Citizens' Unity Commission

Citizens’ Unity Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, October 18, 2018 ~ 6:00pm-8:00pm Community Development Conference Room, 5th Floor, City Hall, Hampton, VA Attendance: Alice Capehart, Anne Andrews, Anthony Tyrone George, Carter Phillips (Chair), Imara Gabe Diaz, Jennifer Evans, Luretta Ray, Mary Wallace (Vice Chair), Mei Stukes, Michael Harper, Milton McDonald, Ray Smith, Tamika Lett, Trevor Hutson, Willie C. Anderson, Burley Gardner(Community Liaison) Absent: Steven D. Bond (Assistant City Manager), Rebecca Jackson, Darius Swift, Kercelia Woodruff, Devinn Smart, Deena Franklin (Community Liaison), Ellen Shackelford (Community Liaison), Staff: Erica Knight (Program Coordinator), Latiesha Handie (Executive Director); Call to Order – Latiesha Handie, Executive Director, 6:07 pm Roll Call – Latiesha Handie Action Items Item 1: Review and Approval of Meeting Minutes from 2-15-18  Commissioner Anne Andrews made a motion to approve the minutes; motion seconded by Commissioner Luretta Ray. Minutes approved by the vote of commissioners. Item 2: Review and Approval of Meeting Minutes from 4-12-18  Commissioner Anne Andrews made a motion to approve the minutes; motion seconded by Commissioner Michael Harper. Minutes approved by the vote of commissioners. Item 3: Review and Approval of Meeting Minutes from 5-10-18  Commissioner Willie C. Anderson made a motion to approve the minutes; motion seconded by Commissioner Ray Smith. Minutes approved by the vote of commissioners. Item 4: Review and Approval of Meeting Minutes from 9-22-18  Commissioner Milton McDonald made a motion to approve the minutes; motion seconded by Commissioner Mary Wallace. Minutes approved by the vote of commissioners. New Business Item 1: Welcome & Introduction 1   Following the roll call, Commissioner Carter Phillips initiated the welcome and introductions for the commission. Each Commissioner shared their tenure with the board and particular interest to the work of the office and connection to Hampton. Item 2: CUC Retreat: An Overview and Commissioner Perspectives  Commissioners who attended the Annual Retreat at Y.H Thomas on September 22, 2018, shared their perspectives and opinions about the day and its value to the work of the commission. During the CUC Retreat, Commissioner's elected, Carter Phillips as Chair and Mary Wallace as Vice Chair.  There were some commissioners present at this meeting who were unable to attend the retreat and had not had an opportunity to participate in activities that introduced participants to understanding diversity & inclusion, civic engagement and working in groups. Thus, participants received a short debrief led by Latiesha Handie, Executive Director wherein commissioners shared vital points and highlights from the retreat. Please refer to the key observations: o Being conscious of exploring assumptions and preconceived notions while interacting with others that may skew one's opinions o Erasing biases through knowledge and understanding o Visualization of the diversity web weaved throughout society and forming an appreciation of Hampton’s race, culture, religions, sexual orientation gender identity, and personal experiences o Working together to build inclusive communities and connections through a tower building exercise  Takes cooperation  Observance of natural competitiveness  All one family, faith and walks working together for community  How to work in overlapping moves to address various topics of diversity  Following the need to form plans and collaboration of each group member.  CUC Success Packets were re-distributed to commissioners; packets are available in an electronic format. Item 3: Program Evaluation Updates & Programs & Events for FY19  In October 2017 Program evaluation reporting was implemented as a new component that was integrated into regular, monthly meetings. The purpose is to keep commissioners abreast of what CUC staff is working on, on behalf of the commission, each month through a summation of monthly activities, the number of attendees, demographics of attendees, marketing strategies, and what attendees are saying about commission programs and events.  Executive Director Latiesha Handie provided a brief overview of the program summary reports, included in the 2018 Success pack and explained the results of the Human Rights Campaign, Municipal Equality index scorecard. She explained that the summary reports provide brief descriptions of each program and last 2  year’s number of events, attendees and the Fiscal Year 2019 target number of occasions and attendees.  CUC Commissioners received a reminder that, per the bylaws, they are asked to attend at least 50% of CUC events. Latiesha Handie reminded commissioners of the imperative of their participation and attendance in their sponsored events, as well as promoting programs and events in their respective realms of influence. Item 4: Committee Sign-Up  Latiesha Handie reviewed the existing CUC programs and events and the purpose of each; this summation is available in the CUC Success Packet.  Committee Work Groups: Movie Talks, Hot Button, YAG, Unity through Art, 1 City 1 Book, Unity Awards, LGBTQ, Hampton Diversity College  CUC Commissioners who were in attendance signed up for one/two of the below committees: UNITY NO. MOVIE TALKS THROUGH ART UNITY AWARDS 1 CITY 1 BOOK 1 Willie C. Anderson Jennifer Evans Alice Capehart Darius Swift 2 Alice Capehart Tamika Lett Kercelia Woodruff Willie C. Anderson 3 Michael Harper Tyrone George Luretta Ray Jennifer Evans 4 Mei Stukes Ray Smith 5 Carter Phillips Milton McDonald 6 Luretta Ray Imara Gabe Diaz Mary Wallace Alice Capehart Lead* Lead* Lead* Lead* HAMPTON YOUTH ADVISORY LGBTQ HOT BUTTON DIVERSITY GROUP AWARENESS TOPICS COLLEGE 1 Rebecca K. Trevor Hutson Milton McDonald Milton McDonald Jackson 2 Darius Swift Rebecca K. Mei Stukes Carter Phillips Jackson 3 Tyrone George Anne Andrews Anne Andrews Ray Smith 4 Trevor Hutson Tamika Lett Imara Gabe Diaz 5 Mei Stukes 6 No lead No lead Jennifer Evans Burley Gardner Lead* Lead* CUC COMMISSIONERS CAN SERVE ON UP TO 2 COMMITTEES DURING A FISCAL YEAR. Item 5: Working Effectively as a Committee Worksheets 3   Commissioners were broken up into small groups to form a statement of how to work in committees. Commissioners were tasked to answer the following questions as an outline to framing their guiding practices of how to effectively work in committees: 1. How do you work in committees? 2. What would be some challenges: 3. How would you overcome those challenges?  During the group activity participants provided the following feedback: o Set clear goals o Taylor Services to the audience o Make sure location is conducive for the audience and easily accessible o Form effective messaging o Use media platforms to spread the word o The value that everyone brings something to the table o Be respectful of all opinions even if you don’t agree o Be good listeners and contribute o Close minded and lack of attendance to meetings can hinder performance o The lack of willingness to participate and show up at events hurts the committee o Group thinking is essential when working as a team to create a positive outcome o Be willing to step out of the box o Getting off topic can cause confusion o Be sure to share your voice and be inclusive o Be ready to try something new, have an agenda, keep your eye on the goal o Respect everyone’s opinion o Choose a lead to control flow of ideas, not to dominate ideas o Be willing to agree to disagree o Stay focused on the task o Know who's on the committee and how to reach your committees o Communicate, communicate, communicate o Reach feelings of trust; and lastly, Commit to overcome some Challenges! Item 7: Committee Report-Outs  Movie Talks: The movie selected for December will be The Great Debaters. Committee members agreed to discuss the movie selections for February and May at the next meeting. Luretta Ray will continue with being the Lead.  Youth Advisory Group: The group is already formed and will continue to be overseen by CUC Staff. YAG meetings are on the 4th Monday of every month. The group partnered with 4-H, Virginia Cooperative Extension, this year and is being supported by one Youth Lead Advisor, Mr. Jwa'n Moore, a student at Thomas Nelson Community Center. The youth have been tasked to the following objectives: o To perform one community service/civic engagement project 4  o To launch the Fingerprint Premier event – please see program descriptions for details. o To learn Parliamentary procedure and the six pillars of character  CUC Staff partnered with the Emergency Management team under the direction of Hui-shan Walker who will provide training for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) as one of the Youth Advisory Groups service learning activities.  The next meeting will be hosted on Monday, October 22, 2018, at the Kenneth Wallace Center from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm.  1 City 1 Book: The committee provided a brief overview to inform to new sub- committee members explaining that the book selection from last year was Forsaken, Ross Howell Jr. Where an African American girl was tried for killing her white employer. In April 1912 in Hampton, Virginia, white eighteen-year-old reporter Charles Mears covered his first murder case. This was a true story that happened in Hampton, Virginia. Sub-committee members suggested that if this book is selected the author Ross Howell Jr. has come to Hampton once before and is based out of Raleigh committee members could contact him to join a culminating event. o The committee will reconvene their efforts to partner with Rita Scrivener of the Hampton Main Library to collaborate with local book clubs and current mass reading structures. o Though Darius Swift was absent at this meeting, they would like to continue with the efforts to incorporate the reading initiative into the Hampton City Jail reading program. o An update to details will be provided at the next CUC meeting.  LBTGQ: The committee provided a brief overview of the committee expansion efforts and LGBTQ related events. The Citizens’ Unity Commission has been invited to attend a town hall conversation on Friday, October 19, 2018, to save The Hershee Bar in Norfolk VA. This event will be followed by a Norfolk City council meeting on October 23rd, 2018 which will allow participants to share their voice about the value and appreciation of the oldest Lesbian Bar in Norfolk that is being considered for demolition. *Flyers were provided at this meeting. The current partner list for our LGBTQ Awareness events is as followed: o Convention Visitors Bureau, Virginia Department of Health, Hampton Roads Pride, LGBT Life Center, Samaritan House, Minority Aids Support Services, Beauty for Ashes Contemporary school of Dance, Hampton Police Division LGBTQ Liaison, Newport News Police LGBTQ Liaison, Victim Witness of the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, Outwire757, Transitions Family Violence Services.  The next proposed event date will be December 8th, 2018 to discuss intimate partner domestic violence and transgender-related violence.  Hot Button: The committee selected the following: Lead: Burley Gardner 5  Scribe: Erica Knight. The committee will discuss potential topics at the next meeting.  Unity Through Art: The committee selected Gabe Diaz as the Lead. The first event will be in February to combine Black History Month and Valentines’ Day, Unity in Love, the group, will provide more details at the meeting.  Unity Awards: The committee decided that they would like to meet and review the criteria for the awards as well as examine what should be a part of the Unity Awards. Mary Wallace will continue being the Lead for the committee.  Hampton Diversity College: Committee members will be tasked to attend Diversity College sessions to support CUC staff with meeting and greeting new participants and sharing information with participants about the commission and recruiting members to apply to the board bank to become a commissioner. The second responsibility will be to advertise about Hampton Diversity College and to help staff increase interest and participation in HDC level I. Next Meeting Date and Time: Thursday, November 8, 2018, 6pm-8pm Adjourned at 8:10 pm 6