Ethnic Community Committee

City of Sterling Heights ETHNIC COMMUNITY COMMITTEE Official minutes of the Thursday, October 5, 2023 regular meeting. MEMBERS PRESENT: Kelechi Anyaogu Abbott Basal Willie Dechavez Kozeta Elzhenni Naketa Jones Susan Kattula Iqbal Singh Vipul Tripathi Carmen Williams MEMBERS ABSEN T Mohammed Alomari Dunia Arif OFFICIALS PRESENT: Community Relations Services Specialist Sue Giallombardo 1. Call to Order – Carmen Williams 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Minutes as amended: MOTION by Elzhenni, SECONDED by Anyaogu. Approved 9-0 4. Communication from Citizens - None 5. Communications from the Sterling Heights Police Department  Giallombardo stated that the Community Services Bureau will send an officer to future meetings per Sgt. Aaron Susalla. 6. Agenda A. Diversity Dinner Wrap-Up  Giallombardo presented the profit statement for the event, and stated that sponsorships and ticket sales went very well, and that they event raised a profit of approximately $3,000 to the committee’s escrow account.  Giallombardo thanked members for their contributions to making the event a success, whether it was attending, bringing guests, suggesting entertainment, or soliciting sponsorships and dessert donations. Giallombardo added that she thought guest speaker Priya Mann did an amazing job.  Jones commended Williams for a nice job acting as MC.  Singh thanked Giallombardo for her help in coordinating the sponsors and tickets sales. Singh also wanted to officially thank Mayor Taylor and City Council for supporting the event. Giallombardo stated that the committee invites Mayor and City Council as their guests, along with all local  politicians. Kattula added that the Mayor and City Council should also be thankful to the Committee for putting on the event, Giallombardo agreed.  Elzhenni suggested sending thank you letters to the sponsors of the event; Giallombardo stated that she sends thank you’s to the sponsors that did not attend the dinner, along with a copy of the event program. Elzhenni suggested sending thank you’s to every sponsor and Giallombardo stated that she would do that going forward.  Elzhenni suggested that members become more involved at the event, and asked if members could sit at the front table as guests were checking-in; Giallombardo stated that that would definitely be OK, as long as members could arrive at the venue early enough. Giallombardo stated that we would plan for this next year, and welcomes any suggestions from members to improve on the event. B. Building Bridges  Dechavez stated that he attended the city’s Visioning 2040 Town Hall meeting, the Thai Food Fest, Sterlingfest (along with coordinating 16 volunteers to sit at the Ethnic Committee’s table), and the USP4GG Unity Day, which had 50 vendors and 1,000 attendees. Dechavez added that October is Filipino American History month, he and Singh decorated the showcase at the Community Center and it was visited by State Rep. Nate Shannon, Dechavez invited members to take a look. He added that there will be a dinner on Oct. 21 to honor 12 Outstanding Michigan Filipino Americans.  Singh attended Visioning 2040 meeting, the Thai Food Fest, Sterlingfest, assisted with the showcase at the Community Center, and attended the USP4GG Unity Day  Williams shared that she attended the city’s Juneteenth celebration, Sterlingfest, as well as the Naturalization Ceremony. She added that she’d like to discuss the true meaning of ‘Building Bridges’, as opposed to attending events and meetings. Members attending events should be making connections at those events.  Kattula stated that she has been assisting with teaching deaf students of all ethnicities how to learn English sign language; she added that her group recently received a grant for a driving simulator, which is allow her and her colleagues to teach these students how to drive. 7. Old Business:  Giallombardo reminded members to RSVP for the Volunteer Appreciation Banquet taking place on October 12; she added that Willie Dechavez will be receiving a Commissioner of the Year award at the event. 8. New Business  Williams stated that she feels very passionate about Building Bridges and would like the committee to discuss how members can work together, reach out to other organizations, other ethnicities and try to make some connections. Giallombardo suggested discussing the definition at the next meeting. 9. Adjournment. Meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.