The Tompkins County Office of Human Rights is announcing a new brand identity and inviting the public to learn more about the resources available through the Office.
New signage is being installed for the Office located at 120 W. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street in Ithaca, and the old logo will be replaced on materials throughout the community. Logo files are available for download on the Tompkins County Branding website.
Created in December 1963, the Office of Human Rights is Tompkins County's civil and human rights education and outreach agency. The mission of the Office is to work towards the elimination and prevention of unlawful discrimination and to develop and facilitate County-wide programs that increase awareness of human rights and social justice ideals.
In 2023 County staff identified the need to revise the Office’s branding and increase awareness of contemporary human rights issues. Community stakeholders informed the process through a survey and conversations with staff. Stakeholders ranked “welcoming,” “inclusivity,” “support,” and “peace” among the top things a new logo and brand should portray. The survey also showed that community members valued the work of the Office but wanted to learn more about the programming and services it offers.
The new brand features a green olive branch atop a dark blue circle that doubles as the “O” in the “Office of Human Rights.” The olive branch references the Tompkins County Seal, which features an eagle holding an olive branch. A symbol of a hand holds the icon. The logo evokes the global importance of human rights, the office’s responsibility to uphold human rights through its work, and the foundational importance of peace.
The Office has published 30 posters highlighting each article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Community members are invited to visit the office to learn more about Human Rights and to take a free copy of the posters featuring rights that resonate most with them.
Director of the Office of Human Rights Ken Clarke stated, “OHR’s new brand identity, colors and symbols reflect our mission and commitment to the Tompkins County community to promote civil and human rights. More than any other time since the end of World War II—which gave rise to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights—civil and human rights today need to be advanced, defended and implemented, especially in working with and learning from underserved individuals and populations.”
Legislator Susan Currie, who serves as a liaison to the Tompkins County Human Rights Commission, stated, “Everyone in Tompkins County should know about the great resources offered by our Office of Human Rights. I’m delighted that this new brand will help get the word out to the community about what human rights are, how to access resources, and how to get involved.” Currie added, “Tompkins County has a rich history of defending human and civil rights, having an office of dedicated staff to further this work is something we should all cherish and be proud of.”