Cultural Connections Committee

Minutes of the Nashua Ethnic Awareness Special Meeting On 16 February 2012, 3:30 pm, Nashua Public Library Members present: Sgt. Camacho, Sharon Dalton, Ronni Karlsberg, Karen Emis-Williams, Elias Muchuma Niva, Jennifer Hinderer, Scott Jaquith, Mary Ann Melizzi-Gola, Ann Ackerman Also present: Andrew Smith, guest speaker and nominated member for membership Absent: Paul Bergeron, Claudia Mahr, Carmen Nunez, Rabbi Jon Spira-Savant The meeting was called so that Andrew Smith could present information regarding the NH Disproportionate Minority Youth Contact(DMC)findings. Mr. Smith who is both a federal and state coordinator for the DMC is a Nashua resident and a member of the Nashua DMC. The Nashua DMC has asked the Nashua EAC for assistance. Mr. Smith had a power-point (see attached) which he used to facilitate the information transmission. There was a substantive discussion during the hour and a half meeting. Key points of the presentation:  Disproportionate contact is determined by identifying an ethnic/ racial group’s percentage in the state population v the number of minority/racial youth in Youth Detention Center or corrections system* vs the minority/racial adult in jail/corrections system.  In NH, there are three cities – Nashua, Manchester, and Rochester that are being studied because of concerns with their numbers.  Part of the mission of the DMC is to reduce the numbers by addressing issues with youth and families when they first enter the system.  Questions exist of why there is an increase in the numbers in NH.  It is important to note that racial/ethnic self-identification changed from the 2000 US Census to the 2010. In 2000, a individual could identify as white, black, Asian or mixed racially. In the 2010, there were four additional identifiers available which makes tracking statistics challenging.  What Mr. Smith and the local DMC needs is assistance in identifying Nashua individuals who work in the nine contact areas (see attached) to serve on a local DMC committee. These individuals should be in a position with the authority and influence to assist and/or help identify youths at risk. Select key points of the discussion on DMC presentation  The numbers in Nashua  What is the Nashua EAC doing since it was reactivated  Why just minority/racial youth? Shouldn’t we work for all youth?   Why just people who are involved in the agencies/ organizations of the nine contact points? Concern that this could narrow perceptions and even approaches.  EAC members are willing to assist and will discuss this more at the March meeting. In the meantime, members should email any names with contact information and identification of some of the Nashua people in the nine contact points who might be helpful to the Nashua DMC. That information should be emailed directly to Andrew Smith at andrew.smith@dhhs.state.nh.us Other discussion items to come up at a future meeting:  When the EAC was reorganized by Mayor Lozeau, the EAC was to be an umbrella organization with two subcommittees DMC and the Gate City Initiative (help to refugees and new immigrants). For a while, they operated this way. Today, the Initiative has some common members but it is more of an independent group. There was question whether it is really a city group since other non-Nashua groups are facilitating it.  Initially, Mayor Lozeau did not want the EAC to do festivals, similar activities, or apply for grants. It was brought up that some of this should be discussed with the mayor again. Sponsoring or cosponsoring cultural enriching events or assisting with cultural competency of some sort makes sense for this group.  It was announced that several people had been nominated for membership on the EAC as citizen members. Someone had heard that still two others had been nominated.  In June, there will an opportunity for the EAC to assist a group of people who are citizens of another country. More details to follow.  The next meeting will be 14 March 2012.