About Us and Our History
The Human Rights Education Institute traces back to 1981, when the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations was founded by a diverse group of citizens as a response against the harassment and criminal activities of the Aryan Nations. Over the years, the Task Force played a large role in confronting hate in the Inland Northwest and was instrumental in directing the passage of major Idaho state laws against harassment. In 1987, due to the work of the Task Force, the city of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho was awarded the prestigious Raoul Wallenberg Civic Award, and in 1990, was designated an "All American City." In the Fall of 2000, the mission of the Task Force was realized when a lawsuit on behalf of local citizens bankrupted the Aryan Nations. Through its work, the Task Force has been nationally recognized as a major grassroots human rights organization in combating discrimination.
In 1998, The Human Rights Education Institute was founded as the educational arm of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations. Following the successful lawsuit against the Aryan Nations, the Gregory C. Carr Foundation pledged seed money to the Institute to create a human rights education center. A historic building was secured in the heart of downtown Coeur d'Alene, and the Center officially opened on December 10, 2005. The Institute hosts and created world-class exhibits, develops programs for children, sponsors events celebrating diversity, and provides workshops and training for community members, business leaders and educators. The Institute has an established, visible presence that reinforces the importance of human rights and our dedication to promoting these rights in our region.
The Human Rights Education Institute was founded on principles of the Constitution of the United States of America and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. These documents establish the principles of the dignity and worth for every human being. The Human Rights Education Institute affirms and supports these fundamental principles of human rights.
