2008-10-02 Human Relations Advisory Committee Minutes

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R 7C~.I`I HUMAN RELATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE k°;! C l_ f c r MINUTES R11-7AD!i Cr P`'fA,cW. October 2, 2008, 7:30PM at Police Station Upstairs Conference Room ~uG A G 214 P 2: 45 Present: Nancy Najmi, Chair, Margaret Soli, Karen Janowski, Lori Hodin, C. McDonald, Chief Cormier, P. Kelley, members. The minutes of the meeting of September 4 were approved after corrections. There has been some recent graffiti at two schools some of which may have included a swastika. The graffiti was immediately cleaned up, the matter has not been publicized and the investigation is on going by the police. No evidence has surfaced that it is a serious issue and not an isolated incident. Karen advised that the school committee had not heard anything about it. The program Rachel's Challenge will be presented in the schools soon and is tonight being discussed at the Committee on Substance Abuse. The community night is still expected to be on October 30. Lori commented that, speaking from the experience at a school at which a murder occurred, the program built on Rachel's Challenge sounds great. Different responses to safety issues in the schools such as metal detectors or ID badges are sometimes considered. Members agreed with Nancy's suggestion to attempt to bring as speakers to future meetings Richard Abate, RMHS resource officer and coordinator of Rachel's Challenge, Sharon Burke RMHS Media Center Specialist and GSA Advisor, and Jessenia Castro, METCO Coordinator. Sharon may bring witnesses to a meeting who might talk about bullying and about kids who drop out of school because of bullying on the basis of their being or claimed to be gay. It was noted that the drama society will be putting on the play, the Laramie Project, based on the case of Matthew Shepard who was bullied and killed because he was gay. Charlie suggested that it might be possible to put a program and/or a TV show on the work of Robin Dantona, former school committee member who did a lot of work on the issue of bullying. Lori noted that the Wellness department of the school department should have a youth risk survey including the topic of bullying and that Northeastern University has programs for training mentors in violence prevention. Paul suggested that we might attempt to tie in the program of Amnesty international to write letters in support of prisoners of conscience. It was proposed that in lieu of the November meeting members would endeavor to attend the Commenuity Program on Rachel's Challenge on October 30. The meeting adjourned at 8:35PM Respectfully submitted, Paul Kelley, Secretary. f