Human Relations Committee

Laconia Human Relations Committee Monthly Meeting October 15, 2024 - Tuesday 3:30pm – 5:00 pm City Hall Rm 200A & Zoom Agenda Welcome Roll Call Review and Acceptance of September 9 , 2024, Meeting Minutes - attached Work Groups  MLK Event Committee  Endowment for Health Committee  Banners/flags on City Property Committee  Rally/Sign Committee  Vision and Mission Statement Committee Old Business  Multicultural Festival  Financial update - attached New Business  Non-partisan Candidate Forum  Ideas, Concerns, Suggestions  Other Business  Public Input  Next Meeting Room 200A, Monday November 12, 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 September 9, 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 3:31 pm. II. ATTENDANCE Present – Chair Patrick Wood, Carol Pierce, David Osman, Matt Soza, Rev. Judith Wright, Heather Stanley, Richard Littlefield, Patricia Okinedo, Scott Ringer, Seifu Ragassa and Carrie Chandler Excused – Mayor Andrew Hosmer, Kay Anderson and Faith Pakasuk Zoom Guest – David Stamps III. OLD BUSINESS Minutes Approval – Minutes of the August 12, 2024 Laconia Human Relations Committee meeting were approved as corrected. Sub-Committee Work: Martin Luther King Jr Celebration  Program is really coming together  Secured the venue  Looking to include young adults, LGBTQ+  Next meeting scheduled for 9/19/24 Endowment for Health Grant  Next meeting scheduled for 9/12/24 with Pat, Heather and Beth Vachon. Banner Proposal  No further action. Vigil/Signage  No further action. Multicultural Festival  The festival was very successful: o There were a few less vendors but enough o Entertainment was great o Food was superb o Great weather (thankfully) o Becky did an outstanding job once again!  Rev. Judith will contact Len to schedule a meeting to recap the event and start planning for 2025; Carrie will join the committee.  o Various opinions for ways to reinvent Multicultural Day were expressed. Anyone interested is welcome to join the committee. o Approximately $10,000 balance remains. o Replacing Becky soon is priority.  Job description is needed  Becky is putting together a binder for her replacement.  A recognition will be planned. IV. NEW BUSINESS Non-Partisan Candidate Forum – sponsored by the Social Justice Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Church at the Belknap Mill (3rd floor) on October 10th from 6:45-9 pm. House, Senate and Executive Council candidates invited. Request was made by Rev. Judith a to give monies for police presence. A motion was made by Carrie Chandler, seconded by Matt Soza, to authorize funds in the amount not to exceed $300 to secure police at the event; with no further discussion, the motion passed unanimously. Ideas/Concerns/Suggestions – a discussion was focused on the duty of the committee to education ourselves and others particularly around the issues of racism. A main objective is to build trust and that begins at the LHRC level. Some ways to address this include:  Borrow an expert from “the Human Library” to learn what is and is not acceptable. Society is not doing enough. What more can we do to reach fear and ignorance?  Implicit Bias Programs that are community based o Perhaps opportunity to use grant money  How to take what we discuss as a committee to others in the community?  Readings that would benefit members.  Panel discussion – invite the public, Q&A, challenges, what is acceptable and not. Unhoused Population – concern about making it illegal to be homeless; mental illness persists (mental health court). Pat will speak with Mayor Hosmer and invite Daisy Pierce to our next meeting to talk about the issue. Holocaust Remembrance Event – Pat will reach out to Rabi Katz to confirm. V. PUBLIC COMMENTS There was opportunity but no public comments. VI. ADJOURNMENT The Meeting was adjourned by the chair at 4:58 pm. Due to Indigenous Peoples Day ~ the next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 15 th, 2024, room 200A, at 3:30 pm also via Zoom. Respectfully Submitted, Carrie Chandler, Secretary  Human Relations Committee FY 25 Actvity as of: 09/30/2024 Budgeted YTD Expended Balance Annual Allocation $ $ $ 01-489-480-0022 2,000.00 1,500.00 500.00 Accrued Funds $ $ $ 84-401-200-0000 2,469.94 - 2,469.94 Endowment for Health Grant $ $ $ 84-401-200-0001 19,500.00 500.00 19,000.00