Executive Director's Report 2008

I am pleased once again to offer my report on another successful year at MARL. I hope you will read this Annual Report for full details on our programs and projects.

One of the main focuses of MARL’s work is youth. Along with our partners, the Manitoba Human Rights Commission and the Canadian Human Rights Commission, we awarded once again the Dr. Sybil Shack Youth Award as part of the celebration of International Human Rights Day. This year’s recipient, Krupa Kotecha, has used video and dramatic monologue to teach her peers about prejudice, racism and discrimination. Krupa joined MARL’s Board of Directors and would be continuing with us but educational opportunities are taking her away from Manitoba. Krupa, an accomplished and committed young woman, will make many contributions to the community wherever she goes.

The Human Rights Education Program underwent an unavoidable interruption during the year but is on course now. In February, Debra Chorney joined MARL as Program Developer and has jumped into the task with energy and imagination. With the progress she has made, this fall we will introduce new materials designed to help high school teachers integrate human rights education into the curriculum. We will also begin to engage youth as leaders in human rights in their schools and the community. I would like to thank Debra for the commitment and enthusiasm she brings to this program.

Over the past year, the Board has identified communications and membership development as priorities for the organization. One main focus is improving the way we communicate what we do with the community and with members. We are in the process of enhancing MARL’s website so that it will be easier for us to keep it current and to accommodate the future needs of the Human Rights Education Program. It will become a tool for reaching out to teachers, students and the community.

Thank you to the board members and volunteers for helping to move MARL’s work forward and thank you to all the funders who make our work possible.

- Valerie Price