The Needham Human Rights Committee voted to commit $300 from its available funds to support a regional training offered by a consortium of nearby human-rights committees.

Committee members discussed a proposal for two 90-minute Zoom sessions, designed as an interpersonal-skills and community-listening workshop for roughly 200 participants across seven or eight neighboring HRCs. The program, described to the committee as costing $5,500 in total for the two sessions, would ask each HRC to identify how much they could contribute; Needham members debated whether to commit $300, $500 or another amount given the committee’s modest balance.

"I think the proposal is good and they're very professional," said Committee member (Speaker 3), who had shared the central partners’ proposal and encouraged participation. Members expressed concerns about recruitment and attrition in Zoom-based sessions, noting that initial estimates call for about 25 participants per HRC but that winter attrition could be as high as 40 percent.

Treasurer notes provided in discussion indicated roughly $1,239 in the committee’s account. After a short floor exchange on how much to use from the local balance, a member moved that the committee use $300 toward the essential-partner program. The chair called a voice vote; members answered "Aye," and the motion was approved by voice vote (tally not specified).

Next steps: committee members said staff or liaisons will confirm the training dates (likely in January), review recruitment targets, and coordinate outreach to schools and other community groups to boost attendance.