Citizens' Unity Commission

Citizens’ Unity Commission Annual Retreat Meeting Minutes Monday, November 16, 2020 ~ 6:00 pm-8:00pm City Council Chambers, City Hall, 8th floor, Hampton, VA Attendance: Willie C. Anderson, Katrina Bailey, Alice Capehart, Jennifer Evans, Chris Grady, Michael Harper, Tamika Lett, Whalan McDew, Malik Perry, Erica Spencer, Shuntay Tarver, Mei Stukes, Ellen Velissarios, Mary Wallace, Steven Wendell, (Community Liaison), Assistant City Manager Steven D. Bond ***Electronic Participants: Ellen Shackelford (Community Liaison) Absent: Justin Carolina, Burley Gardner (Community Liaison) (Absent Notified), Trevor Hudson, Luretta Ray, Joiecel Riviera (Absent Notified), Barbara Washer (Absent Notified) Staff: Latiesha D. Handie (Executive Director) Imara Gabe Diaz (Program Coordinator) Call to Order – Latiesha D. Handie, Executive Director 6:02 pm Roll Call – Imara Gabe Diaz (Program Coordinator) Action Items Item 1: Approve electronic participation of Commissioners  Item 2: Review and Approval of Meeting Minutes 9-24-2020 New Business Item 1: Program Evaluation Update  Latiesha D. Handie, Executive Director recapped the Hampton Diversity College program 20 participants and graduates at first virtual session. So we are seeing that registration has increased. Comments and feedback are positive and addressed due to time spent on topics. Second session started on 11/5 with 20 participants. Level 1 with 26 participants, and Level 2 with 20 participants, correction made. End in second week of December. Taking Thanksgiving Holiday week off.  There were 1040 participants with TNCC partnership. The commission would like to continue partnership with future conversations on social change. Item 2: Police Chief Search  The City is undergoing search for the new police chief and invited the Commission to participate. CUC was selected by the City Manager and Assisted City Manager to participate in the interview 1  conversation to see what characteristics are important for the new police chief. All three commissions were selected to participate in this process via Zoom. Considered dates; Friday, November 20th from 12pm-6pm, Monday, November 23rd from 9am-6pm, and Tuesday, November 24th. Due to Youth meeting the Commission is not available November 23rd. Lateisha Handie, Executive Director asked the Commission to consider the Friday or Tuesday dates between 9am and 6pm with 2-hour window. A count was taken with 10 available for both Friday and Tuesday between the hours of 4pm and 6pm. No count was noted on record for time starting at 6pm. Preferred time selected was Tuesday, November 24th at 6pm. Item 3: Assessing needs and available resources  For the month of November the Commission will focus on equity. Lateisha referred to the handout summarizing the year. Due to the pandemic the work of the office shifted. Community drives, social forums, conversations were about bias and tension in Hampton. The focus geared the Commission into equity work, ensuring people with access to opportunities to improve their lives. A member mentioned that Chief Diversity Officer Janice Underwood from Governor Northrom’s cabinet discussed how to address inclusive excellence focusing on real community engagement. This lead the group into a conversation about how to accomplish the goal to deepen the commission contribution to include inclusive equity to the commissions served. Other topics were addressing the issues in community and workforce and issues in the community that are impacting the group. Issues impacting the group included social economic factors, health outcomes, and emergency preparedness such as flooding, weather, and climate change. Lateisha mentions the ICMA city health dashboard provides status on different social and economic factors of the city and what work is valuable, but the data does not reflect everyday experiences.  Lateisha proceeds to ask the group how to address the underlying issue of one person being more at risk than another and how to gather safe and effectively during COV-ID. Multiple members provided input. Commissioner Shuntay stated how social isolation impacts mental health. (Group Health Outreach Initiative) Commissioner Whalan suggested diversifying city outreach due to distrust of information. He also suggested training for community ambassadors. Another member inquired about ensuring the protection of small business. Commissioner Katrina Bailey suggested creating safe spaces for those who are afraid. Commissioner Erica suggested addressing the homeless population about the best way to care for them during this time. Lateisha asked the group about collaborating with resources to empower the community and using current programs to address community concerns, engage the community. Suggestions included producing a community wide survey to collect data for equity work, address cultural issues, and find out the history of Hampton to overcome the “us vs. them” mentality. She encouraged the commissioners to be the message they’re trying to convey.  This year the CUC will focus on two (2) programs that accomplish equity work. This plan will follow through to the end of year review in June. Lateisha recommended conversations as a Hot Button Topic or Marketplace Talk and possible conduct Movie Talks through streaming. She asked the group to consider Hot Button Topics as sole conversation for this year. Commissioner Willie Anderson suggested a hybrid model. The group discussed gathering locations for Movie Talks of 25 or less. The suggestions were drive thru, church, movie theatres for social distancing. Suggestion for church is being considered. Lateisha encouraged the commissioners to invite their own audience and ask Pastors to do the same. She will provide a doodle of how Movie Talks will look during the pandemic for 2nd talk for all commissioners. Commissioners will discuss what conversations to have during next meeting. First conversations will be in February. 2 Item 4: Bylaws  Lateisha addressed the commissioners about Bylaws – approved language to include bylaws adoption and amendment in past meeting and elections of office in extending terms from 1 year to 2 years.  Katrina reminded the group of previous suggestion to extend to two years with 1 year serving as Chair and another year as co-chair.  Lateisha suggested deferring voting to next meeting to conduct further research. Motion made to defer voting to January. Seconded. All in favor. Item 5: Sub-committee selection Committee work will be deferred to January. Go-Backs: - Commissioner mentioned it was Transgender Awareness week. She asked members to take a moment of silence to be aware of those who have died - Ellen’s term as liaison with Hampton Mayor’s group for People’s Disabilities will end December 1, 2020 Announcements - December meeting cancelled. - Motion to adjourn made by Katrina Bailey/Seconded by Jennifer Evans Adjourned 7:40 pm Next Meeting Date and Time: TBD 3