HomeMy WebLinkAboutHRC minutes 011116Orange County Human Relations Commission
Minutes
Monday, January 11, 2016
Orange County Animal Services Building Conference Room
M E M
B E R S P R E S E N T
STAFF
Vanessa Soleil
Monica Richard
James Davis
Susie Enoch
Rollin Russell
Pamela Reynolds
Andy Cagle
Matthew Hughes
Gerald Ponder
Christine Kelly- Kleese
Scott Goldsmith
Desaray Rockett
G U E S T S
Angela Rockett
Excused Absence: Alan Jefferies, Natalie Turner, Jamie Paulen, Marc Xavier, Colin O'Banion, and Robin Crield
Unexcused Absence: Joyce Preslar
L Call To Order
Chair Gerald Ponder called the meeting to order at 6:03p.m.
II. Introductions
There were no members or new guests. No introductions were conducted.
III. Minutes Approval
Rollin Russell made a motion to approve the November 9, 2015 Minutes. Andy Cagle seconded
the motion which passed unanimously. Matt Hughes made a motion to approve the December
14, 2015 Minutes. Andy seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
IV. County Updates
James Davis provided an update on the status of the plaque to display all Pauli Murray Award
honorees. The Department of Asset Management has confirmed its intent to erect the plaque
prior to the upcoming Pauli Murray Award ceremony. James has reviewed the mock -up and
approved the plaques to be minted.
James informed the members that the Human Relations Month Proclamation is scheduled to be
presented to the BOCC on Thursday, January 21, 2016. The meeting will be held at the Whitted
Building in Hillsborough. The members discussed who will present the proclamation. It was
agreed that Youth Ambassador, Desaray Rockett, will present the proclamation. James will
discuss the meeting format with Desaray and give her a copy of the proclamation.
James invited the HRC to attend the fair housing presentation on Friday, January 29, 2016.
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James informed the members that a complainant of a discrimination complaint has requested a
reconsideration of the No Cause finding. James explained that a reconsideration is akin to an
appeal where members of the HRC will serve as the panel of judges. The members were asked
to consider who would be appointed to the panel. The following members volunteered to sit on
the panel and receive training on the hearings process and procedures: Vanessa Soleil, Matt
Hughes, Scott Goldsmith, Susie Enoch and Rollin Russell. James will contact the State Human
Relations Commission to discover when the training would take place.
James provided a brief update on the progress of the County's Accessibility Committee and
reminded the members that the BOCC Work Session to discuss the HRC's annual report is on
Tuesday, February 91' at Southern Human Services.
V. Subcommittee Updates
Executive Committee:
It was reported that the HRC retreat will take place on Saturday, March 5, 2016. This will be an
all -day event expected to end at around 3:00 p.m.
Building Integrated Communities (BIC):
No Report. The members discussed whether the BIC subcommittee should continue to exist.
Christine Kelly- Kleese provided a detailed history of the subcommittee. After discussion, Rollin
made a motion to suspend the Building Integrated Communities subcommittee and revisit the
aims of the subcommittee at the retreat. Scott seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
BIC will be removed from future Agendas until further notice.
Diversity Matters:
There was a discussion about the upcoming Human Relations Month Forum. It was suggested
that James contact the co- moderators and schedule a walk - through of the facility and the order of
the program. It was also suggested that James send invitations to churches to attend the Forum
and the post -Forum discussion on Monday, February 1, 2016.
Community Relations:
Gerald presented a recommendation that in consideration of there being no business nominees,
the Pauli Murray Awards should be doled upon two (2) adults and two (2) youth. Members of
the subcommittee submitted their votes and determined that the two adult recipients will be
Reyna Rivera and Dr. Deborah Stroman. The two youth honorees are Linnea Van Mannen and
Ruth George.
With regard to the Essay Contest, there was only one entry. The members discussed the content
of the entry and determined that the entry was not on topic. The members thereafter opted not to
award a winner of the Essay Contest and asked James to contact the sole entrant to inform her of
the HRC's decision.
With regard to the Poster Contest, there were six (6) entries. The members discussed whether
the entries should be judged by age or grade, or whether the entries should be judged in a sole
category. The members opted to judge the posters as a sole category and voted the following:
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First Place: Valentina Merritt- Dorosin; Second Place: Sarah Moses; and Third Place: Susan
Moses. James will notify the winners.
Collateral Consequences:
The members reflected on the information presented by Robin Criffield and Vanessa Soleil
during the December meeting wherein they recommended changing its name to "Community
Justice." The three main areas of focus will include: Re -entry (essentially what the original
Collateral Consequences subcommittee set as its focus), Anti -bias policing and community
relations, and Youth (i.e. addressing the school -to -prison pipeline). Vanessa made a motion to
change the subcommittee's name to Community Justice. Monica Richard seconded the motion
which passed unanimously. Scott stated that he would like to be added to this subcommittee. It
was announced that Robin Criffield will attend the Anti -bias Policing Coalition meeting.
VL Other Business /Announcements
James announced the following upcoming events:
• Orange County MLK Program Friday, Jan. 151' at Central Orange Senior Center
• Veterans and Their Families stage productions at UNC beginning this week
• Undoing Racism series
• HK on J: Saturday Feb. 13'.
VII. Adiourn
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted:
James E. Davis, Jr.,
Civil Rights Specialist
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