2007-04-05 Human Relations Advisory Committee Minutes

Home Browse Search

HUMAN RELATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE'S VED MINUTES SOWN CLERK April 5, 2007, 7:30PM at the Police Station First Floor Community Room 'READING, MASS. Present: Margaret Soli, Chair; Police Chief James Cormier, C. McDonald, N. Najmi membAl MAY - I A 8:31 The Chair noted her plans to attend the next regular meeting of the Massachusetts Association of Human Relations Committees in Medford, Ma on April 12. Diane MacLeod will lead a discussion on the recent New Bedford arrest issue (an immigration operation), focusing on what went wrong, and what. we can do about it. The May 11 meeting of the Massachusetts Association of Human Relations Committees (9:30AM - 1 lAM) will include a presentation on school safety issues. Richard Cole, well-known expert on school safety will present studies on bullying, harassment, and hate crimes. Chief Cormier will invite Officer Abati (RMHS resource officer) to attend the meeting. The school principals and assistant principals will also be apprised of this meeting by email. C. McDonald will pursue whether or not the RMHS drama club would like to have RCTV take a video of the program they present to the elementary schools. Channel 5 has also put out a bullying video. The minutes from March 8, 2007 were approved. The Chair began with a re-cap of the March meeting, in which we had good discussion about the Metco program. It was disappointing that Ms. Castro was unable to make the meeting, but she may come to the May Yd meeting and show the video Far From Home. The Chair expressed difficulty connecting with Jennifer Smith to learn more about the "No Place For Hate" program as a means of making Reading more inviting to minorities. The Chair will talk to Selectman Ben Tafoya about taking no action on Tolerance Rd. Future plans were discussed and include: 1. Pursuing information on the "No Place For Hate" program 2. No meeting in July. Decision on whether to hold and August meeting will be decided at our June meeting. 3. Ms. Castro the Reading Metco coordinator will attend our May meeting. 4. Try to get Jennifer Smith to attend our June meeting. The town website will soon include links to the Human Relations Advisory Committee which will need to be kept updated. Only one Reading student has applied to Camp If. It is an interfaith camp, and therefore we are not promoting it in the public schools, but instead have informed the Clergy Association. The Chair mentioned this camp to the students who attended Anytown. N. Najmi will put information about Anytown out to teachers again, once the BCCJ website is updated. The meeting was adjourned shortly after 8:30PM. Respectfully submitted, Nancy Najmi, member