Human Relations Commission

Human Relations Commission Monday, May 23rd, 2022 7:15pm In Person 5127 Oakton St. Skokie, IL. 60077 MINUTES Present: Deborah Arnold, Sheila Crumrine, Jonathan Lavin, Jim McVane, Amy Memis- Foler, Swarupa Pahan, Karen Sherman, Moe Yanes, Trustee Khem Khoeun Chair: Maria Monastero Bueno and Liaison Iris Barrios Not present (E) = Excused: Dephnee Camilien (E), Alexander Chaparro (E), David Donegan, Jaili Fajardo, Krishna Goyal, Anwar Haq, Marcos Levy, Louis Mercer, Michelle Reitman (E), Pearl Rubenzik, Jeremy Segall (E) James Specker (E) Meeting Called to Order at 7:20pm Approval of the Minutes by Jonathan Lavin and second by Karen Sherman Coming Together Iris put together a Coming Together video from the photos sent from the Human Relations Commissioners. Video was shown to the HRC. Members commented on the photos and the work that is being done from the Douglas Center from what they learned from the event. Coming Together video to be shared with Ann Tennes. Subcommittee Updates:  Alex C. not in attendance for the Block Party Forum update. Due to date proximity of June, HRC will hold off on a Block Party Forum. It was suggested to post Block Party information in the Skokie E-News. Block Party of the Year Award to be Voted in June.  Jim attended the Festival of Cultures. Stated there were many age groups. Karen also attended. Stated that the Festival was much small than in previous years. Their booklet was toned down. HRC members who attended stated that the acts were great and very focused on the cultures. The community did come out in full support.  Shelia provided an update on Skokie Pride. Sheila has been in communication with Cassie Scheffer about a table, tent and chairs for no charge. Donations are accepted. It will be a block party type of feel with food trucks, drag queen, drag king shows, games, bouncy houses and to support Skokie families. Iris to order the pinwheels and flags. HRC members agreed to have the items to pass out at the table. Iris tried to show the QR code that James emailed but it was not coming up. The QR code will be on the stick of each pinwheel and flag for the event. Paper copy also available as well. QR code will direct residents to the  HRC webpage. Skokie Pride will be June 26th from 1-4pm at Oakton Park. Deborah agreed to participate 3-4pm Karen, Sheila, Iris and Maria to be in attendance for 1-4pm. Old Business/Updates Jonathan attended his block’s BEAT meeting. Jonathan agreed the PD station would be a great location for the block party forum. Jonathan provided an update on Neil King and a background story of how Armond King receieved a letter in the mail from his bank and liked the photo/logo. Also, gave a background about the Skokie Lagoons. New Business Amy provided an update about Coming Together Skokie-Niles. There was a meeting the past Thursday. Amy let the HRC group the final updates from the Coming Together Committee. From the Coming Together Core Partners and the successful 2022 year, it will be the final year for Coming Together. The final breakfast will be held on May 26th at 9am. Jonathan spoke about the shooting on Main St. and the effects it is having on their neighbors. Amy brought up how Know Your Neighbor and Block Parties are encouraged during these times. Community efforts and Beat meetings to be informed as well. Conversations about how violence in Skokie is a high percent non-Skokie residents. Conversation about bringing in Officer Wilken and Co-Responder Program Brian and Officer Blu to next meeting. Iris to reach out about their availibility for June’s meeting. Next meeting brought up the next topic. Usually for June it is a pot luck due to July and August having a break. Chair Maria asked the group if they would like to have a pot luck. As a group, they felt as if the meeting should stay as is. Even with access to the lunch room and open space in the courtyard, in order for everyone to stay safe and comfortable, it was best to limit the food. Iris gave an update on the sign-up genius for the Farmer’s Market. Once Iris gets the sign up genius from Melissa V from Family Services in June, Iris will forward the sign up to the group via email. Melissa let Iris know that the sign up will not be ready until June. Jim let the group know about SEED. His SEED has completed. He attended on Saturdays at the library. He had a great experience with his co-hort. Jonathan stated that he was really impressed with Stand Against Racism and what it brought up for him during the Stand and the post discussion. Swarupa joined in the discussion about the post discussion and how a community member brought up a hate group in Skokie. Trustee Khem and Amy brought more to the table about the hate group and their coded language that is being used to try to get onto Skokie school boards. HRC members would like to learn more on how to be informed about the coded language and what can be done. Bringing in the anti-defamation league to HRC meeting was discussed and about the safety for the children. Amy spoke about JAB leaflets being previously passed out in Skokie and the ADL being contacted. At the end of the meeting, Amy made an anouncement that she and her family will be moving at the end of June/early July. The exact date is not known at this time. Due to the move and the next meeting date, Amy will not be able to attend the next HRC June meeting. Amy expressed her gratitude to her HRC members and her time spent with HRC. Many of the members went one by one and the experience that they have shared getting to know Amy throughout the years, either the last 13 years or even in the last recent months. Moe let the group know that Amy’s last service will be on June 3rd at 6:30pm. HRC members are invited to join. Next meeting will be Monday, June 27th at Village Hall Adjournment at 8:38pm by Amy, Sheila second