Human Relations and Equity Committee Meeting

Human Relations and Equity Committee Meeting Madison Heights, Michigan November 28, 2023 A Human Relations and Equity Committee Meeting was held on Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at 5:00 PM at Library - Breckenridge Room, 240 W. 13 Mile Rd. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 5:03 pm by Chair Szymanski. ROLL CALL PRESENT Chair Paige Szymanski Rebecca Chambliss Nickole Fox Syed Murtaza-Rose Alec Yu Council Representative Quinn Wright ALSO PRESENT Student Delegate Colton Chambliss, Staff Liaison Heather Hames EXCUSED ABSENT Council Representative Alternate Emily Rohrbach APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Minutes of October 11, 2023 Motion made by Murtaza-Rose to approve the minutes of October 11, 2023. Seconded by Fox. Passed unanimously. MEETING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC No one present wishing to speak. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 2. Automotive Hall of Fame Traveling Exhibit Motion made by Murtaza-Rose to have Chambliss explore what is needed in order to arrange for the traveling exhibit called "Achievement" from the Automotive Hall of Fame to be displayed in Madison Heights in 2024. Seconded by Yu. Passed unanimously. NEW BUSINESS 3. Meeting Date Options for 2024 Motion made by Chambliss to meet on the third Thursday of the month in 2024. Seconded by Council Representative Wright. Passed unanimously.  Motion made Murtaza-Rose to move the October meeting date due to the Sukkot holiday and instead meet on October 10, 2024. Seconded by Chambliss. Passed unanimously. 4. Freeway Noise Pollution Motion made by Murtaza-Rose to recommend to City Council a further investigation of freeway sound pollution and to hold a town hall meeting on the topic. Seconded by Yu. Passed unanimously. 5. Parking Permits on Garbage Day Motion made by Yu to have Chair Szymanski collect information about parking permits and related fees, statistics, and other related data. Seconded by Chambliss. Passed unanimously. WORKPLAN 2023 REVIEW 6. Work Plan 2023 Review Motion by Chambliss to continue to Advise City Council on diversity and inclusion issues as opportunities arise and keep this as an ongoing goal in the 2024 Work Plan. Seconded by Fox. Passed unanimously. Motion by Chambliss to continue to participate in a meaningful way in the Juneteenth event and keep this as an ongoing goal in the 2024 Work Plan. Seconded by Yu. Passed unanimously. 7. The Cookbook Project The cookbook project has made progress with a vendor selected and process in place to collect recipes and stories from the community. Motion by Chambliss to carry over the cookbook project into the 2024 Work Plan. Seconded by Yu. Passed unanimously. 8. Diverse Voices - 2023 Statistics The Diverse Voices book talks have been successful with an increase in in-person attendance and large circulation numbers for the titles selected. Motion made by Murtaza-Rose to continue the book club and include it in the 2024 Work Plan and to allocate $250.00 towards the purchase of selected titles for the time period January - June 2024. Seconded by Yu. Passed unanimously. WORKPLAN 2024 The Motorama & Smoke event planned in Fall 2023 was cancelled. Motion made by Murtaza- Rose to add the Motorama & Smoke event to the 2024 Work Plan with a goal of having the event in July 2024. Seconded by Chambliss. Passed unanimously. 9. Rename Diverse Voices The intention of the Diverse Voices book club to be inclusive. Current trends indicate naming book clubs or books as diverse has a dividing or separating result instead. Motion made by Yu to  rename the book club to now be known as Novels & Neighbors. Seconded by Chambliss. Passed unanimously. 10. Book Selections 2024 Motion made by Yu to include a wider variety of types of fiction titles selected for the book club, such as fantasy and to select titles for the 2024 year as follows: People can submit any book recommendations to Staff Liaison Hames through December 10, 2023. Public voting will take place between December 11-16, 2023 for the time period of January - June 2024 and will repeat the process for the July - December 2024 time period in Spring 2024. 11. 2024 Calendar with Social Media Content Motion made by Murtaza-Rose to add having a 2024 Calendar including social media content in the 2024 Work Plan. Seconded by Chambliss. Passed unanimously. Motion made by Murtaza-Rose to appoint Yu as the social media volunteer for the Human Relations and Equity Commission. Seconded by Chambliss. Passed unanimously. Motion made by Murtaza-Rose to request the creation of an HREC Instagram page for the HREC to use to engage with the community. Seconded by Yu. Passed unanimously. Motion made by Murtaza-Rose to approve the 2024 Work Plan. Seconded by Fox. Passed unanimously. 12. MLK Event and Service Project 2024 MLK Jr. event still in planning stages. ADJOURNMENT NOTICE: Persons with disabilities needing accommodations for effective participation through electronic means in this meeting should contact the City Clerk at (248) 583-0826 or by email: clerks@madison-heights.org at least two working days in advance of the meeting. An attempt will be made to make reasonable accommodations.  MADISON HEIGHTS HUMAN RELATIONS AND EQUITY COMMISSION 2024 STRATEGIC PLAN Resources needed Timeline (staff support, Name of Project, Goal Benefit if completed Measure of Success Priority for Completion subcommittee, fundraising) 2024 Calendar with Increase exposure to January 2024 for May require Increase awareness High social media content a wide variety of calendar, February coordination on city measured by social cultural and religious 2024 for social media website, with city media engagement holidays, celebrations, content personnel and other and days of cultural and religious recognition to calendars individuals in Madison Heights and beyond Advise City Council on Diverse viewpoints December 2024 May require City Council takes High diversity and inclusion and experiences will coordination or information issues as be considered by City sharing of or presented by HREC opportunities arise Council requesting under advisement information with city during decision- departments making process Juneteenth: City will have a June 2024 May require HREC has presence at High Participate in a continued presence in coordination with the Juneteenth event meaningful way in planning and police, fire Juneteenth participation of the department, and DPS Juneteenth event Motorama & Smoke: Citizens will have an July 2024 May require HREC organizes and High Plan and execute car opportunity to find coordination with hosts a successful show and cooking common interests police, fire event based on event competition through hobbies and department, and DPS participation and shared experiences as well as other attendance outside organizations such as schools and businesses Cookbook Project: Citizens will have an November 2024 May require Product is available Medium Collect recipes and opportunity to coordination on city for order and digital sell community contribute to website to collect access by tree cookbook. cookbook and use recipes online lighting. recipes from their neighbors; HREC will fundraise Book Club: Increase exposure to December 2024 Physical location to Continue to see Medium Continue monthly different viewpoints host the book club interest in the book book club and and cultures to meetings; club book based on develop opportunities individuals in Madison collaboration with (1) increases to for outreach to the Heights and beyond library for book circulation of selected community and in selection and book books, and (2) schools. availability for increases in number circulation. of participants at book club meetings.