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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-12-2021 HRC Minutes_ t 101. HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION Cultivating Community Through Social Justice MINUTES Monday, April 12, 2021 6:00 pm—7:30 pm Virtual Meeting via Zoom MEMBERS PRESENT STAFF David LaBarre Melvyn Blackwell, Intake Specialist Ellis Driver Annette Moore, Director Ana Garcia-Turner Tomeka Ward-Satterfield Stephanie Harrell Allison Mahaley Frances Castillo Dion Graham Samantha Beecham MEMBERS ABSENT GUESTS I. Call to Order—Frances Castillo, Chair A. Commissioner Frances Castillo called the meeting to order at 6:08 pm. II. Welcome & Introductions III. Minutes Approval —March 8, 2021 & April 1, 2021 A. Commissioner Stephanie Harrell motioned for the minutes from the March 8, 2021, HRC meeting to be approved. Commissioner Dion Graham seconded the motion. All were in favor of approving the minutes. Commissioner David LaBarre motioned for the minutes from the April 1, 2021, HRC meeting to be approved. Commissioner Ana Garcia-Turner seconded the motion. All HRC members were in favor of approving the minutes. IV. HRC Chair's Report A. Commissioner Francis Castillo discussed the HRC's initiative to write a response in reference to the recent acts of violence against people from the Asian and Pacific Islander communities. She also discussed the HRC's initiative to draft a resolution in honor of Asian and Pacific Islander month. She commented on the possibilities of the HRC being able to respond to events in a more timely manner. Commissioners Graham and LaBarre suggested the HRC sending publish a statement in anticipation of the verdict of the Chauvin trial. Commissioner Graham and Commissioner LaBarre discussed how the HRC could create a message that will encourage racial equity and strengthen community. B. Commissioner Frances Castillo motioned to delegate authority to the Executive Committee to begin drafting a statement in anticipation of the verdict of the Chauvin trial. Commissioner Graham seconded the motion. All were in favor of the motion. C. Commissioner Frances Castillo motioned to delegate authority to the Executive Committee to begin drafting a statement in anticipation of the verdict of the Chauvin trial. Commissioner Graham seconded the motion. All were in favor of the motion. D. Commissioner Castillo reviewed a Programming Form with the HRC and discussed how the forms might be used for future planning with HRC programs and sub-committees. She highlighted that the HRC is supposed to report to the BOCC when a subcommittee is created, identifying its members and its purpose. Commissioner Castillo noted that this had been a forgotten rule, and this form will assist in compliance with it. She encouraged members to give their feedback on the form. She will send the form out to HRC members. HRC will decide on using this form at the next HRC meeting. E. Commissioner Harrell discussed the Carolina K-12 proposal that HRC members received. Commissioner Garcia-Turner motioned for the HRC to proceed with the proposal. F. Commissioner Harrell discussed the HRC's initiative of recommending May to be declared Asian Pacific Islander month to the BOCC. Commissioner Ward-Satterfield motioned to push the recommendation forward to the BOCC to declare May as Asian Pacific Islander month. Commissioner Ward-Satterfield made a motion for the HRC to grant the BOCC's request to declare May as Asian Pacific Islander Month. Ms. Annette Moore will draft the Resolution. G. Commissioner Harrell suggested the HRC host another event in May 2021. She explained hos the event would be centered on discussing what it means to be an Ally, Advocate, Accomplice, and Activist. The HRC discussed the idea of creating this event. Commissioners Driver, Harrell, and Castillo, Garcia- Turner, and Ward-Satterfield will be a part of the sub-committee for this event. V. County Updates A. Ms. Moore announced the department's Eviction Diversion Program would be in the budget and continue for the fiscal year 2021-2022. In addition, she reported that she would be the department's director full-time for the fiscal year 2021-2021. B. Ms. Moore provided an update on the process of hiring the department's new Civil Rights Specialist. She noted there were 18 applicants. She informed the HRC she will hire a temporary staff person until she decides a permanent hire. She noted the temporary staff person would start on April 14, 2021. She also noted that the temp has years of experience in Fair Housing. C. Ms. Moore discussed veterans as a protected class of the Orange County Civil Rights ordinance. In addition, she announced an event the department is collaborating with the state's Veteran office. The event is titled Veteran Hot Topics: COVID & Beyond. It will be on April 21, 2021, from 2 pm-3:30 pm on Zoom. D. Ms. Moore reported that the department is planning to organize a high school youth program over the summer. E. That will look at racial equity, COVID-19, and or community engagement. A youth group will design a project and present it to the BOCC to be funded. F. Ms. Moore informed the HRC the Countywide Racial Equity Plan progress report would be released at the end of the week. She will share it with the HRC. VI. Process for Future Recommendations A. Commissioner Castillo motioned to table this talking point and discuss it at the HRC retreat. B. Commissioner Garcia-Turner seconded the motion. All were in favor of the motion. VII. HRC Retreat A. Commissioner Castillo informed the HRC that there would be a doodle poll sent out to access the best day and time to have the retreat. In addition, she discussed different formats the RC could be conducted via Zoom. VIII. HRC Events & Committee Reports A. Community Conversation 1. Commissioner Ward-Satterfield reported that she had revived notes from the Community Conversation from Commissioners Garcia-Turner, Harrell, and Graham. HRC discussed the event and felt that it went well. They expressed hopes to get more in attendance at the next event. B. Pauli Murray Awards 1. There were no updates and nothing to report at this time. C. Communications Committee 1. Commissioner Harrell also reported Commissioner Driver would be reaching out to their contacts from within the Asian and Pacific Islander Community to get some ideas on how to honor Asian Pacific Islander Month. In addition, Commissioner Harrell will reach out to some of her contacts to see if she can get some reconditions for some Asian and Pacific Islander books honoring their history. Finally, the Committee will begin post to promote AAIP month in May 2021. D. Board Diversity 1. The committee did not have an update. They will report to the HRC at the next meeting. E. Community Read 1. The committee did not have an update. They will report to the HRC at the next meeting. IX. Other Business/Announcement/Upcoming Events A. Commissioner Ward-Satterfield reported that Orange High School solicited students to take an African American History class last summer. She explained that this year,the class has up to twenty students in class. She also noted that Orange High is now working on incorporating a Latinx history course. X. Adjourn A. Commissioner Castillo adjourned the meeting. B. NEXT VIRTUAL MEETING: May 10, 2021, call-in info to come