“We pray for strength and steadfastness in the work of repairing the world.
In all things, may we honor the dignity of each person.” 
(an Interfaith Human Rights Prayer from the National Religious Campaign Against Torture)

Join us for a very special Human Rights Shabbat, a Truah initiative, featuring Kathleen Hynes of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The ACLU of Colorado is the state’s oldest and largest civil rights organization. Our mission is to protect, defend and extend the civil rights and civil liberties of all people in Colorado through litigation, education and advocacy.

Music services led by Rabbi Evette with Hal Aqua and Carla Sciaky.  Following an Oneg Shabbat sponsored by Ron LaFollette in memory of his brother, Terry LaFollette, Rabbi Evette will lead a text-based discussion on human rights.

Kathleen will talk about the ACLU’s pursuit of LGBTQ rights via the Masterpiece Cake Shop case.  She will also speak about the Convention on the Rights of the Child and unconscionable activities taking place with children right here in our own state of Colorado, including the solitary confinement of children in a residential treatment center in Pueblo, Colorado.  The center is run by a private corporation.  It uses “Reflection Cottages,” these are a solitary confinement for kids, who are kept in there sometimes for days.  The “cottage” consists of a cement slab, with no carpeting, no chair, bed or other furniture.  Such an action would not be possible under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, but the United States hasn’t ratified it yet!  The only other countries who haven’t ratified the CROC are Somalia and South Sudan!  

Dr. Hynes is a volunteer speaker for the ACLU of Colorado.   She has worked with the ACLU for nearly a decade on a variety of issues because there is no better way to ensure social justice than by working to protect, defend and extend the civil rights and civil liberties of all people.

Dr. Hynes held a faculty appointment at the University of Colorado School of Medicine for several years before starting her own research business.  Her company produced and delivered high quality, customized research and assistance in business development for almost three decades. Over the years, Dr. Hynes has held various adjunct faculty appointments.

Awards include:  

Speaker Award, American Society of Women Engineers: Distinguished Speaker Award, Loyola College, School of Business, Baltimore, Maryland; Guest Lecturer Award, Health Sciences Program, Tempe, AZ; Volunteer of the Year, ACLU of Colorado.