HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-05-13-LHRC-att (2).pdfLHRC
Member survey
2025/26
Meetings for
2026/27
DRAFT LHRC 2026/27 CALENDAR
Wednesdays,
9-11am
2025-26 year of meetings
September - review of LHRC incidents, immigration working group update; initial discussions of working groups -
Hate/Bias, Housing, Immigration; Community Conversation
October - Working groups paused/OML
November - Supported AHT Lowell Street project, explored cultural calendar and creating information about celebrations,
discussed what LHRC partnership/collaboration with new equity should look like, looked at Select Board goals in relation to relevance
to LHRC, posted a memo about Transgender Day of Remembrance, agreed to participate in Neighboring HRC -community
conversation project, Immigration Working Group - Q&A with immigration attorney.
December - Discussed MLK Day planning updates
January - MLK Day Community Conversation on Race event, sponsored Parent Academy, Supported letter for LPS training on
antisemitism, reviewed planning board development applications,
February - MLK Day debrief and whole committee commitment + follow-up survey, begin thinking about succession planning,
LexHAB letter of support for funding
March - review MLK Day survey, MLK CCoR topic of Black Excellence suggested, Food Pantry discussion, agree to do Discovery
Day, heard about LPS audit on students who struggle
April - IWG update, IAL request for LHRC sponsorship of program on community healing, LHRC goal setting for next year
Do you feel your time and contributions are valued?
YES
Representing a minority voice
*Concerns around division of labor
What’s something LHRC did well and should continue?
Having the agenda in advance and starting to focus on measurable outcomes
Working Group model of
(1) a well-defined mission and
(2) meaningful dedicated community engagement which drives the drumbeat of the work.
Strategic planning - brand awareness - data gather
MLK Day programming was an improvement
Building on conversations
What is one thing we should improve or do differently next year?
●Absolutely reaching out to the entire community and give every resident of this town a fearless voice
to reach out to LHRC with any concerns. This should be the first and foremost priority for LHRC. An
online complaint form should be an welcoming sign towards this goal where people from the town
can anonymously or with names can tell us for a possible peaceful solution.
●Set expectations for an involved committee - all members must attend meetings - become visible to
town residents - understand the trends
●More participation in discussions in meetings.
●Unclear on contributions of most other working groups.
●More community conversations
●Continue to drive to doing initiatives and projects with measurable outcomes
●Included liaisons in this survey and greater inclusion of liaisons in our meetings
1.Greater community engagement, accessibility and visibility
2.Clearly set expectations & responsibilities for members
3.Initiatives with measurable outcomes…and reporting outcomes
What would help you participate more actively/effectively in mtgs?
●Evening meetings
●Clearer objectives on updates (e.g. knowledge sharing vs. a committee ask).
●In person meetings far more productive than virtual.
●More time in my schedule
●Having a majority of members present
●Clearer agendas
Responses suggested that better participation would come from more structured
meetings with greater clarity of purpose; and stronger engagement through
in-person attendance and fuller member participation.
What challenges or barriers have affected your ability to
participate?
LIMITED TIME
Working group interests
Anti-Hate/ Anti-Bias: Hafsah Syed, Rachel Levy, Stephanie Hsu
Housing: Judy Zola, Christina Lin
Immigration: Rachel Levy, Christina Lin
Community Conversation/Civil Dialogue: Mamata Banerjee