Human Relations Committee

Laconia Human Relations Committee Monthly Meeting May 13, 2024 - Monday 3:00pm – 4:30pm City Hall Rm 200A & Zoom Agenda Welcome and Introduction of New Membe r – Faith Pakasuk Roll Call Review and Acceptance of April 15 , 2024, Meeting Minutes - attached Work Groups  MLK Event Committee –  Endowment for Health Committee – minutes of April 25, 2024, meeting are attached  Banners/flags on City Property Committee – waiting to hear from City Manager  Rally/Sign Committee – Old Business  Yom Ha Shoah – May 4th – with Temple B’nai Israel and Greater Laconia Ministerial Association  Multicultural Festival New Business  Discrimination Issues – People with Mental Illness or Disabilities  Vision and Mission Statement review  Other Business  Next Meeting Room 200A, Monday June 10, 2024, at 3:30 pm 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 to check in early. You are invited to a Zoom webinar. Topic: Human Relations Commission Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81922296874?pwd=M0E4a1pES0VGV0Rsa1hmT0ZDU3Bmdz09 Passcode: 793636 Or One tap mobile: US: +16465588656,81922296874#,,,*793636# or +13017158592,,81922296874#,,,,*793636# Or Telephone: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 669 900 9128 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 Webinar ID: 819 2229 6874 Passcode: 793636 International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/k661pCha  Laconia Human Relations Committee April 15, 2024 Meeting Minutes I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Patrick Wood welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Laconia Human Relations Committee. Committee member roll call was taken, a quorum was established, and the meeting was called to order at 3:34 pm. II. ATTENDANCE Present – Chair Patrick Wood, Carol Pierce, David Osman, Matt Soza, Janet Simmon, David Stamps, Kay Anderson, Richard Littlefield, Patricia Okinedo and Carrie Chandler Zoom - Rev. Judith Wright Excused – Mayor Andrew Hosmer, Heather Stanley, Trish Weatherbee, Jasmine Sanborn and Seifu Ragassa III. OLD BUSINESS Minutes Approval – Motion was made by Matt Soza, seconded by Janet Simmon, to accept the minutes of the March 11 th, 2024 Laconia Human Relations Committee meeting (LHRC) with one amendment - the MLK Committee did have LHRC approval to plan the vigil; with no further discussion, the motion passed unanimously. David Stamps, former chair, shared that he has decided to step down from the committee. He has enjoyed working with this group for years and it was not an easy decision. Members shared their appreciation for all the time and energy David has given to the committee’s work. David then left the meeting. The committee will invite David and his wife Judy to attend a “thank you” dinner next month following the meeting. Sub-Committee Work: Martin Luther King Jr Celebration – the committee met on April 12th for continued planning for the January 19, 2025 celebration. Some of the changes include: a shorter program (no intermission), a panel of presenters; Q&A from the audience; a quilt (perhaps raffle); a main speaker to close the event. The budget has been established. Next meeting will be held on May 17th. Endowment for Health – the committee met on March 13th- the minutes were emailed. David Stamps will need to be replaced as chair. The next meeting is scheduled for April 25th with the focus to start planning events.  The Mayor would be a great speaker to address homelessness; he understands our community and can bring us together.  One event should be food related; no audience and speaker.  Hold meetings in different places, maybe breakfast meetings.  Plan one event and evaluate before planning others. Banner Proposal – Pat shared that this is under review by the city’s attorney. The City Manager stated that a decision will likely be made by the first meeting in May. The Congregational Church Diaconate has offered to support this initative.  Vigil/Signage – Matt reviewed minutes from prior meeting. A thoughtful letter was written by Richard regarding the premise for the vigils. A motion was made by Carol Pierce, seconded by Richard Littlefield, to present a revised letter to the Mayor for consideration; with no further discussion, the motion passed unanimously. Yom HaShoah Reminder – May 4th, from 1-3 pm at the Congregational Church, there will be a showing of the movie “Defying the Nazis: Sharps’ War” by Ken Burns. The event will be sponsored by the Greater Laconia Ministerial Association. Multicultural Festival – Tamara McGonagle has been hired to take over the festival; she will work closely with Becky Guyer during the transition. Becky has done an outstanding job these many years. Anonymous Letters – Discussion continued; no decision for how to address any future letters that individual members of the LHRC might receive that is negative in nature as it relates to the work of the committee. Individual Incident – No updates; Trish was going to reach out to the person who was referred to LHRC with a personal concern due to COVID issues. IV. NEW BUSINESS Vision & Mission Statement review – no time for discussion. V. PUBLIC COMMENTS There was opportunity but no public comments were made. VI. ADJOURNMENT The Meeting was adjourned by the chair at 4:55pm. Next meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 13 th, 2024, room 200A, at 3:30 pm also via Zoom. We will adjourn the meeting by 4:45 pm so we can gather at T-Bones for 5 pm to thank David Stamps for his service to the LHRC. All members are asked to purchase their own meal with the exception of David and Judy. Respectfully Submitted, Carrie Chandler, Secretary  Laconia Human Relations Committee NH Endowment for Health Grant Work Group April 25, 2024 Meeting Minutes David Stamps called the meeting to order at 3:00 pm. Attendance: David Stamps, Heather Stanley, Patricia Okinedo, Carol Pierce, Patrick Wood, David Osman, Beth Vachon, Faith Pakasuk, Carol Stone (around 4 pm by Zoom) David Stamps began by explaining that he had stepped down from the Laconia Human Relations Committee and would be stepping down from chairing this Work Group. He explained he had talked with Carol Pierce about taking this process and issues one at a time and slowly. He also stated he wants to stay connected but not in a leadership role. Consensus was that David should do what is best for him; Beth Vachon congratulated him for recognizing this. Patrick Wood reported that he and David Stamps had discussed his stepping down and had also discussed the potential new leadership of this work group. He said they both agreed that a member of the Laconia Human Relations Committee should be part of the leadership. They also both agreed that Heather Stanley and Beth Vachon would be excellent leaders and agreed that Patrick should reach out to both of them before this afternoon’s meeting to let them know what he and David had discussed. Patrick reported that both Heather and Beth had responded and they both agreed to discuss this with Patrick after the meeting. Carol Pierce suggested that an agency be put in charge of a specific issue and be prepared to develop a program. She also suggested that Mayor Hosmer should be the speaker at an initial event near the end of May. Carol said the Mayor could best explain where the Human Relations Committee is and where we want to go with this grant. David Osman agreed that since this is the Mayor’s committee and the grant was given to the City that the Mayor should be the initial speaker – to help us “get out of the gate.” He also asked what the next meeting would be about; we need some direction on this. Carol Pierce agreed that the first meeting should be an introduction and set the stage for the discussion of the importance of community. David Osman expressed his feeling that this should be an opportunity to just meet and discuss. Patrick Wood agreed that this should be a chance to start the trust making and community engagement process contemplated by the grant. Beth Vachon then noted that Lakes Region Mental Health Center has an open house scheduled for May 23rd and she has been looking for a keynote speaker. May is Mental Health Month and the Mayor is going to be reading a proclamation at the City Council on May 13. Perhaps the Mayor could be her keynote speaker and this could be the kick off event for the Endowment for Health grant programs. She said the theme of the open house is the Importance of Community. Carol Pierce asked about what would follow the May 23rd meeting. Beth Vachon explained that a number of agencies are on the invitation list for the open house so this would be an opportunity to explain to them what the Human Relations Committee and this Work Group are doing. David Stamps noted that follow up meeting should be held in different parts of the City. He also reminded us that it is not the purpose of this Work Group to solve the problems but to give voice to people. Faith Pakasuk expressed her belief that the people directly affected and involved in the issues need to be participants in this process. Carol Pierce asked how we would see this developing. Beth Vachon said there would be a selection of topics and people could express their concerns in different ways, including art. David Osman commented that this sounds like having speakers and not discussion. Beth Vachon suggested perhaps a film could be shown at the Belknap Mill. She also noted that we need to hear from the disenfranchised. David Stamps suggested that the discussion be about what should be done to fix what is broken. Patricia Okinedo agreed that working with the different agencies is critically important. Carol Pierce suggested perhaps a program in the Fall. General discussion of getting the School District involved was held and it was noted that beginning that discussion with the Schools now is very important. David Osman was concerned that hearing from the agencies or the Superintendent was not the same as hearing from the people. He wants to know what the people are really dealing with; and what could we learn from the staff? Patricia Okinedo noted that it would be helpful to have a list of the agencies. She also expressed disappointment that there is no teacher or representative from the schools here. She also felt that each agency should be contacted. David Stamps suggested asking the agencies what they could do with $5,000.00 to support the efforts of the Human Relations Committee to encourage trust making and community engagement. Beth Vachon commented on the need to develop cultural competency understanding to help combat racism and bigotry and prejudice against others such as the LGBTQ+ community. Carol Pierce wondered about activities that could be planned or suggested. Patricia Okinedo asked about child care agencies. David Stamps commented about the Winnipesaukee Health Care organization and how valuable that was. David Osman again noted that we should be focusing on “intentional social interaction” in all of this. Consensus was to focus on May 23rd open house and initial event with major program in the fall. Patrick Wood will contact the Mayor. Next meeting will be at Lakes Region Mental Health Center on May 9, 2024, at 3 pm. Respectfully submitted, Patrick H Wood, Secretary Pro Tem