Community Relations Commission

Wednesday, June 5, 2024 7:00 to 8:30 pm Gamon Room, Wheaton City Hall In-Person or Virtual Attendance I. Call to Order a. Meeting was called to order at 7:05 pm. II. Welcome Mission: The Community Relations Commission’s purpose is to foster and promote understanding, mutual respect, cooperation, and positive relations in a diverse inclusive community. The Community Relations Commission is also to promote increased participation in all aspects of community life and a sense of shared community among all residents. III. Roll Call In person: Meg Beasley, Andrea Clayton, Laura Peccarelli, Erica Nelson, and David Sohmer, Zoom: Scott Chidester and Mike Hodel Absent: Kathy Bushong, Saleha Jawaid, Shauna Thorson, and Ben Waterman IV. Public Comment a. Community Presentation - People’s Resource Center - Debbie Dudek, Advancement Manager New PRC facility will open its doors in September. The Clothes Closet will be located where food pantry is now. Expanding parking will reduce long lines. The 11,000-square-foot facility will include the food pantry, classroom space, office space, a new loading dock, a composter, and baler. A food pantry and clothing closet is what most people envision when they think of PRC, but it also is an agency of empowerment. Provides financial assistance (rent, utilities, car repairs); computer training (certification in Microsoft Office, computer refurbishing, hybrid programs, and Chat GBT); Adult Literacy & Language (partner with COD, Gen Ed, US Citizenship tests); job assistance (one-on-one job coaching; and art programs for both adults and children All classes are free. About 250 people attended one of 25 classes/ services offered. There was 37% increase in clients last year. (reasons for this: inflation, rent is high, underemployment from Covid). Last year 4 million pounds of food (healthy food) were distributed. At 2024 Wheaton Municipal Band Concerts, there will be a food drive sponsored by the Lions Club of Wheaton. The 50th anniversary of PRC takes place in 2025. Religious Education Community COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES May 1, 2024 founded the PRC in Wheaton as a county-wide food bank. Now independent organizations, DuPage P.A.D.s and the DuPage Community Clinic evolved from PRC. The second PRC location in Westmont opened in 2015. Next steps: Identify ways in which to partner with PRC and promote 50th anniversary. V. Approval of Minutes a. Approval of minutes from April 10, 2024. Laura moved that the minutes be approved as presented; Dave seconded. VI. Old Business a. Good Citizens Awards (WCRC program) - Recap and suggestions i. Ask the city to monitor HVAC to make the room more comfortable ii. Decorations and flowers were a nice addition iii. Assemble a list of food providers and costs to help plan for 2025 events iv. The evening went well and no other changes are suggested at this time v. GCA yard signs are up around Wheaton b. D-Day Update - Partner program i. Erica met with Paul Bischoff to get information about Dick Rung and bio info about Paul ii. Meg worked with City of Wheaton communications department to feature D-Day profiles and events on WCRC page and as part of the Wheaton Weekly iii. Erica attended the “Celebrity D-Day Servicemen” library program; 50 people attended in person and many more were online iv. Erica will send an email to the mayor and council to encourage participation c. FOC Update - (WCRC program - September 15, 2024) - Erica i. Communications will use same layout for flyers ($1,200 for printing) a. Need commissioner support for program ii. Food Trucks: Won’t publicize food trucks, but Laura will research possibility of having one or two at the event. iii. Dignity for Girls - affiliated with the PRC may coordinate a collection at the event to benefit the PRC. iv. Mural: Shauna and Kathy are working on the mural and will incorporate “hello” in the languages of cultures represented at festival v. Sponsorships - Dave and Ben are working on securing sponsors a. Budget is $11,000 b. Goal is to secure between $6,500 and 7,500 in sponsorship dollars vi. Review of assignments 1. T-shirts for commissioners, council members, and volunteers - Ben 2. Cultural Booth participants - sending invitations out a. Mike has started to contact participants and has had a favorable response 3. Emcee - Haaris Uddin and Tony Asta will return 2 COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES May 1, 2024 4. Kid’s passport pages and prizes - Laura 5. Logistics and safety plan being reviewed vii. Entertainment is confirmed - prices are the same ($7,000 for music) 1. Sound: Jim Warren will return and said that the 2023 entertainment lineup was too tight for sound set up 2. Line-up will include primary three acts a. Funkadesi will kick off the Festival i. Will perform from 1:15 - 2:30 pm ii. 15 minutes in between b. Institute of Traditional Irish Music (formerly Murphy Roche) i. Will perform from 2:45 - 3: 15 pm ii. 30 minutes in between c. Costas Collectivo (formerly Salsa del Norte) ends festival d. Storytelling in between i. Curtain to be used to highlight speaker and give set-up crew a shield e. Other entertainment i. Midwest Soarring will be invited and would perform near their booth. Need an ad hoc donation for that ii. Wheaton College Gospel Choir - another ad hoc perhaps for the 30 minutes of singing viii. Art contest a. Andrea contacted art teachers at schools b. Meg to make digital copy of call for submissions and city will publicize it c. Submissions will be due September 1 and the winner will be announced by September 6. ix. Other 1. Laura suggested that we have two welcome tables, one at each entrance VII. New Business a. WCRC has an opening now that Angela Welker has departed to serve on the Wheaton Park District Board. Try to identify potential applicants. i. Erica is speaking to an applicant, Yvette Diericx, who may be approved by the end of June b. Fine & Cultural Arts Commission Make Music Wheaton event on June 21 from 9 am until 10 pm (part of a worldwide celebration) continuous soundscape of music, throughout downtown Wheaton. CRC was asked to help musicians and provide information to participants. c. No meeting in July. Ongoing work on FOC to continue. VIII. Adjournment Meeting adjourned at 8:34 pm by consensus. August 12, 2024 Date Chairperson 3