HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.22.22_HRC Minutes t 101. HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
Cultivating Community Through Social Justice
MINUTES
Tuesday, March 22, 2022
6:00pm -7:30pm
Virtual Meeting
Via Zoom
MEMBERS PRESENT STAFF
Frances Castillo Sharron Hinton, Interim Director
Ana Garcia Turner Melvyn Blackwell, Civil Rights Specialist
Dion Graham Courtney McLaughlin, Intake Specialist
Michael Fath
Shawnee Seese
Allison Mahaley
Special Guest(s)
Amy Eckberg, Sustainability Program Manager
MEMBERS ABSENT
Ellis Driver
Samantha Beecham (unexcused)
I. Call to Order
A. Commissioner&Chair, Frances Castillo
i. Called meeting to order at 6:06 p.m.
II. Minutes Approval
A. Approval
i. 22 February 2022&3 March 2022
1. Motion by Commissioner Seese
2. All were in favor of approving the February 22"d and March 3rd meeting minutes
III. County Updates
A. Civil Rights Investigator, Melvyn Blackwell
i. The Chief Equity and Human Rights Officer position has been posted and shared in multiple
platforms. Application close on Sunday March 271n
ii. The State of Emergency for Orange County will come to an end on May 1, 2022 at 5:00
p.m.and all commissions will be required to meet in-person when it does.The Commission
will need to begin meeting at the Animal Shelter as identified in the by-laws beginning with
the May 241h meeting.
IV. Executive Committee Report
A. Commissioner&Chair, Frances Castillo
i. Orientation
1. Working towards getting all new members a copy of the Commissions policy and
procedure notebook.
ii. Orange County Community Remembrance Coalition (OCCRC)
1. The Orange County Human Relations Commission (HRC) serves as a
member/liaison to the OCCRC. Former, Human Rights & Relations director,
Annette Moore, had regularly attended the OCCRC monthly meetings on behalf
of the HRC but the HRC will need to identify a Commission member to attend going
forward.
a. OCCRC meeting are held during the daytime on the first Wednesday of
every odd numbered months for an hour and half to two-hours.
2. Commissioner Seese has volunteered to represent the HRC at the OCCRC
meetings.
3. Upcoming Opportunities
a. OCCRC is planning to do programming around the 75t" anniversary of the
Journey of Reconciliation.
b. OCCRC is hosting a Community Book Read of the 1619 Project in
partnership with Carolina K-12 and Flyleaf Books. OCCRC would like to
explore how the HRC may facilitate some collateral programming
potentially around Critical Race Theory.
iii. North Carolina Human Relations Commission (NCHRC)
1. Commissioner Castillo has been regularly attending the monthly meetings. The
meetings are typically in the morning and can be up to fours hours long. In order
to continue participation, Commissioner Castillo would like to see if any other HRC
members would be interested in attending the meetings. Commissioner Castillo
will send an email to the Commissioners to identify who may be able to attend.
2. NCHRC has been holding space to address evictions and working with local Human
Relations Commission to develop solutions.
3. Upcoming Opportunities
a. NCHRC will be holding a session on March 29t" to discuss driver license
restoration programming.
b. NCHRC will be seeking input to identify key issues that are important to
local Commissions in order to develop strategies of support.
V. Climate Control Grant Award Application Revised
A. Current Considerations
i. The Human Relations Commission is charged with revisiting the merits of the grant as it
relates to the Social Justice and Racial Equity criteria and directing their recommendations
to the BOCC.
ii. Proposal
1. CHCCS are requesting$250,000 to install solar panels in three high schools(Chapel
Hill High School, East Chapel Hill High School and Carrboro High School) to offset
energy consumption, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and incorporate
sustainability related educational content for CHCCS students.
B. Decision
i. Commissioner Castillo motions for the Human Relations Commission to recommend a
Social Justice and Racial Equity criteria score of three (3) on the CHCCS.
ii. Motion approved with all commissioners in favor.
iii. Commissioners agree to add additional commentary to the score stating:
1. We recognize there were some limits to the social justice component, which is why
it was given a score of 3. We recognize that some of those limits were due to the
challenges of COVID-19. We are encouraged by their efforts, and that they will be
addressing this moving forward.
VI. HRC Events&Committee Reports
A. Committee Reports
i. Pauli MurrayAwards Committee I Frances Castillo & Ellis Driver
1. Julie Cohen, co-director of My Name is Pauli Murray and Barbara Lau, Executive
Director at the Pauli Murray Center in Durham will be holding a conversation and
Q&A during the award ceremony.
2. Commissioner Castillo will be doing a blurb through WCHL on Wednesday, March
23rd
3. Committee is still awaiting confirmation from a potential guest to participate in
the panel.
ii. Board Diversity Committee I Ana Garcia & Dion Graham
1. Board Diversity surveys have been sent out and are due back to the commission
by March 251n
iii. Communications Committee I Frances Castillo & Ellis Driver
1. With the resignation of two commissioners, there are only two commission
members remaining on the committee.
2. Committee hopes to regroup in April to figure out how to move forward.
VI 1. Other Business/Announcement/Upcoming Events
A. Commissioner,Shawnee Seese
i. Interested to learn if the Commission has a 2022 Action Plan to gain more understanding
of events and opportunities for the year. Would like to have a reference for roles,
responsibilities,timelines, etc.
ii. Commissioner Castillo, will supply Commissioner Seese with the annual work plan that is
provided to the BOCC and the commission will revisit the conversation at a later time.
VIII. Adjourn
A. Motion to adjourn by Commissioner Castillo at
B. NEXT VIRTUAL MEETING:Tuesday,April 26, 2022 via Zoom