah Human Rights Commission
Meeting Minutes – October 9, 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
Robert Hernandez,
Chair
Jana Dawson
Charles Gurley
Irhonda Lovelace
Rachel Robinson
Anthony Walton
Kimberly Yates
Juneteenth Event (Commissioner Dawson) – 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. Commissioner Dawson has committed to attending that meeting if
granted the opportunity from committee members.
PHRC Video presentation/marketing update (Commissioner Gurley) – Waiting for
Cinemark PR Department to respond to waiving cost of screen time for PHRC.
Otherwise, the cost of video advertising at theatre is $1400.00 (for 12 Cinemark
theatres). Commission discussed paying the fee to run PHRC video during Fair
Housing Month if Cinemark did not grant waiver of cost. WPSD TV as another
advertising avenue was discussed. Commissioner Yates agreed to reach out to WPSD
to inquire about free advertisement for the PHRC. There is no update on Maiden
Alley Cinema re: running PHRC video.
Chair Commissioner Hernandez requested that the Commission create a PowerPoint
to be used as a presentation tool for all events. Commissioner Lovelace and
Commissioner Robinson will assist Chair Commissioner Hernandez with this project.
They will work with Pam Spencer at Paducah City Hall to finalize.
Commissioner Robinson agreed to assume the responsibility of PHRC Archive
Specialist. Her duties will include preserving the history of the PHRC.
Budget Report presentation by Commissioner Dawson – No expenditures to date.
Commission discussed purchasing small marketing bags to distribute at events.
Commissioner Yates agreed to reach out to a local vendor to get pricing for items.
Chair Commissioner Hernandez informed the Commission of two upcoming events.
On October 25, 2025, ABLE Foundation has a fundraiser for “advocacy based on lived
experience”. This event will be at the Grand Lodge on 5th, Paducah, KY, from 5:30
p.m. – 8:00 p.m. On November 2, 2025, the NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet will be
held at Walker Hall from 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Chair Commissioner Hernandez has
submitted a request to the Mayor for the PHRC to attend this event.
The PHRC marketing material has been updated. Specialist Johnson stated that she
would forward updated material to the Commission via email.
Report from Specialist Johnson – Specialist Johnson committed to forwarding City
Commission Meeting details regarding discussion of payment to board members who
serve on eligible boards. This matter is still up for consideration.
Meeting was adjourned at 5:54 p.m. with approval by Commissioner Lovelace, a
second approval by Commissioner Dawson and unanimously approved.
Paducah Human Rights Commission
Meeting Minutes – October 9, 2025
Page 2