HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-10-09-LHRC-min
Town of Lexington Human Rights Committee
Meeting Minutes for Wednesday, October 09, 2024
LHRC MEMBERS PRESENT
Christina Lin, Chair (CL); Stephanie Hsu, Vice-Chair (SH); Courtney Apgar, Clerk (CA); Stephanie
Ryan (SR); Rachel Levy (RL)
Liaisons in attendance - Mark Sandeen, Select Board (MS); Hemali Shah, Chief Equity Officer (HS);
Dana Bickelman- Town of Lexington, Human Services (DB); Colleen Dunbar, Lexington Police
Department (CD)
The minutes recorded by Courtney Apgar, LHRC Clerk
1. Meeting called to order at 9:04 AM
2. The following minutes were approved by unanimous vote:
September 18, 2024, October 7, 2024
3. Guest - Pastor Maracle
Here to speak about the experience of being Native American in Lexington and the work he
has been doing in the community.
a. Native American History month is coming up in November
b. Indigenous People’s Day event this weekend at the Depot that is open to the
community.
c. Recommends LHRC help with advocacy and support, for instance with Lexington
Youth Lacrosse to provide insights into the history of the sport and encourage local
programming around Native American history and culture.
4. LHRC communications role
a. Looking for committee member to take over communications role and maintain the
LHRC website
b. SR and RL will take over that role as a team
c. Should LHRC put out regular updates about what we are doing? Communications
team will evaluate.
5. Roundtable planning
a. LF is working on the invitation to send to organizations
b. Invitations will go out today
c. Meeting 10/21/24 to go over last details before the event, perhaps 2 sessions; one
group working on logistics, the other on the content of the event.
d. Article from The Cut about the benefit of breaking out of social bubbles:
https://www.thecut.com/2017/02/the-contact-hypothesis-offers-hope-for-the-world.
html#comments
1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE • LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420
e. CA will make sure projector and screen are available for evening session
6. Chair updates
a. Each committee member will send in a photo for CL to use in a recorded greeting for
the Diwali celebration
b. Incident of bullying about being neurodivergent -Those involved shared that they
wish public spaces were more welcoming of people with neurological differences
c. Indigenous people’s day is this weekend. SR is organizing. Student volunteers are
welcome.
d. RL and SH are planning to attend.
e. MLK day celebration: A day to be in service of our community for all ages. This year
overlaps with Inauguration Day; Plan to stick with the date, but try to plan around the
Inauguration to ensure we do not conflict.
f. Lexington Community Coalition starting to meet on 10/24. Good opportunity to meet
with other organizations in town.
g. LPS Annual School Committee meeting in Boston coming up 12/3, probably starting
around 6:30pm. Good opportunity to hear from families whose children come into
Lexington every day and hear their perspective.
h. Per RL, Temple Isaiah is offering a course on Jews in the Civil Rights Movement if
any committee members are interested in joining the trip.
i. Turing Alliance and other panelists to do presentation on neurodiversity late
November or early December
j. Domestic Violence candlelight vigil on 10/30, still looking for location
k. LHRC charge will be considered by Select Board on 10/21
l. LHRC is invited to comment on applications for multi unit housing applications from
a DEI lens; We should consider having a member be a liaison to Housing Committee.
The Select Board will be choosing the developer for the upcoming affordable housing
development on 10/21.
Meeting adjourned at 11:04 AM. Next meeting is Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at 9AM and
will be on zoom.
1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE • LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420