Community Relations Commission

Wednesday, December 7, 2022 7:00 to 8:30 pm Gamon Room, Wheaton City Hall In-Person or Virtual Attendance I. Call to Order Rachel called the meeting to order at 7:05; David seconded . II. Welcome III. Roll Call In Person: Rachel Bautista, Meg Beasley, Mike Hodel, Erica Nelson, Laura Peccarelli, David Sohmer, and Ben Waterman Absent: Scott Chedister, Saleha Jawaid, Marco Scola, and Angie Welker IV. Approval of Minutes Laura motioned that the minutes be approved; seconded by Erica V. Old Business a. Wheaton Gives Back i. Stuff-A-Truck (People’s Resource Center) 1. Volunteers unloaded 10,300 lbs of food 2. PRC VP of programming praised volunteers ii. Wheaton Gives Back - Winter Gear Collection (People’s Resource Center and Downtown Wheaton Association) 1. Collected enough items to fill two PRC trucks 2. Received note from PRC executive director who expressed appreciation as need has increased this year 3. DWA received positive feedback from participating pick up locations 4. Follow-up report on Wheaton Gives Back to be submitted to the city 5. Communications - event was included city’s newsletters, social media sites, DWA social media, Wheaton Patch and The Daily Herald 6. In 2023, will finalize participants in August and post flyers in earlier b. Veteran’s Day Suggestions for 2023 i. Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans is very focused on wishlist items ii. David will research a possible partnership with FT Cares c. Trees of Joy i. WCRC tree will be up through December 25 at the corner of Liberty & Hale ii. WCRC tree is a donation tree (ornament each have a wishlist item and instructions on donating) 1. Donation recipients include DuPage Pads and Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans 2. WCRC tree was promoted through city’s social media 3. Reminder to all to vote for WCRC tree d. Poinsettias - given in recognition to WCRC’s 2022 partners i. Purchase 15 plants from the Rotary Club to deliver to partners ii. Reviewed recipient list and divvied up deliveries iii. Discussed adding senior centers as recipients COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES December 7, 2022 1. Will revisit this idea for Valentine’s Day 2. David will research facilities (convalescent, supportive care, and memory care centers) iv. Erica motioned that the commission purchase 15 poinsettias at $18 each for a total of $270; Ben seconded. Expenditure was unanimously approved. VI. New Business a. Annual Report Submission i. The City Council will review annual reports submissions on December 12; Rachel will attend b. Calendar Planning - emphasis on more immediate and larger event planning i. January - Bernie Kleina Program on January 12 at 7 pm in partnership with the Wheaton Public Library- his was a program that was set up in Jan. 2022. 1. Kleina is a Wheaton-based photographer and the first to take color photos of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He is the former executive director of HOPE Housing 2. He is not charging a fee for this event. ii. March - International Women’s Month a. We Are Women Art exhibit i. Partners are Downtown Wheaton Association and the DuPage Art League ii. 2023 goal is 25 artists and an outreach to find additional artists not affiliated with the DuPage Art League as well as special needs artists iii. Match artists with businesses iv. Need volunteers to help plan the event in January v. Erica, Laura, and Meg will set up event in February b. Program at the library featuring notable women of Wheaton and their accomplishments (developed based on success of Marget Hamilton program in 2020) iii. May - Good Citizens Awards 1. WCRC team: Angie, Scott, and Ben 2. February - Finalize Overall Plan, Communications Plan, and lock in May day with City Council 3. March - Call for nominations 4. April - Close nominations and select recipients 5. May - present awards during City Council meeting iv. Festival of Cultures - long lead time 1. Still honing in on date with Park District; may enlist help from city manager 2. Determine if we want to include a “passport” for kids as in first year 3. Want to bring back food trucks 4. Canadian band reached out expressing interest; Erica will contact 5. Will subdivide tasks at an upcoming meeting v. March - National Disability Month 1. Discussion about identifying events centered around people with disabilities. 2. Will instead focus on incorporating special needs involvement to WCRC programming; not necessarily create a separate program a. WCRC can promote programs such as Buddy Baseball 2 COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES December 7, 2022 VII. Public Comment VIII. Adjournment Motion was made to end the meeting at 8:20 by Laura. Mike seconded. 1/11/23 3