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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-11-2021 HRC Minutes HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION Cultivating Community Through Social Justice MINUTES Monday,January 11, 2021 6:00 pm—7:30 pm Virtual Meeting via Zoom MEMBERS PRESENT STAFF James Spivey Tara May, Civil Rights Specialist David LaBarre Melvyn Blackwell, Intake Specialist Ellis Driver Annette Moore, Director Ana Garcia-Turner Tomeka Ward-Satterfield Samantha Beecham Stephanie Harrell Allison Mahaley Frances Castillo Dion Graham MEMBERS ABSENT GUESTS I. Call to Order—Frances Castillo, Chair A. Commissioner Frances Castillo called the meeting to order at 6:02 pm. II. Welcome & Introductions III. Minutes Approval —December 14, 2020 A. Commissioner David LaBarre motioned for the minutes from the last HRC meeting to be approved. Commissioner Stephanie Harrell seconded the motion. All were in favor of approving the minutes. IV. HRC Chair's Report A. Commissioner Castillo did not have anything to report. V. County Updates A. Ms. Annette Moore reported that the County manager's office anticipates a hiring freeze for year 2021. Approved 2/8/2021 B. Ms. Moore explained how the department's Eviction Diversion Program will be highlighted in a National Right to Council Webinar. She reminded Commissioners how the program was only funded for one fiscal year, and that there is an uncertainty if it will funded for continuation in the next year. She commented that she advocated to continue the program. C. Ms. Moore informed the Commissioners the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) retreat is coming up and she will update them on how the retreat goes. She noted that she is a part of the team that is developing a long-term recovery plan for the County. She explained how communities of color have been disproportionately affected because of the pandemic. She discussed the importance of getting feedback from the communities most affected by the pandemic. She explained her aspirations for the County to continue to be bold and base racial equity in the County's agendas and initiatives. VI. HRC Annual Report &Work Plan A. Commissioner Castillo explained the purpose of the Annual Report&Work Plan, and how it reflects what the HRC has done within a year and what they plan to accomplish in the coming year. She noted that the HRC chair presents this to the BOCC, and that she has started entering in some of the fields. She reviewed the sections that she completed with the HRC. She encouraged Commissioners to review the form and provide input. Ms.Tara May shared the form live and added in the input from the HRC. The HRC continued discussing the Annual Report & Work Plan. B. The HRC discussed how the Social Justice Goals are supposed to be used to make decisions and how they may have been forgotten about by the BOCC and County departments. The HRC identified racial equity as a priority, and expressed the importance for the County to make a commitment to racial equity and more outcome based agendas for all communities. VII. Elections of 2021 HRC Officers A. Commissioner Castillo opened the floor for nominations for HRC chairperson, vice chairperson, and secretary. Commissioner James Spivey motioned for Commissioner Castillo to remain chairperson of the HRC and that every nomination be closed per said position. Commissioner Ana Garcia-Turner seconded the motion. All were in favor and motioned was passed. Commissioner Allison Mahaley motioned for Commissioner Stephanie Harrell to be vice chairperson. Commissioner Garcia-Turner seconded the motion. All were in favor of the motion. Commissioner Harrell requested clarification and commissioners discussed the role of vice-chair. Commissioner Harrell accepted the role as vice-chair. Commissioner Castillo motioned for Commissioner Garcia-Turner to remain in the role of secretary of the HRC. Commissioner Spivey seconded the motion, and all were in favor and motioned was passed. VIII. HRC Events &Committee Reports A. Community Conversation 1. Commissioner Tomeka Ward-Satterfield reported how a few people in the community showed some interest in the idea of the event. She noted there has Approved 2/8/2021 been a delay in planning for the event. She commented that she dropped the ball by not rescheduling the committee to meet again in December 2020 for event marketing. 2. Commissioner Dion Graham reported that he recently spoke with Ms. Anna Richards, of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's (NAACP)Southern Chapter,and how they would be willing to be apart of the event by featuring as a breakout group. He explained how this NAACP chapter's role in creating a "defund the police" policy in Chatham County. 3. Commissioner Garcia-Turner suggested that the committee meet this week and decide a date for the event. The committee will meet again soon and decide on an official date. Ms. Garcia will email committee members. B. Pauli Murray Awards 1. Ms. May reported that a press release is scheduled to go out for January 12, 2021. She will forward the HRC all updated flyers and promotional information. She will get the County's Communications team to make sure the event is being promoted. Commissioner Mahaley and Ms. Moore discussed having the anticipated 2021 Pauli Murray documentary film to be shown at the drive-in theatre in Chapel Hill. Ms. Moore explained that staff has made contact with the theatre and will keep the HRC updated on this initiative. 2. Commissioner. Mahaley encouraged everyone to promote and push for nominations for award recipients. C. Communications Committee 1. Commissioner Harrell did not have anything to report. She noted that the committee has not met and she will look to schedule a meeting the following week. She will also look to schedule a meeting with Ms. May and the Community Conversation committee and arrange a meeting to see how the communication committee can support initiatives. D. Board Diversity 1. Ms. Moore reported that there is an issue with retrieving the data from survey monkey and the county's Information Technologies department is assisting in the matter. She will keep the HRC updated regarding this matter. IX. Other Business/Announcement/Upcoming Events A. The Pauli Murray sub-committee meeting will be January 25, 2021 X. Adjourn A. Commissioner Castillo adjourned the meeting. B. NEXT VIRTUAL MEETING: February 8, 2020, call-in info to come Approved 2/8/2021