Citizens' Unity Commission

Citizens’ Unity Commission Monthly Meeting Minutes Thursday, October 13, 2022 6:00 -8:00pm Community Development Conference Room, City Hall, 5th floor Attendance: Alice Capehart, Jennifer Evans, Chris Grady, Malik Perry, Shuntay Tarver, Ellen Velissarios, Steven Wendell, Raquel McMillan, Kathreen Tadrous, Gretchen Nelson, Vidal Dickerson, Phyliss Porter Staff: Imara Gabe Diaz Absent: Katrina Bailey (AN) Erica Spencer (AN), Samantha Snead (AN) Dawn James-Taylor (AN) Jabari Colon, Brad Young (AN) Assistant City Manager Steve Bond (AN) Call to Order – Ellen Velissarios, Chairperson @ 6:01 pm Roll Call – Imara Gabe Diaz, Executive Director Welcome Old Business Review and Approval of Meeting Minutes – Commissioners were given time for review and approval of the meeting minutes from 6/9/2022 and 9/22/22. A motion was called by Chairperson Ellen Velissarios and 2nd by Commissioner Jennifer Evans. Action Items Item 1: Commitment to Excellence – Executive Director Gabe Diaz reviewed the Commitment to Excellence packet provided on behalf of the City Manager, Hampton City Council and Clerk and the City Attorney’s Office after which each member completed the acknowledgement form. Item 2: Sub-Committee Sign Up – A sign up sheet was passed around with the list of sub-committees and the descriptions for each. The following sub-committee selections were made during or prior to this meeting: Hampton Health Equity: Jennifer Evans, Kathy Tadrous, Steven Wendell, Malik Perry & Vidal Dickerson Unity Though Arts: Jennifer Evans, Phyliss Porter, Chris Grady & Gretchen Nelson Hot Button Topics: Katrina Bailey, Raquel McMillan, Ellen Velissarios & Shuntay Tarver Unity Awards: Sam Snead, Alice Capehart, Steven Wendell, Kathy Tadrous & Vidal Dickerson Movie Talks: Gretchen Nelson, Sam Snead, Ellen Velissarios, Alice Capehart & Shuntay Tarver LGBTQ Awareness: Ellen Velissarios & Raquel McMillan Youth Advisory Group: Chris Grady & Ellen Velissarios 1 New Business Item 1: Small Group Work – Gabe Diaz reviewed the descriptions for each sub-committee and allowed time for the following groups to meet: Hot Button, Unity Though Arts, and Hampton Health Equity. The following groups will meet at the next regularly scheduled meeting: Unity Awards, Movie Talks, LGBTQ Awareness, and Youth Advisory Group. Item 2: Sub-Committee Report Outs – Each sub-committee was tasked to brainstorm and come up with ideas to support programming for their individual groups. The intent is that each sub-committee would produce at least 2 events/programs for FY23. The following notes were reported for each sub-committee: Hot Button Topics: Topics of discussion around suicide prevention, privilege, gun violence, mental health awareness, addiction (youth &adult), sex trafficking, social media, voting, LGBTQ+, grief. Specifics concerning barriers to transportation to the events, how do we get the word out and gathering the community’s input on what they would like to talk about. Creating safe space. Unity Though Arts: Discussion around past events i.e. Paint Night, Language of the Drums. Ideas for potential events to include a public art event (similar to Newport News), HU art/music program, Hampton History Museum concerts, Charles H. Taylor miniature art exhibit, Sea to the Stars program, Y.H. Thomas youth events, Marie St.Clair’s “Write You Own Story” program, steel drum program. Outcomes discussed were a Meet & Greet with artist dialog, swag tables, promote the event. Hampton Health Equity: Discussion around information targeted to elderly regarding booster, administering the flu shot at the same time as the booster, Sentara Health Care support, VDH support, Virginia Peninsula Foodbank, Emergency Management. Community Equity Opportunity fests, pop-ups for shots, PSAs from trusted people in different communities, appearance at other community festivals, gift cards for people getting boosters, incorporating faith leaders for PSAs, PSAs in various languages spoken locally, how to appeal to family units. Announcements • Hampton Diversity College begins October 19th. Sign up until October 17th Level I – 4 weeks 10/19 – 11/9 5:30pm – 7:30pm Northampton Community Center • HYC & YAG Candidates Forum Monday, October 24, 2022 6:00pm Sandy Bottom Nature Park – Nature Center 1255 Big Bethel Road, Hampton, VA 23669 • Hampton Senior Center – Office of DEI to facilitate a team building retreat on Tuesday, November 8, 2022 12:00PM Adjourned 8:06pm by Chairperson Ellen Velissarios 2