Education and Training
The Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission offers no cost training and educational programs on civil rights issues to employers, the housing industry, nonprofit organizations, and community groups.
Please contact our office at civilrights@cedar-rapids.org or (319) 286-5036 to arrange for training or education opportunities.
Presentations
Know Your Rights
This workshop can be tailored to the needs of the audience. Know Your Rights trainings can include housing rights, employment rights, etc. Please contact us if you have specific questions.
Fair Housing Training
This workshop provides an overview of fair housing laws, discusses tenant and landlord/property management rights and responsibilities, as well as best practices in relation to fair housing laws. This presentation includes discussion of lawful advertisement, sexual harassment, reasonable accommodations and modifications, and rights of individuals with disabilities.
Employment Practices Training/Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Laws
This workshop discusses fair employment practices as related to workplace discrimination. This training will discuss employer, employee, and applicant rights and responsibilities, as well as best practices for employers.
Credit Training/Fair Lending Practices Training
This workshop provides an overview of the types of actions related to credit which can constitute discrimination. This training discusses rights and responsibilities, as well as best practices.
Education Training
This workshop provides an overview of the types of actions related to education which can constitute discrimination. This training discusses rights and responsibilities of students, educators, schools, etc., as well as best practices.
Public Accommodations Training
This workshop provides a review of types of actions related to public accommodations which can constitute discrimination. The training will discuss rights and responsibilities of organizations and individuals, as well as best practices for entities conducting business in the City of Cedar Rapids.
Disability and Assistance Animals Training
This workshop reviews the types of assistance animals who support individuals with disabilities, including Emotional Support Animals and Service Animals. This training discusses housing rights and responsibilities as well as best practices for property owners/landlords.
Unconscious Bias/Implicit Bias Training
This workshop provides a discussion of unconscious/implicit biases, their impacts, and actionable steps organizations and individuals can take to reduce the negative impacts of biases. Everyone has biases that shape how we see the world. In this workshop, we will explore how unconscious biases are formed and learn how we can challenge our own biases.
LGBTQIA+ Awareness
This workshop provides participants with an introduction to concepts and issues related to the LGBTQIA+ communities. This training will a provide tips for establishing a welcoming and inclusive environment for members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Training
The purpose of this workshop is to provide an overview of the history of the rights of individuals with disabilities, discuss the ADA as it relates to employment, discuss ADA provisions for reasonable accommodations, and define effective communication as defined by the ADA.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Training
"Diversity is a fact. Inclusion is a behavior. But belonging is the emotional outcome that people want in their organization," Christianne Garofalo. This training offers insight into the importance of DEIB, and creating a sense of belonging, as well as best practices for organizations conducting business within the City of Cedar Rapids.
Sex Discrimination & Harassment
This workshop reviews types of adverse actions related to an individual’s sex which can constitute discrimination and/or harassment. This training will discuss individual rights and responsibilities, as well as best practices for agencies conducting business within the City of Cedar Rapids.
