Human Relations Committee

CITY OF LACONIA - Laconia Human Relations Quarterly Meeting Tuesday, September 19, 2017 - 3:00 PM City Hall - Conference Room 200A REVISED MINUTES CALL TO ORDER Len Campbell called the meeting to order at 3:02 p.m. RECORDING SECRETARY Kate Bruchacova ATTENDANCE Present - Len Campbell, Carol Pierce, Chris Adams, Kate Bruchacova, Rev. Judith Wright, Carrie Chandler, Mayor Ed Engler, David Stamps, Ali Hassan, Chief Matt Canfield Excused – Mary Jane Hoey, Janet Simmon A QUORUM HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED. I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PRIOR MEETING – 6/20/17 Meeting Minutes reviewed and accepted. II. Agenda a. FINANCE FOR 2017-18 – Current balance as of 9/19/17 is $3,280. Request for $1,500 to be used towards Multicultural Festival approved. b. LACONIA MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL i. 2017 Multicultural Festival was a success. Many individuals and businesses supported the event. Changes in layout due to construction downtown worked out well. Might consider the same setup next year. Good choice of performers. Fewer food vendors – some had conflicts in their schedules, fewer social service vendor booths. Becky Guyer, Festival Chair will continue with her role next year. c. MARTIN LUTHER KING CELEBRATION i. Book “Waking Up White” won’t be part of the Martin Luther King Celebration. The writer, Debbie Irving, will be coming to Laconia on Feb 13, 2018 to talk about her book. This will be part of Laconia Reads – community reads together and have conversations. 1  ii. Discussion on history and theme of Martin Luther King Celebration in Laconia. It was anything from performances, like dance, movies, presentation and book reading. iii. Suggestion for year 2018 – Black Culture - Dance & Gospel group (African groups in Manchester & Concord). iv. Committee established to help with planning and organization of the 2018 Celebration (Davis Stamps, Carrie Chandler, Carol Pierce, Chris Adams, Rev. Judith Wright, Kate Bruchacova ) d. IMMIGRANT INTEGRATION INITIATIVE i. K. Bruchacova, gave updates - Lakes Region businesses which are experiencing shortage in seasonal workforce to meet and have a brainstorming session. ii. Survey of community members done during the Multicultural Festival. Results will be presented next time. e. OTHER i. Civic Academy – Changes to originally concept. Looking into shorter one or two day event. Next meeting 10/4 at 4pm, at Belknap Mill. IV. NEW BUSINESS i. Waking Up White book coming in fall. Library will make books available as part of the Laconia Reads program. Different groups will have their own study groups. The book will not be studied by children or young adults at our local schools. Community members and library will be cover most funding for bringing the writer to speak about the book. A motion was passed to cover $500 from LHRC budget, should there be funds missing as the date of the event approaches. The Mayor mentioned that there is a possibility of a protest to this event. ii. Recording Secretary, Kate Bruchacova, resigning from her recording role at the end of the calendar year. New Recording Secretary voted in - Carrie Chandler. iii. Mary Reynolds, the City Clerk, has resigned and will be moving. Note: Chris Adams and Matt Canfield excused themselves during a portion under ‘new business.’ V. PUBLIC COMMENTS a. Remarks by Mr. Steve Earle, Shared option on book “Waking Up White”, Enjoyed the Multicultural Festival and liked the idea of black Gospel music as part of the 2018 MLK Celebration. b. Remarks by Mr. Jim Thompson, 35 Longbay Drive, Laconia. Points presented on “Why it was wrong for Islam apologists to speak at MLK Event 1/15/2017”. *(Remarks/Letter included in the attachment) c. Remarks by Rosemary Landry, Meredith – shared opinion on book “Waking Up White”. d. Remarks by Hal Graham, Sanbornton – shared option on book “Waking Up White”. e. No other public comments ADJOURNMENT 2 The meeting was adjourned at 4:36pm by the Chair. Respectfully Submitted, Kate Bruchacova 3