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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHRC Minutes 0514181 MINUTES May 14, 2018 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm John Link Government Services Center 200 S. Cameron Street, Hillsborough NC MEMBERS PRESENT STAFF Joy Preslar Tara May, Civil Rights Specialist Debby Stroman Melvyn Blackwell, Intake Specialist Jacqulyn Podger Scott Goldsmith Matt Case Nancy White Rebecca High Allison Mahaley Stephanie Harrell MEMBERS ABSENT Marc Xavier (unexcused) Nora Spencer (excused) Ana Garcia-Turner (excused) Alicia Reid (unexcused) GUESTS I. Call to Order A. The meeting was called to order at 6:12pm by Dr. Debby Stroman, Chair. A quorum was present. II. Introductions A. Human Relations Commission (HRC) members, staff, and guest introduced themselves and did an ice breaker. III. Minutes Approval – April 9, 2018 A. HRC members reviewed the minutes prior to this meeting via email. Mr. Scott Goldsmith made a motion to approve April minutes. Mr. Matt Case seconded the motion. Minutes for April were approved. 2 IV. County Updates A. Ms. Tara May reminded HRC members that the Human Rights & Relations (HR&R) Department has completed the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) performance plan. We are awaiting notification that the department is officially recertified. B. Ms. May reported out to HRC members on some of the outreach events HR&R staff have attended and/or collaborated on. HR&R staff partnered with El Centro Hispano for a Power of Attorney Clinic. HR&R staff partnered with the Family Success Alliance to host a Faith I.D event. HR&R have been doing outreach at Orange-Chatham Civic Classes. HR&R also had a table at the annual Community Dinner. C. Ms. Allison Mahaley discussed the Hillsborough Sanctuary Coalition, and explained how this group hosts events to support the Latino communities and defining “Sanctuary” for all. D. HRC members reviewed and discussed the HRC goals and objectives. Mr. Goldsmith questioned the wording of “Charge: 1d” [Objective C: 1d]. Mr. Goldsmith inquired if it should say “housing discrimination” rather than “discrimination”. Ms. May clarified that this objective/charge refers to housing discrimination. She suggested that this discussion should be held off until the HRC retreat. She explained that it would be more conducive to have this discussion then, because the retreat will likely feature training/discussions on fair housing. Ms. May explained that if there is a goal or objective that the HRC would like to add/or change, the process would be to do a write up on suggested add/or change. The recommendation must be presented to the Board of County Commissioners. V. Applications & Appointments A. Dr. Stroman reported that Stacey Sewall retracted her application to be an HRC member. Dr. Stroman recognized Ms. Stephanie Harrell and Ms. Caryn Ellis as the newest HRC members. Dr. Stroman suggested applicant, Ms. Olivia Fisher, as the next HRC member. B. Ms. May noted the Town of Carrboro has nominated Ms. Samantha Beecham for a town seat. Ms. May also noted that she has already submitted a recommendation to the Town of Hillsborough for Ms. Fisher. C. Ms. May announced Ms. Nancy White’s partial term is expiring in June 2018. Ms. May explained how Ms. White would need to be reappointed as a HRC member. Ms. White agreed to be reappointed. Ms. Jackie Podger made a motion to reappoint Ms. White to serve a three-year term. The HRC unanimously voted Ms. White for a three-year term. Ms. May will type-up Ms. White’s recommendation. VI. Identification of top 3 community issues A. Ms. May explained NC’s Human Relations Commission would like to know local HRC’s top community issues for an analysis. The HRC identified housing, education, and criminal justice as the top three community issues. VII. Subcommittee Updates 3 Dr. Stroman noted and discussed the following events as obligations of the HRC. With the exception of the Pauli Murray Awards, the dates, subject matter, or premise of events will vary. 1. HRC Forum. 2. Pauli Murray Awards 3. Community Read 4. Community Conversation VIII. HRC Events A. HRC Forum 1. HRC members felt this event went well, and would like to create more like it. B. Community Read 1. HRC members in attendance received their books [Evicted]. HRC members will read the book prior to the community read. C. Community Conversation 1. HRC members felt this event went well. They were pleased to see folks with different opinions caucus after the actual event ended. HRC members will consider having another community conversation around, Silent Sam, confederate statue on the campus of UNC Chapel Hill. IX. HRC Retreat A. HRC members discussed possible dates and times of availability for the HRC retreat . HR&R staff will determine the location of the retreat and handle the majority of i ts logistics. B. The HRC retreat will be on Saturday June 23, 2018 from 10am -3pm. The goal for the retreat is to clarify HRC & HR&R staff responsibilities and relationships [individually and collectively]. As well as clarifying HRC’s goal(s), objective(s), and charge. X. Campaign for Racial Equity A. Dr. Stroman led a discussion for the HRC to support the Campaign for Racial Equity. She suggested the possibility of the HRC sponsoring an organization that focuses on racial equity in schools. Ms. Mahaley expressed a need for more equity work and conversation in reference to Orange County Schools. She explained that this school district is further behind in this work than is Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. Mr. Case recommended we monitor groups to support . To ensure that their practices and behaviors reflect HRC ideals. XI. Other Business/Announcements/Upcoming Events A. Ms. Mahaley noted an upcoming event organized by the Orange Resilience Initiative. She explained that they are a group that advocates and educates on public health trauma and racialized trauma. There will be a showing of their film Resilience at Silverspot Cinema on June 2, 2018 at 10am. They are looking for a group to co-sponsor and have a showing in the northern part of the county. 4 B. Ms. Mahaley noted the Hillsborough Sanctuary Coalition will be sponsoring an event on July 4, 2018 from 4pm-8pm [at 710 Old NC 10]. The event is focused on engaging the Latino community. C. Dr. Stroman recalled an idea that Ms. Jackie Poger came up with which suggested the HRC serving as an “umbrella organization”,that identifies several other organizations and invites them to the table to sponsor an event based on their mission and the services they provide. D. Dr. Stroman reported that the BOCC is in support of the HRC getting a Facebook page. Dr. Stroman will get with Ms. May about setting this up. HR&R staff will be administrators of the page. Dr. Stroman also noted that Commissioner Mark Dorison mentioned the county has funds set aside for HRC members to attend a Racial Equity Institute training [REI]. Ms. May stated that she would get clarification on these possible funds. XII. Adjourn A. The meeting was adjourned at 7:36pm. B. NEXT MEETING: June 11, 2018 6:00pm at Animal Services in Chapel Hill.