Human Rights Commission
Regular MeetingFitchburg, MA · December 15, 2021
Minutes
FITCHBURG CITY CLERK
Feb 11 2022 2:07 pm
Public Meeting
Human Rights Commission
Meeting Minutes
Fitchburg, Ma 01420
Date: 12/15/21
Time: 5:30pm
Location: via Zoom
In attendance were:
Commissioners: Maryam Ashraf, Jamie Darcangelo, Krista Ford-Rhodes, Cheryl Maguy-Stewart, Barbara Nealon, Mariah Pridgen,
David Roth
Guest: Lisa Clausen
AGENDA
Called meeting to order at 5:30pm
Welcoming and Introductions {attendance}noted above
Review of previous 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-none
New Business
o Presentation from Lisa Clausen, Strategic Partnerships Carpenters Labor Management Program/ North Atlantic States
Regional Council of Carpenters specific to their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in our region.
The program aims to expand the construction industry to include more women and POC through goal-setting, tracking,
and aggressive recruitment. They have created multiple subprograms made to encourage women to become a part of
the industry including:
www.BuildALifeMA.com: mass gaming commission funded program built to help women in the construction field by
providing them with a variety of video lessons on different subfields in the industry and how different occupations within
the field work.
Tradeswomen Tuesdays: a zoom conference in which different tradeswomen from numerous different demographics
meet with interested individuals to talk to them about their experiences and challenges.
PGTI www.policygroupontradeswomen.org - website designed to help tradeswomen with any issues they might face
Community outreach: holds college fairs at different schools and gives a variety of presentations to the community in an
attempt to encourage women to join the construction industry
Question and Answer period followed.
Refer to slide presentation for details
o Barbara Nealon was nominated as Chairperson for the Human Rights Commission and was unanimously approved by the
commissioners.
Old Business-
o Topics, programs for discussion for future meetings
The Stand Against Racism event will likely be held online due to the current situation regarding covid cases.
A plan to hold 4-6 other programs that discuss topics regarding racial justice, equity & inclusion.
Commissioners were asked to reach out to different communities that would be interested in taking part in these
programs .The HRC will create a subgroup to discuss the details of these events and the date on which the
subgroup will be meeting will be decided in January.
o Social Media Incident -Barbara Nealon reached out to the police department about the recent Fitchburg High
School social media investigation-it is an ongoing investigation.
o Discussion on how commissioners should address one another was had after receiving an email from
Commissioner Maritza Knight who prefers to be referred to as Dr.Knight. Commissioners agreed to defer this
topic to the next meeting when fellow Commissioner Martiza Knight is present to discuss her thoughts further.
o Membership continued to agreed to remain remote at this time.
Adjournment 6:31pm
Meeting minutes submitted by,
Maryam Ashraf and Barbara Nealon
Agenda
CITY OF FITCHBURG Filed in the City Clerk’s Office:
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING FITCHBURG CITY CLERK
Dec 09 2021 10:27 am
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
MEETING DATE: Wednesday, December 15, 2021
MEETING TIME: 5:30 PM
MEETING PLACE: VIRTUAL MEETING-SEE BELOW ACCESS
Name of building (if applicable) Zoom –see link 2nd page
Room number (if applicable)
Address
City Fitchburg
AGENDA ITEMS: * VIRTUAL MEETING
Call meeting to order
Welcoming and Introductions {attendance}
Review of previous meeting minutes November 2021-vote
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
New Business-
Presentation from Lisa Clauson, Strategic Partnerships Carpenters Labor Management Program/
North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters and their diversity efforts
Annual voting of Chairperson
Old Business-
o Topics, programs for discussion for future meetings/programs
Justice for All Program, Spiritual Debriefing for Another Chance , others? Subgroup
Commissioner’s earlier this fall agreed to scheduling 1-1 with City Officials and Commissions as an educational
and outreach opportunity and build community wide relationships to better serve our community at large.
Ideas? Subgroup?
o Follow up with Three Pyramids Board President Leona Whetzel from item discussed last meeting re:funding
o Other items
o Zoom meetings continue
Adjournment
Agenda submitted by, Barbara Nealon, Chairperson
*Please note: Massachusetts Open Meeting Law requires that all topics that the Chair reasonably anticipates must be listed and
that the list of topics must be sufficiently specific to reasonably inform the public of the issues to be discussed at the meeting.
CITY OF FITCHBURG
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
Human Rights Commission Meeting
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