HomeMy WebLinkAboutHRC Minutes 040819 4CHUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
Cultivating Community Through Social Justice
MINUTES
April 8, 2019
6:00 pm —7:30 pm
Animal Services Conference Room
1601 Eubanks Road, Chapel Hill, NC
MEMBERS PRESENT STAFF
Matt Case Tara May, Civil Rights Specialist
Stephanie Harrell Melvyn Blackwell, Intake Specialist
Marc Xavier Annette Moore, Director
Joy Preslar
Allison Mahaley
Ana Garcia-Turner
MEMBERS ABSENT
Nora Spencer (excused)
Rebecca High (excused)
Debby Stroman (excused)
G U ESTS
I. Call to Order
A. The meeting was called to order at 6:20pm by Mr. Matt Case, Co-Chair. A quorum was
present.
II. Introductions
A. Human Relations Commission (HRC) members, Human Rights & Relations (HR&R) staff,
and guest introduced themselves. Mr. Case acknowledged present guest's request to
speak on the March 2019 Women's Month event. HRC members decided to offer the
guest an opportunity to get on the agenda for the next HRC meeting. Ms. Allison
Mahaley advised guests to email Dr. Debby Stroman or email HR&R staff to formally
request to be on the agenda for the next meeting. HRC members welcomed the guest
to stay for the remainder of the meeting.
1
III. Minutes Approval — March 11, 2019
A. HRC members reviewed the minutes from the previous HRC meeting. Ms. Stephanie
Harrell made a motion to approve the March minutes. Ms. Ana Garcia-Turner seconded
the motion. All were in favor to approve the March minutes.
IV. County Updates
A. Ms. Tara May reported on the results of the doodle poll. She noted there was a date tie
amongst May 18t" & May 25t". There was a third popular date of May 11t". Ms. Annette
Moore offered to host the training for June 1, 2019 to compromise with all present
members' availability. Mr. Case made the motion, and all were in favor of the all-day
training on June 15t
V. Updates
A. Ms. Harrell reported that Ms. Joy Preslar recently submitted her blog and it will be
published soon. Ms. Moore highlighted Ms. Harrell for having the third most read blog
on the platform. Ms. Harrell will be sending out a blog sign-up sheet.
Vl. Women's History Month Event Debrief
A. Mr. Case led a discussion on positives and deltas. Mr. Melvyn Blackwell noted how the
volunteers that assisted people with event entry. Ms. Preslar noted that the speaker did
well and did a good job touching on the talking points that were suggested. Ms.
Mahaley and Ms. Preslar noted how the sidewalks and walkways to the entry doors
were crowded and blocked by protestors. This made it problematic for guest access into
the venue. Ms. Mahaley explained that she was nearly poked in the eye by the tip of a
protestor's flag as she walked the sidewalk up to the Whitted building. Overall all
members felt the event went well. Ms. Moore explained HR&R is awaiting the "ok"
from the speaker, to make the video of the event available on the website.
B. Ms. Moore discussed a recent public record request pertaining to HRC members and the
event. She requested that HRC members get all their emails that are relative or
concerning the Women's History Month event, and forward them or turn them into
HR&R staff by the end of the week.
VI I. HRC Events & Committee Reports
A. Pauli Murray
1. Ms. Moore discussed possibilities of generating nominations sooner than later
this year. The sub-committee will begin emailing to discuss and explore options
to begin generating nominations sooner than in the past.
B. Forum.
1. Ms. Mahaley noted that Constitution/Citizenship day is September 17, 2019. She
discussed hosting the forum on Saturday September 14, 2019. This event will be
in celebration of the spirit of the constitution. She will begin coordinating
amongst the sub-committee this week.
C. Community Read
1. The next community read will be April 24, 2019 in Hillsborough, NC.
2
2. There was a good turnout for session 1. There were about 10 people in
attendance. Those in attendance had meaningful conversation about the
reading and around residential evictions.
VIII. Other Business/Announcements/Upcoming events
A. Ms. Mahaley reported that the chairman and superintendent of Orange County schools
and Justice United will be meeting this week to discuss the school district's new diversity
plan. This meeting will be April 11, 2019 at the Cedar Grove Community Center. Ms.
Stephanie Harrell noted that she still has to do her 2nd day of REI training. Human Rights
& Relations staff will arrange for Ms. Harrell to receive the remainder of the training.
B. Ms. Moore reported HR&R staff will be relocating to the Sinclair building in Hillsborough
over the next couple of months.
C. Ms. Ana Garcia-Turner suggested having the re-staffing of the secretary as an agenda
item for the next meeting, since Ms. Jackie Podger is no longer a HRC member.
D. Ms. Moore discussed a former Commission for Women, and at the last BOCC meeting it
was mentioned to revitalize this commission. This may or may not be something
incorporated with the HRC. She welcomed HRC to share any thoughts they had related
to this with her.
IX. Adjourn
A. The meeting was adjourned at 7:36pm.
B. NEXT MEETING: May 13, 2019 6:OOpm at Link Building in Hillsborough.
3