Salem Human Rights Coalition

Salem No Place for Hate Committee Meeting Minutes November 1 2016 5:30 PM 120 Washington Street, 3rd Floor Introductions: Fawaz (Fuzzy) Abusharrkh, Joe Amico, Jim Bostick, Jeff Cohen, Rebecca Comage, Lucy Corchado (Vice Chair, Treasurer) Nicole Lasomb, Michael Millett, Alison Miller, Gricel Ocasio, Fara Wolfson (Clerk) Guests: Lisa McBride (Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion, Salem State University) Meeting was called to order at 5:30 PM Public Comments: There were no public comments or additional comments by committee members at the start of the meeting. Committee Comments: Officer Reports Clerk Motion was made to send revisions to minutes via email (specifically names of guests because list was incomplete, some names were unclear at October meeting) Treasurer Next batch of T-shirts has been ordered. Different sizes and styles will be available. We still have shirts at Witch Museum and Wicked Good Books. The new order is coming on November 8. Also we received $260 from Wicked Good Books (13 shirts sold) yesterday. So we currently have $1362.85 in account. There is a pending $300 commitment to Driving with Selvi. Chair - November 15th monthly meeting of Opiate Task Force in Salem. All are welcome. Meeting will be held at 6:30 PM at Ed Moriarty’s house. - November 15th NP4H receiving Advocacy Award at North Shore Elder Service. Lucy and Jeff will accept award on behalf of NP4H. Jim will create Press Release - November 15th Public Hearing on Women’s Issues at Salem State from 4:30 - 6:30. Registration form was sent via email by Laura. - Speaker at December meeting will be Kevin Palumbo from CEOs Against Stigma (of Mental Illness) - Conrad canot make today’s meeting but had update on Hate Crime Awareness Program. Police Department received a grant to start juvenile portion so he will start a committee to oversee implementation (Nicole and Fara will represent NP4H) - Officer Elections coming up. Please email Laura if you are interested in running for Chair, Vice Chair, Clerk, Treasurer. (In addition to officers we will continue to have the 2 subcommittees: - Update re: Rainbow Times Boxes in Salem: 2 people from New Hampshire have been arrested. Things are moving along with investigation and the police department has been very supportive. Though this did not meet the criteria to be prosecuted as a hate crime (lack of tangible physical evidence) there are federal charges... it’s very important that someone is held accountable. Nicole and Gricel expressed gratitude for the help and support from the public, from Mayors Office, City Council, school system, NP4H. This was taken seriously and people worked together. The pre-trial is scheduled for Dec 7th. Guest: Lisa McBride (Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion, Salem State) shared her background (diversity and inclusion for 12 years, police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. She worked in Homicide, Special Victims and then became a special agent with DEA. * Issues discussed include access to health care including more girls in STEM and in medical specialities. * One of first things to accomplish will be campus grant for dialogues related to violence impacting community (particularly young men of color) How do we bridge the gap between the community and the university? * Commended Rebecca’s involvement. * Stay tuned for “When Cultures Meet,” a series of dialogues beginning in January. * In March, Antonia Novello (14th Surgeon General of the US, from Puerto Rico) will be here for the week (to go into school system, meet with health care providers in the Point, etc.) * Salem State became an associate member of HACU 2 weeks ago (now 1 of 38 universities.) This opens doors for faculty and students. * “I don’t think you can have diversity and inclusion without equity... Hope to bring different dimensions of diversity to Salem State... [I] hope to be of service to community.” Indigenous Peoples Day Movement proposed by Mike Millette. Other communities have recently passed resolutions. Hoping to take next steps to have Salem join this movement and potentially look beyond Salem and affect change at the state level. He then shared why we should celebrate Indigenous People’s Day instead of Columbus Day. Mike Millette made a motion for the committee to favor the concept and take it to City Council. “Driving with Selvi” screening scheduled for November 16th at Salem Five Community Bank. Doors open at 5:30, film at 6:00. Both Selvi and Elisa Paloschi (the film’s director) will be there for Q&A following the film. Shared some background. Thank you Jim, Jeff, Gricel and Nicole for their work on publicity. (also Rainbow Times, Northey Street House B&B, Adriatic, Passage to India, Front Street Cafe, North Shore 104.9 and numerous restaurants and businesses in Salem) Moving forward help is needed with publicity (posting flyers, share via social media). Money raised is not going to Salem No Place for Hate. It is going to Save Her a Seat. See http:// drivingwithselvi.com/ for more information. Email coming regarding help with set-up. Visit to Mosque is still in the works. David, Fuzzy and Jeff are working on this, which potentially includes making arrangements for a bus for members of the committee and members of the community. Announcements * Hispanic Newspaper Gricel and Nicole are working on creating a Hispanic newspaper out of Salem. They will be working with Salem State, the LLC and the school system. * Trangender Day of Remembrance is on November 20th. Contact Laura with questions. There will also be events at Salem State. All local events should be published on national page. * World AIDS Day. December 1st. Look for program details. * Step Afrika November 14th at 8:00 PM at Salem State. Internationally known African dance community. * Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies Ned Blackhawk November 17th at 7:00 PM Motion to adjourn meeting. Meeting was adjourned.