HomeMy WebLinkAbout01.23.24 HRC Minutes (Final) HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
Cultivating Community Through Social Justice
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
6:00pm—7:30pm
Microsoft Teams Virtual Meeting
Member Role Attendance
Commissioners
Lynn McGee I-M) Commissioner, Chair Present
An'ail Taylor AT Commissioner Present
Nathalie Volkheimer(NCV) Commissioner, Secretary Present
Ruby Garcia RG Commissioner Present
Jenn Sykes JS Commissioner,Vice Chair Present
Jemm Merritt—Feder JM Commissioner Present
Michael Fath MF Commissioner Present
Brooke Ca s-Yaroni BC Commissioner Present
Rhian Ford RF Commissioner Present
Ton a Jones TJ Commissioner Present
Josh Ravitch JR Commissioner Excused
Orange County Staff
Shameka Fairbanks SF Commissioner, Chief Equity and Human Rights Officer Present
Melvyn Blackwell MB Inclusion Manager Present
Courtney McLaughlin CM Community Engagement&Outreach Coordinator Present
Rachel Collins RC Intake Specialist Present
I. Call to order—Lynn McGee, Chair(6pm)
II. Meeting Minutes Approval: Oct 24(2023) and Dec 12 (2023)
i. MOVED:Josh Ravitich
ii. Seconded: Brooke
iii. VOTE: Unanimous; Motion Carries
III. Executive Committee Report
a. Support for the PM Awards, request for HRC members to arrive early and support the staff for the event
b. Help spread the word about Black History Month
C. Proposed proclamation to go to relevant subcommittee
IV. County Updates
a. Black History Month will focus on Orange County Black History, support is appreciated
b. PM Awards Support was canvased with several options on how to get the word out further.
C. HRC Retreat is 10 February 9-5pm
d. Fair Housing Commissioner Training was this past Saturday, almost all on the board are fully trained
e. HRC Orientation is coming up Feb 1, if you have not attended, please attend
f. The HRC has a total of 13 discrimination complaints pending, a majority of which are housing discrimination
complaints
V. Monthly Meeting Schedule
a. Monthly meeting in February will be at the retreat.
i. MOVED:Josh moves that Feb has time set aside for an in person meeting with
every second meeting after that to be in person/hybrid
ii. SECONDED: Brooke seconded
iii. VOTE: 8 agree; motion carries
VI. HRC Events Report
a. Community Events
i. PM Awards: Award nominations are light on this year which is part of the
reason to promote the event further.
ii. Community Read:Timing of the event was not ideal, Spring might be better
with pushing harder on the marketing side
iii. Community Conversations: Ad hoc potential event, which is hosted and may
be an option for some intersectionality in outreach. County has always
approved budget for it when HRC has asked.
b. Subcommittees discussed as follows (with a call for volunteers):
i. Outreach and Engagement:
1. LGBTQ: Brooke,Jemm
2. Hispanic Community: Lynn, Rhian, Ruby
3. Black Community: Rhian
4. Youth and Schools: Rhian, Brooke
5. Proclamation: Brooke,Josh
i. Policy and Procedure:Josh, Lynn,Anjail
ii. Community Events:Tonya
iii. PM Awards: Michael
VI I. Other Business
a. Budget:Training and events for the HRC have come out of our HRC budget with approximately$12,000
left in the budget.The financial year ends in June.
b. OCCRC: Discussion about current MOU, Lynn to get the most current copy to Shameka for review from
OC lawyers
C. With the applicants for the open seat on the HRC, applicants will be invited by Lynn to an in-person
meetings.
d. Noted by JS: Charlottesville passed affordable housing changes on grounds of racial justice and equity,
not the standard zoning/policy changes, which could apply to Chapel Hill/Orange
VIII. Adjourn
i. Moved: Michael
ii. Seconded:Tonya
iii. Voted: All agree
IX. Next Meeting: February 101", directly after the retreat
X. Meeting Adjourned-7:30pm