Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-05-12-LHRC-min TOWN OF LEXINGTON HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES Thursday, May 12, 2022 Conducted by Remote Participation LHRC MEMBERS PRESENT Tanya Gisolfi, Chairperson (TG) Mona D. Roy, Vice-Chair (MDR) Christina Lin, Clerk (CL) Stephanie Hsu (SH) Cleveland Coates (CC) Lexington Public School District - Larry Freeman (LF) Town of Lexington, Police - Christopher Barry (CB) Town of Lexington, Human Services - Melissa Interess (MI) The minutes were taken by Christina Lin, LHRC Clerk 1. Meeting Called to order and welcome at 8:30 A.M., Quorum was present at 8:30AM 2. April 2022 Meeting Minutes - Motion to approve without additional changes by MI, seconded by CC, approved by unanimous vote 3. Vote for Clerk - Discussion on possible candidates to assume Clerk role from SH to better distribute responsibilities and workload. CL and CC are the only possible candidates to volunteer and other committee members are Town representatives and/or employees. CL accepts the opportunity to step into the Clerk role. TG motions to approve, Mona seconds, approval for change in clerkship by unanimous vote. 4. Race Amity Update from SH - work has begun on reaching out to community organizations, community cultural groups, town entities to collect photos for a slideshow reflecting on examples of race amity in the events hosted by Lexington based organization, groups, and committees throughout the year. CL is helping. SH is hoping to have a slideshow ready by next meeting in June and encouraged every committee member to contribute to the slide deck with photos from any other town groups/organizations they are a member of. Jonas Clarke Middle School is offering to contribute student artwork again as they had the previous year. The slideshow will be posted on the LHRC website. The slideshow format is designed in consideration of time. CL noted that the Race Amity video from 2021 is not easily found and will reach out to Sharon Gunda about elevating the link on the LHRC home page while Race Amity is an upcoming event. 5. Co-Sponsorship Requests from LexPride 1. Listening to Asian Voices event- CL raised a question about “who the intended audience is for the Listening to Asian Voices event.” LF responded that while he was not able to attend the LexPride planning meeting, the event is for everyone and to specifically highlight the LGBTQIA+ community within the AAPI community. The LHRC is partnering with the multiple AAPI events ongoing in the Month of May for AAPI Heritage Month. MDR pointed out that the event request includes panelists who are not part of the LGBTQIA+ identity such as the disability identity. Also, MDR - speaking on behalf of Indian Americans of Lexington (IAL), expressed pride in her community’s proactive support of all identities exemplified, in part, by the acceptance of non-binary Gods which has long been a part of the culture. It is important to recognize that no one is only one thing (one identity) - “We all have many different aspects to our lives.” CL mentioned she believed the event is rooted in good intentions, but felt the title was not clear about a distinction between uplifting queer Asian voices as opposed to a LexPride event about Asian voices. LexPride acknowledged concerns about uplifting Asian voices and the appearance of individuals speaking only for themselves and not for an entire group of people. Perhaps we should not expect that LexPride events be centered around the LGBTQIA+ identity, but that was the source of confusion -- whether the event was about Asian voices or LGBTQIA+ voices in the Asian community. LF acknowledged LexPride’s confusing previous statement about this event being exclusively about LGBTQIA+ voices in the Asian community and appreciated that it needs to be more inclusive. His point stressed that groups do not inadvertently telegraph that another community is homophobic. It is critical that we take extra care to be sure that we’re not inadvertently telegraphing stereotypes or assumptions about marginalized groups.” For example, LF pointed out that when LexPride asked for sponsorship from the LHRC on an event about Listening to Black voices. LHRC stressed it was important that ABCL was also a co- sponsor emphasizing that the LHRC, of all organizations, must place increased responsibility to uphold and keep on the forefront the adage “nothing about us without us”! This position was echoed by all members of the committee. It was pointed out that LexPride did get co- sponsorship from IAL and other Asian identifying cultural groups which TG noted was a reason she was voting to co-sponsor the event, noting the need to ensure events about identity are organized in collaboration with people from those communities with emphasis on the LHRC supporting groups who can effectively work together. While organizing and uplifting events that raise awareness of a marginalized identity is important, collectively these efforts can also inadvertently create gaps. TG was noted there is a lack of events for Indigenous Peoples Month, and TG pointed out that the Human Rights Committee represents all people, recognizing that every person is a stakeholder. The committee uplifts every voice and continues to listen. LF appreciated having the discussion and thanked CL for being willing to raise a difficult conversation. MDR motions to support co-sponsorship of the event, CL seconded, approved by unanimous vote. 2. LexPride, Pride Picnic (June13, 2022) - This event is an annual tradition and TG is grateful that it will be in-person again. TG motions to approve co-sponsorship of the event, approved by unanimous vote. 6. Pride Month Proclamation - TG and MDR propose the Pride Month Proclamation out of a desire to raise up the support and value of the LGBTQIA+ community; especially with all that's going on currently in the world. And to ensure in the United States that LGBTQIA+ people are valued and included. We are all stronger together and collaborating on being a better community. This version is a slightly different proclamation to the one passed last year by the Select Board. TG points out - “As is our purpose and practice, we pass proclamations as the Human Rights Committee. The Select Board is free to choose to take up, or to not take up, or to change our proclamations, which they have done in the past.” Lexington community is inclusive and acknowledges the LGBTQIA+ people and strives to work together collaboratively towards a better community. Comments and suggested edits were discussed. MI motions to approve the draft with suggestions incorporated. CC seconded and the Pride Month Proclamation is approved by unanimous vote. 7. Member Updates - a. CC shared that the Rotary club invited TG and CL to attend their last meeting and luncheon. TG & CL presented a PowerPoint on the LHRC, what we do, who we are and shared a lot of information about initiatives from the LHRC with particular interest from a couple of members about active bystander training and a future path for it. CC attended the reception for Leona Martin for the King award committee at the Depot building and attended the White Tricorn Hat event. b. LF encouraged committee members to take interest in learning more about a couple of LPS pilot programs on math and literacy which were presented at the last school committee meeting. He noted that DEI is a significant part of the programs and feedback is welcome and encouraged. “Just trying to make strides forward to make sure education is inclusive and equitable for all of our students.” c. CL - mentioned the warm reception from the Rotary Club and an upcoming program about Women and Bike Safety Saturday. d. SH - shared that ABCL (Association of Black Citizens of Lexington) will be hosting a lunch to celebrate LPS staff who identify as Black. Also, the Collaborative Reform Committee is finalizing their mission and charge. The Effects on COVID team has had to take a pause to re-evaluate meeting schedules. e. CB - Police department is actively engaging in as many community events as possible, including the upcoming Bike event. Coffee with the Chief has been successful and more to be done there. Lieutenant Colleen Dunbar will take over CB’s position after the summer break. CB gives high praise to Lieutenant Dunbar. f. MDR - highlighted numerous AAPI related events for the upcoming month in May including the AAPI Banners which were up already, noting the banners help educate the public on the existence and contributions of API throughout the lengthy history of the USA. Also reminding us that AAPI encompasses a vast number of cultures and not to attribute any one look or characteristic across this diverse group that falls under the broad AAPI community. There is also a South Asian Festival this upcoming weekend organized by a Girl Scout with an extra shout out to the organizer for their efforts on inclusion of as many South Asian perspectives as possible, encouraging us all to support youth projects. My American Story is also upcoming and a LHRC co-sponsored event. It's everyone's job here to lift all identities. So I hope that you'll all join in.” Finally - MDR met House Representative Katherine Clark who gave glowing remarks on the 2020 MLK Community Conversation on Race held by the LHRC and perhaps there may be an opportunity to meet with her in the future. g. MI - May is also Mental Health Awareness Month and the Lexington Human Services Department will be at Discovery Day and is co-sponsoring a Skills for Life Series with the Police and Recreation departments. Also highlighted a program from a couple weeks ago. Speaker Dr. Usha Tammala-Narra talked about the generational and immigrant pieces around mental health. Would like to have her back to do a deeper dive. 7. Meeting Time Change, Logo and In-person meeting a. Time Change - TG noted we want to take into consideration time and schedule needs of existing and future members - parents/caregiver availability around school schedules, work schedules of employed members, should meetings remain on Thursdays or revert to Friday or Wednesday mornings, etc. Defer decision and discussion for next meeting. b. Next meeting is June 9th at the Community Center at 8:30AM. MI will help support technical set up for hybrid format. A majority of members said they could attend the June meeting in-person. Discuss using OWL to support hybrid meetings. Someone stated a preference for all in-person meetings to have a remote access which they felt was more inclusive. Keep 8:30AM start time for the next meeting. c. Logo Discussion - MI had mentioned a company that designs logos and also cautioned that it will be important to align the launch of the design with the LHRC meeting when the committee votes on a final design. Defer to decide at the next meeting. 11. Unexpected Items Not Reasonably Anticipated in Advance a. TG noted the committee is short one member due to LF’s election to the LPS School Committee. She preferred to expand the committee by 2 more members. Asked MS (Mark Sandeen) about the expanding committee. b. Catherine Rielly (CR) - from Follen Church - their group is welcoming an Afghan family later this summer who are newly evacuated and will be coming directly from Abu Dhabi. They will need support and assistance in their transition to living in the USA. They are working with the international institute of New England Resettlement agency, also learning from other churches who have done this around the Boston area. They learned it's so important to have community support broader community support to help the family to acclimate to the town. Wanted to share this with the LHRC where many excellent partners and resources naturally align with the needs in this situation and would like to have a liaison from the LHRC to coordinate and inform on progress to report back to the committee. Ms. Rielly would appreciate any help in mobilizing volunteers through LHRC member’s networks. Questions about connecting with LPSD and Lexington Human Services department were raised. Questions on whether there were school aged children in this family - answer is yes, 2-3 children. Ages are unknown. c. MS - talked last month about it being affordable housing last month. Wanted to share that Bill Mckibben is coming to Lexington on June 28th to speak about housing and will share more information when received. 12. Meeting adjourned at 9:54 AM Next Meeting June 9, 2022, at 8:30 am 1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE • LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420