Anti-Racism Task Force

Anti-Racism Task Force Regular ARTF Meeting Minutes March 11th 2024 Attendance o Pat Alston o Darnell Ford-Co Chair o Michelle Clay o Brian Gartner o Joshua Cotton o Sacha Armstrong Crockett o Sam Rival Dr. Lee Morgan o Ahmad Daniels o Linda Salafia o Absent-Kirk Hart o Absent-Reverend Anderson o Absent –Colleen Alleyne Quorum: Yes_X___No____ Start Time: 6:20 pm Stop Time: 7:37pm Call to Order: Co-Chair Darnell Ford called the meeting to order at: 6:20 pm -Quorum. Monday March 11th 2024 Anti-racism Taskforce, Co-Chair Ford called the meeting to order at 6:20 pm. Public Session: No Public comment. New Business: State Rep. Q. William Scholarship Co. Chair Crocket said 2023 was the first Scholarship given in honor of the late State Rep. Q. Williams The Middletown ARTF will be presenting a 2024 Scholarship for students who has demonstrated commitment to communities of color, interest in public service and social service. Last Year (2023) 3 Scholarships were presented. Co-chair Crockett, suggested the ARTF present 2 Scholarships for 2024, Co-Chair Crockett said the Scholarship dollar amount may have been too high last year. Member Morgan asked if the Scholarship can be open up to any Middletown resident. He said there may be students attending a magnet school or schools outside of the Middletown school system who may wish to apply for the scholarship. The Education Work group will be responsibility for managing the late Q. Williams Scholarship for 2024. Motion was made and motion was passed. Q. Williams Scholarship decisions will be made by the Education sub-Committee. Housing Segregation April is Fair Housing Month. Co-chair Crockett, thought the April meeting will be a good time to discuss affordable housing. Affordable housing is a racial matter. The majority of renters are people of color. The City of Middletown is not meeting the demographics that is needed. Co-chair Crockett would like to come up with some recommendations. Create a better framework for community engagement. She said the Affordable Housing plan went out to home owners in Middletown and not renters. She said the City and the Task Force are not doing their job. She would like the Task Force members to look at the data from the Affordable Housing Plan and come up with recommendations for more surveys to go out to everyone and not home owners. Community Building Co-chair Ford said he would like the Cross walk to be completed by June. He would like Crosswalk to be completed at the same time as Juneteenth events. Member Clay said she will reach out to Erica (Juneteenth Committee). Josh Cotton is the Co-chair for the Juneteenth event. He will also follow up with Erica. Miller Bridge Community Farm. Co-chair Crockett said The Miller Bridge is on the agenda because it is up for a Land lease request. The space is going to be used as a community farm. It is BIPOC lead. A good way of using City spaces. Co-chair Crockett thought it was a good way to use City Spaces. She found it inspiring. Member Gartner shared more information on the project. Diana’s project “These Crafty Bees” Cultivating Justice- the need to bring young people to the fold. Bee Keeping and raising young chickens. Co-chair Ford asked how can the ARTF can support the project. Member Gartner, said the ARTF could take a vote to help support the Miller Bridge initiative. Co-Chair Ford said a recommendation will be sent to the Major, full disclosure that the ARTF supports “These Crafty Bees” as it fits the theme of Community Building and Connection for the Youths and Citizens of Middletown. All in Favor, no one opposed or any extensions. Rise and Dine Supper series. Co-Chair Crockett said it has been a difficult 4 years getting anything done. She said it has been difficult to get community feedback from municipality and black communities. She said she wanted to mention that she has been reminded twice that the Anti-Racism Task Force is not about Black people and but all people of all colors. She said BIPOC was used in the mission statement. She said if you are influenced by that language, Black people are represented first in that. And also the handbook that was presented by all the folks that who would be effected by this work would be the Black community. Rise and Dine Series. Co-chair Crockett spoke on the implementation of the Rise and Dine Series. She said it will be about creating space outside the city where “we “can break bread. Where there can be conversations about the Themes. The community workgroup will be the responsible for coordinating the Rise and Dine Series. Each Task Force member will be tasked to bring two individuals to the Series. The Task Force will inquire on ways in which the mayor’s office can help. Co-chair Ford would like to come up with some timelines for the next meeting. Labor Equity. Pat and Co-chair Crockett met regarding Labor Equity. They went over the Workforce Summary. Their hope is to make a recommendations to the Task Force regarding communication with HR. There is a concern in regards to the goal candidates. There is concern about accountability. Criminal Justice Co-Chair Ford said the CRB draft report will be moving forward to Public Safety. Co-Chair said he will put the CRB on the agenda for Public Safety. MOTION to adjourn made by Member Morgan, second motion made by Michelle Clay. The Motion passed unanimously