Human Relations Committee
Regular MeetingLaconia, NH · October 23, 2023
Minutes
LACONIA HUMAN RELATIONS COMMITTEE
Special Meeting Minutes
23 October 2023
Room 200A, Laconia City Hall
The special meeting of the Laconia Human Relations Committee was opened by Chairperson David Stamps at
3:30 pm. Roll call for attendance was taken. Present were Mayor Andrew Hosmer, Rev. Judith Wright, Carol
Pierce, David Stamps, Patrick Wood, Kay Anderson, Heather Stanley, Matt Soza, Trish Weatherbee, Janet
Simmon. Minutes taken by David. A quorum being present the meeting was called to order at 3:30pm.
Also in attendance and recognized by Chairman Stamps was invited guest Scott Pelchat from the Laconia
Planning Office.
The only topic on the Committee’s agenda was the NH Endowment for Health’s “Trust Making - Community
Engagement Initiative/Phase 2 – Laconia” as outlined in the Meeting Summary of 10-17-23.
There was considerable discussion about the best way to design the project. We realized we don’t have to
finalize all the elements since we will be creating a process to invite others in the community to participate at all
levels. However, to meet the goals of the Endowment, we needed to produce a credible but flexible project
outline by January 1st 2024 that would be open to participation by various people and groups over time.
We were also mindful that we will not have infinite resources and time. Our budget will be $20,000 and the
time-frame for completion is 12-16 months beginning January 2024.
The Committee agreed that a two-tier approach might be useful. The top tier would be a steering committee of
10-15 people to design the overall project. This Committee should include representatives from the schools,
recovery, mental health and City Planning. It was also felt that the Daily Sun should be invited to the extent they
were comfortable.
Although the overall goal is Trust Making - Community Engagement, the actualization of this goal would be up to
the Steering Committee. The Civic Index Report (https://carsey.unh.edu/what-is-new-hampshire/sections/civic-
health-index) documents the decline in trust in civic and governmental institutions – in short, alienation and
disaffection. The overall goal of the project should be, in the words of Mayor Hosmer, “to broaden the base of
people who have sense of belonging.”
The budget might allow for four or five community-based events. The idea is that each event will be planned by
separate groups with minimal guidance by the Steering Committee. Given Laconia’s four-season weather, some
events might work better depending on the season.
The Committee voted unanimously to accept the project as outlined in the Meeting Summary of 10-17-23. and
appointed the following to the subcommittee: Pat, Carol, Trish, Heather, Carrie & David. We plan to invite others
in the community from the areas outlined to join the Steering Committee or to work on a specific event
committee.
The TM-CEI Subcommittee will meet on Wednesday, November 1st in Room 200A.
The next regular meeting of the Laconia Human Relations Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, November 13,
2023, at 3:30 pm in Room 200A, Laconia City Hall.
LHRC Special Meeting 10-23-23 - Page 1
Respectfully submitted,
David Stamps,
Chair
LHRC Special Meeting 10-23-23 - Page 2
Agenda
Laconia Human Relations Committee
Special Meeting
October 23, 2023 - Monday
3:30pm – 5:00pm
City Hall Rm 200A & Zoom
Agenda
Welcome and Roll Call
New Business
Discuss Endowment for Health Proposal – see below
Next Regular Meeting Room 200A, Tuesday November 13, 2023, at 3:30pm also via
Zoom
Public Comment –
The public is invited to offer their opinions. Initially, they will be limited to four minutes until all
have had an opportunity to speak. Each person is constrained to their time period or to ask
questions of the committee. Everyone is expected to speak respectfully.
If on Zoom, the public will be visible but muted until unmuted by the chair. Members of the
public wishing to speak will use the “raise hand” option.
------------------------------------------------------
Note: The meeting will also be held online through Zoom and will begin at 3:30pm although people are encouraged check in early.
Contact David Stamps, 387-4382 if you are having trouble connecting.
You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
Topic: Human Relations Commission
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81899238533?pwd=WTVYQWNaKzJ0dHFJandVOUNHZmRXdz09
Passcode: 476720
Or One tap mobile :
+13052241968,,81899238533#,,,,*476720# US
+13092053325,,81899238533#,,,,*476720# US Or Telephone:
Webinar ID: 818 9923 8533
Passcode: 476720
International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/keHeo9o9l4
Trust Making - Community Engagement Initiative/Phase 2 – Laconia
Meeting Summary – Tuesday, Oct. 17 2023
Meeting attendees:
Melina Hill Walker, Endowment for Health
David Stamps, Chair Laconia Human Relations Committee (LHRC)
Patricia Weatherbee, LHRC
Heather Stanley, LHRC
Background
The New Hampshire Endowment for Health is sponsoring a project called “Trust Making - Community
Engagement Initiative/Phase 2.”
The goals of this initiative are to support NH communities in efforts to create community gatherings
and conversations around difference (difference can be defined as many things, such as differences
which are racial, ethnic, linguistic, ability/disability, socioeconomic, political, to name just a few) in
order to build and enhance greater trust among NH residents within communities and throughout our
state as a whole.
The 2020 NH Civic Health Index findings (as listed in the Report’s Themes Section – See pg. 7- and Reflections
Section- See pp. 41-43) were additional evidence of the need for greater opportunities for people in NH to
connect across difference and work towards building and enhancing greater trust in our state
(https://carsey.unh.edu/what-is-new-hampshire/sections/civic-health-index).
As part of the initial TM-CEI work, the Endowment engaged Marnita’s Table
(https://www.marnitastable.org/) to work in five communities in NH: Berlin, Keene, Laconia,
Manchester and Nashua. Over the past few years, through an Endowment for Health funding grant,
the Marnita’s Table Team organized both virtual and in person community events (known as “IZIs” or
“Intentional Social Interactions”) in the five communities listed. This was phase 1 of Trust Making -
Community Engagement Initiative and in the five communities brought together disparate groups for a
meal and conversation.
Proposal by the Endowment for Health
The Endowment for Health has approached the Laconia Human Relations Committee at its October
10th meeting asking us if we would like to be involved in designing and developing a second phase for
the Laconia Area that would help reverse the trends documented in the Civic Health Index mentioned
above.
The Committee was very interested in the proposal three members of the Committee (listed above)
met informally with Ms. Walker via Zoom for more details of the Endowment’s invitation.
What We Learned
LHRC is being invited develop a Phase 2 proposal including a grant request for up to $20,000. The
Phase 2 proposal would support community convenings, using a model similar to that used by
Marnita’s Table in the earlier NH events (IZIs). Ideally, the Phase 2 proposal would be submitted by
December 31, 2023. Ms. Walker has indicated she will support us in the development process. If the
application is accepted the project could span 12-18 months.
The design of the project including Community Partners would be developed by LHRC with advice from
Ms. Walker. The fact of LHRC being part of the Laconia City Mayor’s Office is not a barrier by the
Endowment. Clearly, the Mayor’s Office and City Manager will have to approve the proposal and sign-
off on the funding controls.
Next Steps
LHRC should formally consider this proposal in a noticed meeting. I have reserved the City Council
chambers for Monday October 23rd at 3:30.
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