Citizens' Unity Commission

Citizens’ Unity Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, January 10, 2019 ~ 6:00pm-8:00pm Community Development Conference Room, 5th Floor, City Hall, Hampton, VA Attendance: Alice Capehart, Carter Phillips (Chair), Darius Swift, Imara Gabe Diaz Jennifer Evans, Kristi Jackson, Kercelia Woodruff, Luretta Ray, Mary Wallace (Vice Chair), Mei Stukes, Michael Harper, Milton McDonald, Ray Smith, Willie C. Anderson, Burley Gardner(Community Liaison), Steven D. Bond (Assistant City Manager) Absent: Anthony Tyrone George, Devinn Smart, Ray Smith, Trevor Hutson, Anne Andrews, Deena Franklin (Community Liaison), Ellen Shackelford (Community Liaison), Kercelia Woodruff, Tamika Lett, Staff: Latiesha Handie (Executive Director) Call to Order– Latiesha Handie, Executive Director, 6:06 pm Roll Call – Latiesha Handie Action Items Item 1: Review and Approval of Meeting Minutes from 12-13-18  Commissioner Luretta Ray made a motion to approve the minutes; with the following corrections to Item 2: program evaluation updates for the LGBTQ report out. GSA for Gay-Straight Alliance previously read Gay Student Alliance. Revisions made, motion seconded by Commissioner Michael Harper. Minutes approved by the vote of commissioners. New Business Item 1: Reassignment of CUC Program Coordinator position (NOTE: Agenda item added by Latiesha D. Handie, Executive Director during the meeting.)  Latiesha D. Handie, Executive Director, advised the commission that as of January 4th, 2019, Erica Knight resigned from the program coordinator position.  The request to fill the current vacancy opened to internal employees as of Monday, January 7, 2019, and will be open to external employees as of Monday, January 14, 2019.  Latiesha D. Handie encouraged commissioners to share employment opportunity with potential candidates that exhibit strong administrative skills, schedule flexibility, with a moderate background in civic engagement. 1   Relative to how the commission can assist during the department’s transition would be to continue the active presence during programs and events to support some of the event functions. In addition to support Commissioner, Kristi Jones recommended to follow up with HR to see about securing an intern to assist in the interim. New Business Item 2: Program evaluation Updates  CUC Executive Director, Latiesha Handie provided an update on all upcoming CUC programs and activities.  Noted Hampton Diversity College updates- HDC Level I will begin on Thursday, January 17th and is expected to have 26 participants based on the number of registrations. This year the department diversified marketing efforts for this program to include Facebook event advertising, Round Robin, Hampton’s e-news, Next-door, and the Hampton Employee email list. The upcoming class is expected to be the most diverse amongst racial groups and generations that the department has experienced in the last two years.  Noted Youth Advisory Group upcoming events: The next YAG meeting will be on Monday, January 28th to discuss their participation in the 2019 Commemorative Commission events. The meeting will be at the Kenneth Wallace Center for those who can attend. o YAG received an invitation from the Hampton Youth Commission to receive facilitator and recorder training on February 4th @ 6 pm. This meeting will be at the Ruppert Sargeant Build, and the department is requesting that all YAG sub-committee members plan to attend.  Noted partnered agencies events: On January 8, 2019, CUC attended an event organized by Rain of Mercy an Islamic community partner that collaborates with the commission each year for the annual breaking of the fast Iftar Dinner. The celebration occurs during the month of Ramadan. On the 4th Tuesday of each month, they host a community forum to discuss the meaning of life from an Islamic perspective. Followed by the attendance of the Racism, Poverty and Violence dialogue organized by the Peninsula Baptist Association on January 9, 2019. The last conversation was supported by the Virginia Beach Justice Initiative, and participants received information on Human Trafficking. The department will continue to encourage participation during partnered agency events.  Noted potential partnerships: The Hampton Public Library is participating in the NEA’s Big Read in 2019, and will be conducting a book discussion on Citizen by 2  Claudia Rankine. Rita Scrivener would like to meet with the committee to discuss an opportunity to partner. Community Development contacted the office to inquire about partnering during the Unity Awards with the Neighborhood Commission and Clean City. Before the current meeting, Latiesha Handie spoke with Commissioner, Mary Wallace the committee Chair to discuss this opportunity. Item 3: Guiding committee work task sheet  Commissioners received a list of program objectives to assist in their planning efforts during their committee work breakouts. The task sheet presents logistical questions and checklist for upcoming events, programs, and activities. Item 4: Committee Work  Committee members participated in two rotations of planning team meetings. Item5: Committee Reports  Movie Talks: The committee focused on questions 2, 4, and 6 of the Committee Task worksheet. o Please discuss amongst your group how you plan to accomplish the goal of having a meaningful discussion at the upcoming event?  The committee would like to continue using the CUC Movie Discussion topic handout with the following adjustments to decrease the CUC welcome which will increase discussion time in the end.  Add details about CUC to include a brief overview of the commission, next movie topics with dates and contact information. o Suggest films for February 11, 2019, along with June dates and Movie  The committee suggested Red Tails for February 11, 2019, and Green book for June. The date suggestion is June 4, 2019. o Create a contact resource list of business, groups, and organizations you would like to invite to attend Movie Talks events.  The committee would invite military servicemen.  Unity through Art: The committee focused on questions 1 through 5 of the Committee Task worksheet. o Continue to discuss one event for this year and date. o Frame an idea, purpose, and goal.  The committee would like to introduce the Universal Language of the Drums from African drumming to the current drumline. o Who is the target audience?  The audience is the general public with at least 50 participants o What is the action plan "What does this event look like, social, panel discussion, meet & greet"? Etc. 3   This event is an interactive learning activity where participants will witness visual presentations of drumming with hands-on activities for the audience. o Determine music, language, and dance mediums  Drums o Where and when will this event take place?  Suggested locations are Fort Monroe Community Center, YH Thomas, or a Masonic Lodge.  Suggested dates: March 2, 2019, or March 9, 2019  Latiesha Handie will contact Fort Monroe Community Center to secure the gym for the event if it is available.  Assistant City Manager, Steven D. Bond stated that if the event is going to review the history of the African drum from its origin to present it could potentially gain a mention in the Hampton 2019 Commemorative Commission calendar of events.  Mr. Bond mentioned that the official launch would take place on February 1, 2019, at Queen St. Baptist. o Who are key people that can help to support the event?  Phoebus High School drumline, I Gabe, Female Drum Circle. o How does the event support the work of this office?  This event introduces participants to a realm of diversity through creative arts and allows attendees to participate in activities that will generate conversations of diversity and inclusion.  LGBTQ: The committee focused on questions 1 and 2 of the Committee Task worksheet. o Upcoming event March 30th Living Life Losing Labels partnering with Spratley GSA and Kecoughtan High School.  The upcoming event is a community discussion for youth to dispel myths and address misunderstandings about gender identity and sexual orientation.  Latiesha Handie will be attending Kecoughtan High Schools GSA meeting on January 8, 2019, and Spratley Middle Schools meeting on Feb 1, 2019, to invite groups to participate.  Latiesha Handie secured the location @ Northampton Community Center.  Rebecca Jackson will reach out to other youth formed groups to invite. o Report out new partnerships and youth groups we can invite to attend the upcoming event.  PFLAG -largest organization uniting families and allies with people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer.  LGBT Life Center – Organization that empowers LGBTQ communities and all people affected by HIV through improving health and wellness, strengthening families and communities, and providing transformative education and advocacy.  Boys & Girls Club  School board officials 4  Unity Awards: The committee focused on questions 1 through 5 of the Committee Task worksheet. o Address the potential for conflict of interest: Can CUC Commissioners receive awards?  The committee agreed that members of the commissioner are not eligible for awards until after their term has expired and they are no longer active commissioners. o Determine the date that you want nominations to open for the awards.  The committee would like to open the nomination process in April. o Suggest three potential venues and designate someone to contact the sites to gather prices and availability information.  The committee secured The American theatre. o Recommend the menu for the event.  The committee would like to use last year’s menu to include:  Jason’s Deli sandwich trays  Chick-Fila Chicken Bites, Vegetable tray, Lemonade  BJ’s Cake o Recommend the program format and content; recommend Master/Mistress of Ceremony and other program participants.  The committee recommended using variations of previous year's programs to create the desired look for the 2019 schedule.  The committee will continue to explore how the program will be formatted if the desired partnership is confirmed. In their initial planning efforts, they recommended reducing the number of awards, keeping the current feedback forms and sending invitations earlier to increase participation.  The committee stated that if community development and the clean city group would like to partner CUC would suggest splitting the expenses for food and programming fees. The committee desires to meet with all three groups as soon as possible to discuss the potential opportunity.  Latiesha Handie will send a group email to all three parties to schedule a meeting.  Hampton Diversity College: The committee focused on questions 1 through 5 of the Committee Task worksheet. o Diversity College Level 1 begins Jan 17. – Feb 1 (25 enrolled) 5:30 pm 7:30 (4) Thurs o Please list dates that you can come and assist with Hampton Diversity College in the upcoming program  Commissioner Jennifer Evans is available to assist during all four sessions. Mei Stukes can attend the last session on Feb 1st. o Please suggest community groups or locations that you can request a moment to advertise HDC LI classes.  Book clubs, Human Services meetings, recreation centers, churches, libraries, and community colleges. o Brainstorm on Low to no cost facilitator options 5   Contact foreign language Specialist, military liaisons, teachers, and volunteer presenters.  Youth Advisory Group: The committee focused on questions 1 through 3 of the Committee Task worksheet. o Upcoming meeting January 28, 2019.  The meeting is at 6:00 pm at the Kenneth Wallace Center. The following Commissioners confirmed their planned attendance, Darius Swift and Mei Stukes. o Discuss plans for 2019 Commemorative Event – CERT Training  The Emergency Management Team will provide training for the Youth Advisory Group and 4-H Cooperative Extension on May 4, 2019. Additional details will come soon. The Hampton Youth Commission will also be invited to attend this event. o Partnership with Spratley middle on a Junior Diversity College (postponed)  Due to changes in the examination schedule for Spratley, we will be unable to launch the junior program until further notice.  1 City 1 Book: The committee focused on the invitation to partner in the Big Read from Hampton’s Library System. o The first discussion for the book Citizen by Claudia Rankine will be at the Main Library on February 25, 2019. o Before the event the committee would like to gain clarity on the extent and role of the One City One Book committee’s responsibility.  Are we participants are partners?  Are we allowed to bring other groups?  How can we get the inmates involved in the reading activity?  How will we evolve from this pilot? o Commissioner Alice Capehart will schedule a meeting with Rita Scrivener, Reference Librarian to discuss the logistics of the partnership.  Hot Button Topic: The committee focused on questions 4 and 5 of the Committee Task worksheet. o Determine a discussion format and initial launch date  The committee would like to host their first conversation on immigration for documented and undocumented citizens.  This event will be a moderated panelist discussion.  The committee would like to launch the conversation during March.  Commissioner Milton McDonald will schedule a meeting with Latiesha Handie to discuss logistics.  Latiesha Handie will check on a date and location. o Brainstorm any potential partner facilitators.  The committee is requesting at least two facilitators.  Latiesha Handie will contact Dania Matos from William and Mary to request facilitation support.  The committee would like to invite members of law enforcement, ICE, NIS and expert in the field of immigration. 6  Some commissioners were concerned about police presence and  some of the recommended organizations that may pose as a deterrent for organic participation of those that serve or are impacted by that population.  Assistant City Manager, Steven D. Bond emphasized that the local police department does not ask questions about citizenship when engaging the public. “Go-Backs”: None Announcements  Burley Gardner introduced his guest to the Commission and invited the committee to the TRADOC Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Observance Day on January 17,2019 @ 1pm. Jacobs Conference Center  Assistant City Manager, Steven D. Bond invited the commission to attend the unveiling of the Martin Luther King Jr. and Hampton Hero's Memorial ceremony at the Hampton Roads Convention Center on January 21, 2019, at 1 pm.  Commissioner Mary Wallace reminded Latiesha Handie of the request to move the upcoming meeting on February 14th to the 21st. o The commission agreed to move the meeting date. Commissioner Rebecca Jackson stated that she would be unable to attend. Next Meeting Date and Time: Thursday, February 21, 2019. Adjourned at 8:06 p.m. 7