Citizens' Unity Commission

Citizens’ Unity Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, April 11, 2019 ~ 6:00pm-8:00pm Community Development Conference Room, 5th Floor, City Hall, Hampton, VA Attendance: Carter Phillips (Chair), Devinn Smart, Jennifer Evans, , Mary Wallace (Vice Chair), Milton McDonald, Imara Gabe Diaz, Tamika Lett, Trevor Hutson, Willie C. Anderson, Ellen Shackelford (Community Liaison), Michael Harper, Mei Stukes, Steven D. Bond (Assistant City Manager), Anthony Tyrone George Absent: Alice Capehart, Anne Andrews, Kercelia Woodruff, Ray Smith, Deena Franklin (Community Liaison), Ray Smith, Burley Gardner (Community Liaison), Darius Swift, Kristi Jackson, Luretta Ray, Staff: Latiesha Handie (Executive Director) Call to Order– Carter Phillips, Chairperson, 6:06 pm Roll Call – Latiesha Handie Action Items Item 1: Review and Approval of Meeting Minutes from 2-21-19  Commissioner Tamika Lett made a motion to approve the minutes; Motion seconded by Commissioner Mei Stukes. Minutes approved by the vote of commissioners. Old Business Item 1: Program Coordinator Position Update  Latiesha D. Handie, Executive Director, advised the commission that at this time the department is still actively seeking applicants. During the most recent interview process, potential candidates were identified, however, to ensure that the position is filled by the most qualified candidate the application process is scheduled to reopen for further interest by the beginning of the third week in April. New Business Item 1: Program evaluation Updates  CUC Executive Director, Latiesha Handie provided an update on all upcoming CUC programs and activities. 1   Noted Unity through Art Programming: On March 2, 2019, the Unity through Art Sub-Committee hosted the event: Gimmie a Beat- the Universal Language of the Drums in partnership with Fort Monroe Community Center who performed an afternoon Tea with Shirley Chisolm. The event was well attended by 107 citizens to include Assistant City Manager, Steven D. Bond, 1619 Commemorative Commission Chair and Vice Chair and Honorable Mayor Donnie R. Tuck, who shared warm remarks during the event. Commissioners shared their day of experience and how the community positively received the event.  Noted LGBTQ Awareness upcoming events: On Saturday, March 30, 2019, the LGBTQ Awareness committee hosted a youth-focused conversation entitled: Living Life & Losing Labels to dispel myths and address misunderstandings about teenage gender identity and sexual orientation. The event was attended by less than ten youth, and due to the unanticipated low numbers of attendance, the committee plans to engage Kecoughtan and Spratley Gay-Straight Alliance groups to learn of potential challenges that may have impacted participation numbers.  Noted One City One Book Launch: The One City One Book Sub-committee successfully launched their first book conversation in partnership with the Hampton Library in February. Twenty-Five (25) participants joined the inaugural discussion which was to be the beginning of a traveling discussion series. The intent was for persons to attend all three library talks, but the instructions were unclear. Moving forward the committee will strategize on better ways to communicate the plan of the program.  Hampton Diversity College updates: A session of Hampton Diversity College Level II is scheduled to end on Thursday, April 18, 2019, with 16 graduates. The final round of Level I is expected to begin on May 9, 2019. Commissioners are welcome to attend any graduation session. Item 2: International Children’s Festival  Latiesha Handie provided a recruitment sheet with an hour and a half time allotments for commissioners to sign-up for staffing the table on a rotating basis.  The International Children’s Festival date is Saturday, April 20, 2019.  Latiesha stated that commissioners would additionally be tasked to announce Arthur Lopez of Drum your Dream on the mainstage to commercialize CUC programming as part of the sponsorship package made available to the Unity Commission. Commissioners will also be responsible for assisting children through activities and for providing information to parents during their assigned shift.  CUC Program and Event information will be shared at the table, and children bags will be disseminated from last year’s inventory.  Latiesha Handie explained that most of the bags from last year are stocked with crayons, coloring books, and stickers.  • Latiesha Handie suggested that commissioners wear their CUC shirts and any persons without shirts could see her immediately after the meeting.  Commissioner Tamika Lett stated that she would come in the Friday before the event to help assemble and pack promotional items to include: o CUC Pens 2  o Notepads o Stress balls o Key chains o Flyers o CUC brochures & Diversity College Pamphlets o  Latiesha Handie stated that she would inform the commission of the vendor table location once Parks & Recreation sent the information. Item 3: Commissioner Term Expirations  Latiesha Handie informed the commission of several terms that were due to expire. Those persons have been notified of their eligibility status of reappointment and have been advised to provide information on his or her interest to continue service. Latiesha stated if commissioners had not been notified and their term is due to expire in June of 2019 please contact her to discuss. Item 4: Committee Reports  Committee members participated in two rotations of planning team meetings. Movie Talks, 1 City 1 Book, and LGBTQ: The Hampton Library proposed a book and movie talk event to coincide with Pride Month in June. Both Movie Talks and 1 City 1 Book agreed to partner and will meet with Libraries to discuss this partnership. The Film and book for consideration is the 2018 film "Love, Simon" based on the 2015 novel "Simon versus the Homo Sapiens Agenda” by Becky Albertalli. The movie viewing will take place during the 5th Annual Pride on the Peninsula, Wednesday, June 19, 2019, at the Virginia Air & Space Center Library. The committee decided who will attend the first planning meeting on April 17, 2019, at the Hampton Main Library. Unity through Art: Commissioner Imara G. Diaz provided the report; sub-committee members brainstormed on another event opportunity. o The committee suggested that their next event will involve an Arts Talk segment in partnership with Art Central in North Phoebus off East Mellon St. o The event will be three-fold to include a live artist, performer, and a cultural fashion pop-up shop, where persons will have the opportunity to generate conversation around specific art pieces as the artist express his/her perspective of the painting. o o Imara Diaz stated that he will request from the artist a couple of paintings for consideration and the committee would like to launch this event in June. Unity Awards: Commissioner Mary Wallace provided the report; sub-committee members confirmed participants for the ceremony and request for the flyer and program. 3  o Commissioner Mary Wallace made mention to the rough draft flyer for the Unity Awards. Latiesha Handie confirmed that Marketing and Outreach are currently working on an updated flyer to advertise and invite the public to attend this year’s Unity Awards. This flyer will be used for both nominations and invitation to attend the Ceremony. Suggested wording: “You are cordially invited to attend.” All attendees will need to contact 311 to RSVP. o Mary Wallace advised that the commissioners would like to use the format of the 2017 program versus the one created for 2018. Mary Wallace stated that the committee would contact persons they would like to participate in the program to include the Master of Ceremony, entertainment, and all other planned participants before the next meeting. Hampton Diversity College: Commissioner Jennifer Evans provided the report; sub- committee are still in the process of brainstorming on ways to increase awareness of the college opportunity and who to contact for voluntary facilitation services. Youth Advisory Group: The Youth Advisory Group did not meet during this meeting. o The youth are planning to participate in the commemorative events and Cert Training in May. Hot Button Topic: Commissioner Milton McDonald provided the report; the sub- committee members stated that they have not formally met or organized an event for this conversation but would like to incorporate the college tuition scandal in their planning efforts. o Commissioner Milton McDonald stated that after Easter the committee would meet to discuss planning an event and gaining support from local media outlets to assist as a panelist. o Latiesha Handie suggested that before moving towards another topic that the committee continue to explore their first topic focused on Race in America to which she could assist with executing. o The committee agreed that it would be unlikely for an event to take place before June. o “Go-Backs”: None Announcements o The Commission will continue to allocate time for the community liaisons to report out different opportunities and updates from their assigned committees to include o Tradoc Diversity Office; o Mayor’s Committed for People with Disabilities Next Meeting Date and Time: Thursday, May 08, 2019. Adjourned at 8:04 p.m. 4