HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-09-04-LHRC-minTown of Lexington Human Rights Committee
Meeting Minutes for Wednesday,September 4,2024
Conducted in person and remotely on Zoom
LHRC MEMBERS PRESENT
Christina Lin,Chair (CL);Stephanie Hsu,Vice-Chair (SH);Courtney Apgar,Clerk (CA);Stephanie Ryan
(SR);Rachel Levy (RL);Dana Bickelman-Town of Lexington,Human Services (DB)
Liaisons in attendance -Mark Sandeen,Select Board (MS);Eilleen Jay,School Committee (EJ);Hemali
Shah,Chief Equity Officer (HS);Shaun Grady,Commission on Disability (SG)
The minutes recorded by Courtney Apgar,LHRC Clerk
1.Meeting open at 9:16 AM
2.The following minutes were approved by unanimous vote
a.Minutes for approval:August 26,2024
3.Introducing Juanica Buchanan,LICSW
a.Clinical and Community Outreach Manager,Human Services Department
4.Debriefing on the Loretta Ross Calling-In course and info for next course
a.February course was more focused on the logistics of “calling in,”whereas this was
focused more internally.Course is about how to bring people into the conversation,
as opposed to calling people out.
b.Another course offered in October:https://lorettajross.com/callingin-online
c.Dismantling Racism workshop offered by the town also beginning in late
September:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe5qh1ip_0O3-VPtgod8rVk3c2GY0
hbndutH9fNzqK5q1sEFA/viewform
d.Training Active Bystanders,presented by LUAA,is coming up on 9/24:
https://www.canva.com/design/DAGO81-LOPE/kI8p9Oy86aRdRl0Nb8y_ow/vie
w?utm_content=DAGO81-LOPE&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=lin
k&utm_source=editor
5.Proposed changes to the LHRC charge
a.CL proposes adding community voting members to bring the number to 7 so that
we can maintain an odd number and expand voices from the community,since
liaison members are being changed to non-voting members.
i.EJ asked whether change was because of conflicts of interest,or because
people in those roles are too busy?Per SL,the main issue is conflicts of
interest,but LHRC does not want to lose connection with other
organizations.EJ feels that that applies strongly to staff members,but
wonders if it’s an issue for liaisons from other committees.We will seek
clarification on the issue and discuss it at the next meeting.
1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE •LEXINGTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02420
ii.MS says that the Select Board has opted not to have their liaison be a voting
member.
b.Language changed to reflect that the role of the LHRC is not to determine whether
a civil rights violation has occurred,but to offer public advocacy and support,as
well as referring violations to the appropriate agencies.
c.Removal of LHRC members:previous language stated that only Select Board could
remove members,but that was unique among town committees,so that language
has been changed.
d.MS wants to clarify that changes have been reviewed and approved by Select Board
and town staff,and were made to try to align the LHRC charge with that of other
committees.
e.We cannot add a code of conduct to the charge,but it would be helpful to create a
code of conduct for the group.We would like volunteers to take on creating an
internal code of conduct.Further discussion will happen at our next meeting.
6.Committee discussion on the DEI Assessment Report by Tangible Development
a.Purpose of discussion is to inform our own practices,not to criticize the town.
b.It is important to focus on how we can raise awareness of systemic inequities
that those in dominant culture may not experience or recognize.
c.Report shows that staff is eager to address these inequities,so how can we as a
committee help facilitate that within the community?
d.It is important to encourage diversity of members of the LHRC,to ensure that a
variety of voices are heard.
e.DB suggested that we have the town’s Director of Communications attend a
meeting to help the committee spread our message more effectively.
f.SL suggests we break up into 2 groups to focus on individual sections to analyze
to improve our approach to DEI.Groups will meet separately before the next
meeting.CL will send out group assignments later.
7.LHRC to set up a stakeholder roundtable gathering
a.Important to maintain roundtable as safe space where people can share without
fear of judgment
b.Should make sure the conversation started is ongoing
c.Should we engage local businesses as well?
d.Plan is to try to hold 2 roundtables per year,and hold 2 sessions,one daytime and
one evening.
e.First roundtable suggested date is 10/23 6-9pm,10/25 8:30-11am.Members
should let us know if those dates are not good.
f.Venue:SH will check into Community Center,CA will check into an office space.
g.Side note:it is a policy not to share information for privacy purposes,but we need
to be tracking trends and allow awareness of members so that they have the ability
to share the state of the town with community members who approach us.
8.Committee member updates/announcements
1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE •LEXINGTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02420
a.Diwali is 11/1,and LHRC has been invited to record a video greeting.RL will script
the greeting for us to record on 9/18.
b.There is a retirement reception for Jim Malloy,9/26 from 4-6pm at Cary Memorial
c.Should LHRC have representatives from various committees and community
leaders come to each LHRC meeting to apprise members of issues?Ex:ABCL,
SEPAC,Chamber of Commerce,etc.
d.Temple Isaiah is planning a Civil Rights trip to various important sites in the Civil
Rights movement,along with discussions around the relationship between Jewish
people and the Civil Rights movement.
e.On October 18,we will have the first Indigenous People’s day.The town will hold
an event on 10/14 in the Depot sponsored by the Lexington Historical Committee,
with events from 12-4pm.
f.LHRC swag:should we have some to distribute at local events?Maybe joint with
other departments?Magnet with useful contact numbers?CA will identify places to
order from for pricing info.
9.Unexpected items not reasonably anticipated in advance
a.SH wants to ensure that all members feel comfortable expanding their roles in the
committee and to please approach the executive board to discuss options at any
time.
10.Meeting adjourned at 11:19 AM
11.Next meeting is Wednesday,September 18,2024 at 9AM and will be on zoom.
1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE •LEXINGTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02420