HomeMy WebLinkAboutHRC Minutes 091018_no quorum1
Meeting Notes
September 10, 2018
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
John Link Government Services Center
200 S. Cameron Street, Hillsborough NC
MEMBERS PRESENT STAFF
Debby Stroman Tara May, Civil Rights Specialist
Rebecca High Melvyn Blackwell, Intake Specialist
Stephanie Harrell
Joy Preslar
Ana Garcia-Turner
MEMBERS ABSENT
Marc Xavier
Allison Mahaley (excused)
Matt Case (excused)
Nora Spencer (excused)
Nancy White (excused)
Jacqulyn Podger (excused)
GUESTS
I. Call to Order
A. The meeting was called to order at 6:10pm by Dr. Debby Stroman, Chair. A quorum was
not present.
II. Introductions
A. Human Relations Commission (HRC) members and staff reported on what’s new and
what’s good professionally and personally.
III. Minutes Approval – August 13, 2018
A. HRC members did not approve minutes because a quorum was not present. August 13,
2018 minutes will be reviewed for approval at the next meeting.
IV. County Updates
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A. Ms. Tara May provided county updates. She announced four members (Ms. Stephanie
Harrell, Mr. Matt Case, Ms. Jacqulyn Podger, and Ms. Nancy White) have been in touch
with her to get signed up for Racial Equity Institute (REI) training.
B. Ms. May reported on HR&R staff’s upcoming outreach schedule. HR&R staff will be at
Orange County Schools Resource Fair (on 9/21), La Fiesta de Pueblo (on 9/23), and
possibly Orange County Local Fest. HRC members were invited to come to any HR&R
outreach events.
V. Updates
A. Dr. Stroman reviewed topics the HRC plans to focus on, which are: Housing, Education,
and Criminal Justice.
B. Dr. Stroman and Ms. Harrell reported that they met with WCHL. They explained one
significant talking point of that meeting, which was promoting the HRC and the ‘One
Orange’ campaign on www.chapelboro.com. Another talking point was to start-up a
blog. It was proposed for the HRC to post six topics in three months. Mrs. Harrell will
share a goal oriented template of how the HRC could approach this blogging
opportunity. All members are invited to share their thoughts on what to post in a blog.
C. Ms. May reviewed the ‘One Orange’ tag line staff came up with, which is: “Celebrating
Our Commons Spaces & Diverse Faces”.
D. Ms. May announced that the HR&R/HRC website will launch September 27, 2018.
VI. HRC Events & Committee Reports
A. Forum
1. Mr. Case will be the point person for the next forum. The forum will be on
citizenship. It is anticipated to have this forum in January or February 2019. Ms.
May will cross-reference forum dates in the past to see what 2019 date makes
sense, and from there Mr. Case will report back with a forum date.
B. Pauli Murray Awards
1. Dr. Stroman noted they will try to work with the Pauli Murray Project in the
planning of this year’s Pauli Murray celebration. She will report out when they
are ready to meet.
C. Community Read
a. Dr. Stroman suggested beginning promoting Evicted as the HRC
Community Read in celebration of National Reading month in October
2018. She explained how this could give readers a great lead time to
read Evicted. HRC members discussed having a ‘read event’ in April 2019
versus having a promotional campaign identifying Evicted as a chosen
book of the HRC and encourage residents to read, share, and blog about
it. Members were in favor of engaging in both ideas for the community
read in attempts to engage multiple demographics.
D. Community Conversation
a. Dr. Stroman briefed on recent discussions with Ms. Annette Moore.
They considered having the community conversation on October 1, 2018.
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Ms. May will find and schedule the location for the community
conversation.
b. HRC members discussed current Silent Sam news. UNC’s chancellor and
the Board of Trustees will decide what to do with Silent Sam by
November (I thought it was October?) 15, 2018. The Chancellor is
accepting suggestion from the NC residents.
c. HRC members strategized to conduct the community conversation by
breaking people up into discussion groups. Each discussion group will
have a facilitator, and the facilitator will report out on the discussions.
The theme for the event will be: Hate, Heritage and Hope: Orange County
Voices on Silent Sam. It will held from 6pm-8pm.
VII. Other Business/Announcements/Upcoming Events
A. WCHL is looking to feature the HRC on their forum Friday to discuss ‘One Orange’. Dr.
Stroman encourages members to be thinking about possible messaging and talking
points for ‘One Orange’.
VIII. Adjourn
A. The meeting was adjourned at 7:06pm.
B. NEXT MEETING: October 8, 2018 6:00pm at the Link Building in Hillsborough.