Salem Human Rights Coalition

Meeting Minutes | January 10, 2023 Present Members  Alphonse Wright | Chair  Shimon Avish | Treasurer  Denise Regan | Member  Katelyn Adams | Liason, Salem State University  Julio Mota | Liason, City of Salem, Mayor’s Office  Lucy Corchado | Liason, Salem State University  Kerry Neenan | Liaison, Commission on Disabilities Present Guests  Skyler Clark  Chris Fuccione Meeting Called to order, recording initiated. Welcome and Introductions. Opportunity for Public Comment. Governor’s Statement, read by Chair. Officer Reports A. Chairs General Updates. B. Clerk Not Present. C. Treasurer Agreed to Salem Film Festival $300 Sponsorship. SHRC Account Balance is $417.79. Liaison Reports A. Kerry Neenan, Commission on Disabilities Subcommittee on rental wheelchairs for those visiting Salem. Could Destination Salem be the gatekeeper for sign in/out of chairs? Northeast ARC is hiring a Community Resource Specialist to connect individuals with community resources and opportunities for engagement in the cities and towns where they live. Also looking for other opportunities for volunteering or classes; perhaps businesses focused on opportunities for disabled? https://www.salemma.gov/salem-human-rights-coalition Page 1 of 3  Meeting Minutes | January 10, 2023 B. Katelyn Adams & Lucy Corchado, SSU For the Salem Charter Academy January Essay Contest, Shimon Avish and Veronica Faustino read 48 entries and selected three winners of the contest. Each winner received a $50 gift card and a copy of Rep. John Robert Lewis’ book, March. Winners were selected in Elementary, Middle, and High School levels. Two honorable mentions were also awarded certificates and a copy of the book as well, which was unanimously agreed upon by the Coalition during this session. This amounted to a donation of $150 in gift cards, and five books at ~$10 each for a total of $200. Additionally, Salem State’s convocation will occur Monday January 23, 2023 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in Vets Hall on Center Campus. There will be a vigil in Viking Hall, Room 123 behind the Starbucks, the day before on January 22nd from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Students are invited to read MLK passages during the vigil. At 3:00 p.m. next to the Library, there will be a march from Loring Avenue to Viking Hall. February 2, 2023 will mark SSU’s Black History Month kickoff, followed by Advocacy Month in March 2023. Ideas and activities for this are welcomed. The Institute of Politics Voter Registration partnership is welcomed to assist during these events. C. Captain Burke, Salem Police Department Patriot Front members on trial in Salem for graffiti were found not guilty. The state cited that a lack of proof went into the Judge’s decision; Chief Miller and Captain Burke are disappointed but will continue to push forward. D. Julio Mayor’s Office With 2022’s elections, there is a chance of re-organization. Now former Mayor Driscoll is serving as Massachusetts’s Lt. Governor. Salem’s Acting Mayor is Robert McCarthy, and Chris Sicuranza is the new Chief of Staff. A newly created position, Neighborhood Stability Coordinator, started on Tuesday January 10, 2023. That role is filled by Lorelee Stewart and her office is open to the public. 2023 Officer Elections Elected to Chair: Alphonse Wright Elected to Treasurer: Shimon Avish Elected to Clerk: Pamela Geiser Next elections will be held in December 2023 https://www.salemma.gov/salem-human-rights-coalition Page 2 of 3  Meeting Minutes | January 10, 2023 Presentation by Shimon Avish: Fascism in America Part III PowerPoint to come. The coalition is in the middle of establishing “Process Flows”. They are essentially ruling as to what should be done in various situations (i.e., recruitment, demonstrations, actions like graffiti, confrontations, etc.) Letters to Editor are part of the Process Flow. These letters, written on behalf of Coalition members, should be written by a chosen PR representative. Upcoming Events - NAACP National Convention in Boston at end of July. - Black Diasphora Expo at Old Town Hall co-sponsored by the City of Salem and Salem United, Inc. Artists needed! Apply here https://bit.ly/programinterestapp by January 31st. Volunteers needed! Contact Doreen Wade at salemunitedinc@gmail.com if you’re interested. Contact Julie Barry, Senior Planner for Arts & Culture for general event information (978)619-5685 x42506 jbarry@salem.com. - Discussion of fundraising pushed to next meeting. Adjournment Next Meeting Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom Please visit https://www.salemma.gov/salem-human-rights-coalition for more information. https://www.salemma.gov/salem-human-rights-coalition Page 3 of 3