HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-08-23-LHRC-min-revTown of Lexington Human Rights Committee
Meeting Minutes for Wednesday,Aug 23,2023
Conducted in remotely on Zoom
LHRC MEMBERS PRESENT:Christina Lin,Chair (CL);Stephanie Hsu,Vice-Chair (SH);Salvador
Jaramillo (SJ);Mona D.Roy (MDR);Amber Iqbal (AI);Lieutenant Colleen Dunbar -Town of Lexington
Police (CD)
The minutes recorded by Christina Lin,LHRC Chair
1.Welcome/Call to order –Meeting called to order at 9:05
2.Minutes for the following meetings were approved by unanimous vote
a.June 05,2023 Minutes
b.July 7,2023 Minutes
c.July 19,2023 Minutes
3.Chair and Vice Chair updates –
a.Lexington Lyceum -
Met with Lexington Lyceum to discuss potential areas for collaboration/partnership.
They are interested in developing programming for community conversations and
were seeking possible topics.We talked about covering housing and civil discourse
as well as the issues that overlap with organizations we have been partnering and
collaborating with.A member asked if civil discourse guidance would be provided for
small group discussions and if not,perhaps the LHRC could provide this information.
Also,another member asked about the diversity of guest panelists.
b.Mini-Housing Summit (see addendum)
SH and SJ attended the mini-housing summit and appreciated the meeting
for bringing entities with interest in housing together to understand where
efforts were or were not being invested.At the summit,they expressed
support for efforts towards more inclusive housing.Also,LexHab will be
hosting an art show about housing in the Fall.
Bob Pressman (22Locust Ave):Noted discrepancy between the recording
of the Housing Summit Meeting and the statement posted from the
meeting and urged members to watch the recording.There's a disparity in
the Community Preservation Act expenditure for historical resources ($44
million)and housing ($14.4 million).The explanation for the disparity was
that it reflects the projects.And,Mr.Pressman questioned whether there
was adequate response to the advocacy by housing advocates.
4.Review,finalize and vote on Statement to School Committee on Aug 29,2023
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A committee member emailed a summary of concerns on the Serious Talks
curriculum that they heard or received from community members.The email
was read and is included in the addendum of these meeting minutes.Members
expressed appreciation for the careful and thoughtful perspectives that offered
insight for community members who did not intend harm to others but were
apprehensive about the curriculum.
Committee members were supportive of the statement.Only a couple of word
corrections were made.The final copy of the statement is included as a separate
PDF document.The DRAFT version is included in the addendum and the FINAL
copy is attached as a PDF.
A member shared their appreciation for the letter as a support for students,
vulnerable community members and future students.Also,a member shared that
a number of parents across multiple demographics felt they did not always feel as
well informed and suggested that the schools might benefit from a little more
visibility in the work they are doing so more parents can understand what is
happening.And emphasized their belief that this work can only become
institutionalized when people in the community feel like they are stakeholders
and are heard.
5.Request for LHRC co-sponsorship
a.Indigenous Peoples’Day
Committee voted in support of co-sponsorship of the Bedford Area
Indigenous Peoples’Day Celebration event by a vote of 6-0.
Event date:Saturday,October 8 at 1pm
b.Lexington Lyceum
Committee voted in support of co-sponsorship of Lexington Lyceum’s
upcoming session titled “Why can’t we talk to each other?Extremism,
polarization,bias and our town.”by a vote of 6-0.
Event description :Join us as expert panelists discuss how divisions develop –on
the national and local level –and how to promote a culture of open,respectful
communication in Lexington and beyond.Learn how improving civil discourse
allows us to approach difficult topics to build healthier relationships and a more
connected community.Tuesday,October 24 at 7-8:30PM :
A member expressed appreciation for other community organizations
supporting the LHRC’s mission around increasing civil discourse.A couple of
questions were asked (1)will there be guidance on civil discourse?If not,
perhaps the LHRC could share it’s guidelines,(2)Are the panelist for the
event known and was there effort to increase the diversity of panelists?-The
chair will follow up on those questions.
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6.Collaborative Reform -upcoming event.The Collaborative Reform group is
working on a series of conversations around mental health and responses within
the Town.The first of the series of talks will likely be on October 25th at 7PM.
Details are being finalized.A member urged colleagues to encourage people in
their social circles to attend and hoped to be able to draw a wide diversity of
community members to the series.
7.Revisiting LHRC Calendar
a.Next meeting will be about goal setting.Voting members were encouraged
to attend in person
b.Future LHRC meetings will continue to remain on Wednesdays at 8:45am.
It continues to be the best compromise between those with morning
schedule commitments that either require leaving early or arriving late
8.Next meeting date is Wednesday,September 13,2023 at 8:45 -10:45AM at the
Lexington Community Center/Hybrid
9.Meeting adjourned at 10:15AM
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Addendum:
Email regarding community feedback on concerns on
the Serious Talks Curriculum:
Amber Iqbal Aug 22,2023,
9:16 PM (1 day
ago)
to me,Stephanie,
Mona,Salvador,
Colleen,Tanya,Larry,
Melissa,Christina
Hello everyone!
Hope you all are having a great summer.I just returned back from a month and a half long trip
to Pakistan and then pilgrimage to Makkah and Madina.
I've had many people from Lexington reach out to me during my vacation regarding the petition,
to either stand for or against it.I have listened to both sides (coworkers,kids,their friends)in a
non biased way (keeping my religious priorities aside).I know almost all my team here is in
approval of this curriculum and you all have your reasons.What I want to express is the
sentiments and reasoning of many of those who are opposing this curriculum.
Lexington is surely a diverse community and we have children from all faiths and walks of life
attending LPS.Recently I read an article about Lexington schools to be one of the best in town,
but then again it depends which news channels one follows and how the survey was conducted.
Having my own children being in all 3 stages of LPS,one in Elementary,one in Middle and one
in Highschool,I strongly feel that we can do a lot better when it comes to actual education,
especially in middle and highschool.According to statistics,there's a very high number of
Lexington families who have enrolled their children to private after school tuition for math,
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science and language,which proves our schools are not doing a great job in teaching these
subjects and the surveys that are conducted do not account for that.
My point is,the families who are opposing this are not only doing it for religious reasons but also
because our Lexington Public schools have taken a sharp turn in teaching these topics,rather
than what the schools should focus more on teaching.
While discussing it with some families who oppose this curriculum,they expressed that LPS
approach historically has been inclusion which was great but now it seems like it is not "well
rounded"and only certain topics are pushed to be included at all levels (as early as Grade 1)
which becomes a conflict in many families believes.They also believe LPS has taken a one
sided inclusion agenda only focused on gender and sex and totally lost sight of other inclusion
topics:cultural,language,religion,holidays,medical conditions
Who we are,and what we want to become is something that should not be influenced by our
education systems.Teaching of love,kindness and respect in schools does not mean we have
to force the children to learn of things they or their parents don't want them to be exposed to,
especially at such a delicate and tender age.
While talking to many families,they have also given some ideas and suggestions:
1)Instead of making this as part of the curriculum,have this be taught as an after school
program,or as an elective.
2)An entire agenda of what the teacher will discuss in this curriculum should be sent out to
every parent weekly/monthly.
3)Children and parents should have the choice to opt their children out of these discussions if
they are not comfortable to have their kids attend.
I tried my best to share the sentiments and thoughts of those who hold opposing opinions.
Thanks,
Amber
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THE DRAFT STATEMENT ON SERIOUS TALKS.The final copy is attached separately.
Thank you,Dr.Hackett and SC members,for providing the space tonight to hear from the community.
The LHRC,in pursuit of its mission to uphold a community that is free from bigotry,hatred and intolerance1 -
believes the Serious Talks curriculum aims for these same goals in our schools.We support its implementation
across all elementary schools.
What we know is that discrimination is often based on ideas rooted in falsehoods and stereotypes2,3,4.It is
through learning about the diversity of human identities that helps us build the capacity for a community to be
inclusive of all its members.We are privileged to host and/or partner on many programs with town institutions,
government and community organizations towards this goal (please see who we have worked with on our
website).By working to dispel harmful and divisive myths that create exclusion around identity,these programs
give us a chance to find unity.Exposure to different perspectives,lived experiences,and beliefs helps us not only
learn more about ourselves,but also broaden our worldview.5
Similarly,we have advocated for an inclusive curriculum in Lexington Public Schools because every student
deserves a school environment where they can enjoy a sense of belonging,safety,and build the confidence to
self-advocate.We are blessed to live in a diverse community where different religions,disabilities,languages,
neurodiverse abilities,cultures,gender identity,family structures all converge across ten (10)schools.The range
of perspectives that occupy these spaces is incredible and our children show us that these are rich environments
for friendship and bonding.Children do not fear differences but explore them with curiosity and open minds.
Asking questions and exchanging ideas is how we all make sense of the world.Discussions about life,home,and
family -all aspects of the human identity –are commonplace among students.
These conditions not only support academic excellence,but also develop life skills that are valuable in our
increasingly interconnected world6.Our schools are working to prepare students to navigate this world by
equipping them with the needed skills for interacting with people of differing identities.In fact,companies
spend eight billion annually7 on cultural competency training because these competencies lead to increased
productivity.
It is important that schools support parents and caregivers when unfamiliar concepts are introduced.To that
end,we appreciate Dr.Hackett’s stated intentions to increase communication and support for parents seeking
to better understand the Serious Talks8.It is our hope that genuine discourse between parents and the district
will ultimately support the inclusive environment we all seek for our children.
We have the power to build an inclusive community where all residents,especially students,can feel that they
belong.It does not come at the cost of who we are as individuals.Rather,it grows our capacity for humanity.
8 Superintendent’s Report -August 29,2023
7 https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2022/11/15/the-importance-of-dei-initiatives-in-tech/?sh=227af53350cb
6 The benefits of diversity education
5 The benefits of diversity education
4 Discrimination -Amnesty International
3 Hate Speech,MIS-AND DISINFORMATION
2 Thinking critically about hate
1 Lexington Human Rights Committee
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