Chapter 2 From the Heritage of African American Slavery to Modern Civil Rights Protection

Promises of justice and equality made in the U.S. Constitution, numerous Amendments, and decisions of the Supreme Court are hallmarks of American civil rights. Yet the realities of inequality remain facts of modern life for too many Native Americans, African Americans, and Latino Americans, even though state-mandated racial segregation has been outlawed for years. Women still face a variety of forms of discrimination—some subtle and others more overt. There remain many laws that treat people differently because of sexual orientation. People with disabilities are supposed to be protected by a variety of statutes, but many of these policies remain unfulfilled promises. These are just some of the many challenges of civil rights that persist in a nation that proudly points to the words above the entrance to the U.S. Supreme Court that read "Equal Justice Under Law." This text is for current and future public service professionals —whether they are in government agencies, in nonprofit organizations that provide social services for government, or contractors who operate as state actors—who increasingly serve diverse communities with a range of complex challenges, while working and managing within organizations that, fortunately, are themselves more diverse than ever before. For those who work and serve in such settings, civil rights is not an abstract academic study, but a critically important and very practical fact of daily life. This book may also be used on civil rights law, policy, and public administration courses, and each chapter ends with a section on ‘Issues for Policy and Practice’ to guide an examination of key public policy hurdles in the fight for civil rights as well as the implications for public service practice.　 Through an engaging exploration of edited court cases, legislation, and speeches, the reader is encouraged to think critically about civil rights law and policy pertaining to African Americans, Native Americans, Latinos/Latinas, gender, sexual orientation, and disabilities, to learn what civil rights require, but also to come to a more empathetic understanding of how different groups of people experience civil rights and the unique challenges they face

Canadian Refugee Services: The Challenges of Network Operations

The context within which refugee service providers work shapes and constrains their efforts. Those legal, political, fiscal, and managerial influences in the Canadian context have tended to force the creation of refugee service networks. This article considers some of the factors that have brought about this network approach to refugee service delivery, but, most importantly, it seeks to understand what the implications of that development are for service providers and the communities they serve. This article argues that service networks can be effective and eficient in meeting refugee needs, but it is essential to be aware of the special challenges posed by network management. Those challenges not only concern how service providers work together and deal with refugees and other immigrants, but also alert them to the impact they can have inside refugee service NGOs.Le contexte dans lequel les prestataires de services aux réfugiés travaillent, façonne et restreint leurs efforts. Ces influences légales, politiques, fiscales et administratives dans le contexte canadien, ont eu tendance à pousser vers la création de réseaux de services aux réfugiés. Cet article étudie certains des facteurs qui ont amené cette approche de prestation de services aux réfugiés par réseau. Mais, avant tout, il cherche à comprendre quelles sont les implications de ce développement pour, d'une part, les prestataires de services et, de l'autre, pour les communautés qu'ils servent. L'article soutient que les réseaux de services peuvent être utiles et efficaces pour répondre aux besoins des réfugiés, mais qu'il faut absolument être conscient des défis particuliers que comporte la gestion de ces réseaux. Ces défis ne concernent pas seulement la façon dont les prestataires de services travaillent de concert et s'occupent des réfugiés et d'autres immigrés. Il est aussi important d'être vigilant quant à l'impact qu'ils peuvent avoir au sein des ONG spécialisées dans les services aux réfugiés

The antecedents of Council Bluffs, Iowa: From exploration to town charter

As odd as it may seem the second oldest, second largest city in the eastern Nebraska-southwestern Iowa, area has been a neglected topic for historians. At a time when almost every town and way station has had its history written Council Bluffs, Iowa, has been overlooked. This study is an attempt to at least partially fill the void. Council Bluffs\u27 history is far too long and complex to relate in one study of this type, but hopefully, it will be considered as a beginning