Human Rights Commission

Feb 12 2021 11:48 am CITY OF FITCHBURG PUBLIC MEETING HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Date: June 9, 2020 Time: 5:30pm Location: via Zoom In attendance were: Commissioners: Barbara Nealon, David Roth, Cheryl Maguy-Stewart, Adrian Ford, Hafsa Asfa, Jamie Darcangelo, April Moldanado, Maritza, Senovia Bolivar, Martiza Knight, and Maryam Ashraf Guest[s]: Michael Kushmerek ,City Council President and Elizabeth Walsh, City Council Vice President Meeting called to order at 5:30pm ● Welcoming and Introductions conducted-welcoming two new members to the Commission Maritza Knight and Senovia Bolivar ● Review of previous meeting minutes from: March 10, 2020 meeting minutes accepted as written. ● Public Comment Period-Opportunity for the public to speak during a Commission Meeting Chairperson or designee will ask if anyone in the audience wishes to speak on any matter appearing on the agenda. If you wish to address the commission, raise your hand, when recognized, you must stand state your name and address and the reason for your speaking: City Council President Kushmerek and Vice President Walsh asked to present to the Commissioner's thoughts moving forward within the City focusing on Racial Justice. ● The President and Vice President spoke about submitting a petition to the city council and creating a municipal wide strategic plan to appoint interns, expand commissions, committees and employment that reflect the diversity of Fitchburg residents. They asked for advice and feedback as to how this plan should be implemented so that efforts towards racial equity will not cease even after it may ease on social media. Commissioners provided feedback asked them to: ○ Find out how the CDBG is spending the $600,000 they were given and whether they are investing in communities of color and women ○ Thanked the President and Vice President for coming to the Commission soliciting our feedback. ○ Requested a copy of the proposal they plan to submit be sent to the City Council for review. ○ Need to increase civic engagement among diverse populations and let people know that they are able to make a change in their community if they wish to. Messaging for recruitment is essential to the City’s success.  ○ More are communities of color and women needed in governmental positions so that every person in the city is adequately represented ○ Interns at any level may be able to work 10 hours a week in every office so that we can acquire more government leaders who are communities of color and women. The Commissioner’s unanimously approved - their proposal and they plan to submit it on Thursday and voting will take place on Tuesday at the next City Council Meeting. New Business:  Racial Justice Issues-Local, State and National News  4.23.20 Complaint -Facebook message related to Pandemic and Asians-taken down upon request  5.5.20 City Council Resolution presented to Council and unanimously supported by the council.  5.18.20 CHNA 9 letter to Mayor DiNatale from the Racial Justice Working Group specific to the COVID 19 Pandemic-“using the pandemic as an opportunity to promote heat and discord within our region” amongst other issues. 5.30.20 Letter from Train Wu, President United Hmong looking for “how do they come to decisions of who is on the list” Fitchburg Reopening Task Force specific.  5.8.20 Nonresident complaint re: discrimination at local establishment referred to MCAD  We added Webinar to our Webpage specific to Advancing Racial Equity-free of charge from APHA Webinar #1 Racism: The Ultimate Underlying Condition 6/9/20 2pm - 3:30pm. Sent to membership in advance. Old Business:  Performance Improvement Policy with AA Plan & EOE specific measurements-no report  Other items, topics, programs for discussion for future meetings  Adrian noted: He will be putting together a youth leadership empowerment training through Three Pyramids for diverse youth in which they will be paid stipends to play an essential role in a youth innovation center in Cleghorn Center in the future. He also has a plan to launch an online newsletter from Three Pyramids, creating a way to address the issues prevalent today. Commissioners were invited to participate in writing articles for this newsletter. Meeting adjourned at 6:20pm Meeting minutes submitted by, Maryam Ashraf & Barbara Nealon