Citizens' Unity Commission

Citizens’ Unity Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, December 13, 2018 ~ 6:00pm-8:00pm Community Development Conference Room, 5th Floor, City Hall, Hampton, VA Attendance: Alice Capehart, Anthony Tyrone George, Carter Phillips (Chair), Devinn Smart, Darius Swift, Jennifer Evans, Kercelia Woodruff, Mary Wallace (Vice Chair), Mei Stukes, Milton McDonald, Ray Smith, Tamika Lett, Trevor Hutson, Willie C. Anderson, Burley Gardner(Community Liaison), Steven D. Bond (Assistant City Manager) Absent: Ray Smith, Michael Harper, Luretta Ray, Imara Gabe Diaz, Anne Andrews, Deena Franklin (Community Liaison), Ellen Shackelford (Community Liaison), Kercelia Woodruff, Kristi Jackson, Erica Knight (Program Coordinator) Staff: Latiesha Handie (Executive Director) Call to Order– Latiesha Handie, Executive Director, 6:09 pm Roll Call – Latiesha Handie Action Items Item 1: Review and Approval of Meeting Minutes from 10-18-18  Commissioner Milton McDonald made a motion to approve the minutes; motion seconded by Commissioner Tyrone George. Minutes approved by the vote of commissioners. Old Business Item 1: Committee Sign-up Review  Commissioner Devinn Smart signed up to participate in the following two sub- committees Movie Talks and Hampton Diversity College. New Business Item 1: Puzzle Icebreaker  Commissioners received instructions for the icebreaker and were separated into groups to complete the activity. The group reconvened to debrief on the activity and shared thoughts about their learning experience. The commissioners concluded that some of the pieces represented different groups and conversations within in the community that are all needed to complete full pictures in society. 1   Latiesha Handie, Executive Director explained how they play an important role in completing the task that is needed to carry out the work of the Citizens’ Unity Commission and how each person represents pieces need to complete the mission and vision of the department. Item 2: Program evaluation Updates  CUC Executive Director, Latiesha Handie provided an update on all CUC programs and activities for November and December 2018.  Noted Commissioner Attendance at CUC events: Commissioners Carter Phillips, Mary Wallace, and past CEARC Commissioners Chris Bowman were acknowledged for attending the LGBTQ Event on December 8, 2018. Commissioners Milton McDonald, Kercelia Woodruff, Jennifer Evans and Mary Wallace were acknowledged for attending the HDC World Religion make-up session on November 29, 2018.  Noted Commissioner Attendance at Youth Advisory Group Meetings: Commissioners Anthony George, Christine Stukes, Darius Swift, Jennifer Evans, and Trevor Hutson were acknowledged for attending for attend meetings with regularity.  Noted Commissioner Attendance at Movie Talks Events: Commissioners Luretta Ray, Jennifer Evans, Willie C. Anderson, Christine Stukes, Alice Capehart, Mary Wallace, Carter Phillips were acknowledged for attending for attend events with regularity.  Noted partnered agencies who supported CUC events: Transitions Family Violence Services, Minority Aids Alliance Support Services, Hampton & Newport News Police Division, Hampton Roads Pride, LGBT Life Center, Virginia Department of Health, Sheriffs Office Samaritan House, and YWCA were acknowledged for supporting the LGBTQ Event on December 8, 2018.  Noted Hampton Diversity College Level I updates: Hampton Diversity College Level I will begin January 17, 2018. Latiesha Handie, Executive Director, participated in a Round Robin interview to promote Diversity College that will air on January 3, 2019. Commissioner Jennifer Evans was acknowledged for her commitment to support the program, and CEARC Commissioner Michelle Hamilton for registering as a participant in the October 2018 HDC Level I course.  Hampton Diversity College: During the September 2018 HDC Level II course two (2) sessions were rescheduled due to weather related incidents in November. o During the World Religion make-up session CUC staff introduced a new panel of participants to symbolize various faith groups to include representatives from the following groups: Islamic, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Baha’i and Moorish Islamic. Participants explored the practices and rituals attributed to various religions and the value of having diverse religions in our community. 2  o HDC Level I ended in November 15, 2018 with 8 graduates. Latiesha Handie, Executive Director requested that commissioners promote the Hampton Diversity College Level I as much as possible. . o As we continue to diversify learning audience, CUC staff met with Spratley Gifted centers counseling department to discuss a Junior Diversity College component that we hope to launch in 2019. More information will be coming soon.  LGBTQ: The committee hosted an event on December 8, 2018, Shattering Violence OUTLoud: Intimate Partner Domestic Violence. This was a collaboration with other agencies to discuss the concerns of the LGBTQ community and provide them with community resources. Commissioners Philip Carter and Mary Wallace attended the event and shared their thoughts. CUC will continue to host quarterly events to bring awareness and support to the LGBTQ community in Hampton. The next event will be youth focused in partnership with Kecoughtan High Schools, Gay Student Alliance and Spratley Middle Schools GSA’s. More information to come soon.  Youth Advisory Group: Currently YAG is working on participating in the 2019 Commemorative Commission events during 2019. o Assistant City Manager, Steven D. Bond shared his support to include youth in the planning process to attract their peers 2019 events and provided feedback on the meeting he convened between YAG and the Hampton Youth Commission to gather, thoughts, ideas and interest to participate in the planning and execution process.  Movie Talks: On December 10, 2018, the Movie Talks Committee showed Great Debaters and participated as support staff and facilitators of the new conversation format. Present commissioners of the following committee shared their experience and feedback about the new conversation format.  Hot Button: As a priority leading into 2019, Latiesha Handie requested that the Hot Button Committee begin brainstorming on a topic to discuss as an event topic for a launched conversation in February 2019.  1 City 1 Book: The Hampton Public Library is participating in the NEA’s Big Read in 2019, and will be conducting a book discussion on Citizen by Claudia Rankine. Rita Scrivener, Reference Librarian mentioned that the Unity Commission would be a wonderful partner for a book discussion in February. We will discuss this opportunity during our January 10, 2019 meeting. Item 3: Guiding principles sheet of working effectively in committee’s overview Item 4: Committee Work Item5: Committee Reports  Items 3 through 5 were deferred to the January 10, 2019 meeting by majority vote due to the advance notice of intent to depart early and the number of absent commissioners. 3 “Go-Backs”: None Announcements  Latiesha Handie stated that Erica Knight was out of the office for personal reasons and will be returning to the office as soon as possible.  Latiesha Handie mentioned that Commissioner Michael Harper was involved in an accident and we sent well regards on behalf of the department. Next Meeting Date and Time: Thursday, January 10, 2019. Adjourned at 7:00 p.m. 4