The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2017-06-08 Human Relations Advisory Committee Minutesp`1t F R +ILKORpp''C�' Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Human Relations Advisory Committee Date: 2017-06-08 Building: Police Station Address: 15 Union Street Purpose: Monthly Meeting Attendees: Members - Present: Clark G_IVEi TO`,`lH CLDK r }> ^ 1011 JUL I l A 8 30 i Time: 7pm Location: Community Room Session: Version: Final Heather McLean, Linda Snow Dockser, Lori Hodin, John Arena, David Members - Not Present: Kyung Yu, Lynn Dornink Others Present: Susan Gaskell, Gina McCormick, Jamie Michaels, Bill Chetwynd Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Lori Hodin on behalf of Lynn Dornink Topics of Discussion: Opening activity - Linda leads training exercise from ADL and UU church religious education director. Crumple paper and throw in the basket contest and debrief-- connects to gaps in access to success due to group membership, and how inequality can lead to poor self-esteem and internalization of stereotypes. Sharing experience/ Public Input—Reading newspaper quoted Class President's graduation speech, very moving. Heather is happy to be back, last week's BOS meeting reaffirmed the importance of HRAC. Thanks group for coming together on this committee. Thinking about the anniversary of the Pulse shooting in Orlando and how much terror and fear there still is the world, reminder of how far we need to go. Jamie confession and renewed energy to this work-- my church hosted a youth choir from Georgia, really exciting, Journey with Jesus- 72 middle school and HS kids most of it was great. In the middle of piece narrated story of the good Samaritan took an anti-Semitic turn John Arena—were they talking in Yiddish? the contextualization of the good Samaritan story is important Jamie- Let's stop this conversation I don't need to be educated about the meaning of the good Samaritan story at a government meeting. Linda- after selectman's meeting someone said to me the problem is not the Jews, Islam is Page 1 1 FR r Town of Reading v Meeting Minutes '6Js'lIKORpP�IF the root of the problem. I said that's not true our mission is to educate people beyond the stereotypes, if we get all the Muslims out we're not any safer. I was pretty blown away. I had to correct a misperception that anti-Semitism in Holocaust was all Hitler's fault. As Anna Ornstein points out the ordinary people were brainwashed by systematic messages. Many communities are supporting Muslims by doing hijab days and itchar dinners. Gina renewed spirit -2 people who stood up and said it's such a coincidence that all these things are happening when we're trying to get HRR passed and pushing HRAC ahead. Startled by how widely held the conspiracy theory was. HS WOD rep- I got a `Hate has No Home Here' sign for my house. My parents let it be but didn't talk about it. My dad was a tiny bit nervous, but now they're all happy because our immigrant landscaper from Mexico said he really appreciated the sign. Superintendent Doherty said that he can't allow signs because they're political—confusing because I don't think anyone from any political party believes in hate. Killam principal reiterated the same point. It's confusing because signs don't define hate in anyway. UU church of Reading having a meeting to discuss it, congregation needs to decide as a whole what symbols they need to put in/on their building. Maybe Superintendent could clarify and write a statement about his reasoning for not posting signs because they are `political'. NOTE: Linda said she would follow up and ask Superintendent for rationale and let committee know. Please see the addendum to these minutes for Dr. Doherty's response. Multipronged response at RMHS- History teachers spoke to students, students had chance to sign HRR, AWOD students spoke at class assemblies and collected signatures on their "Resolution of Respect and Acceptance." They have collected signatures from the RMHS faculty, Leo Club, GSA, AWOD, Book Club, Girl Rising Club, Playwriting Club, Class Officers of 2017, NSHS, Language Club, Interact Club, Robockets, French Club, Spanish Club, Drama Club, Politics Club, and Habitat for Humanity In addition, the Principal emailed parents and met with the students who discovered the Swastikas and others. Volunteers needed: Friends and Family Day 6/17 Linda and Susan at 10:30, Lori 1:30-3:00 Heather will send out reminder, Linda will send out schedule Connections to future Student Liaisons: Plans to meet with AWOD: Katherine went out to lunch with Phoebe Singer—passionate about what we do, and eloquent, but she has drama practice Thursday's 7-9. Also reached out to Tali Shorn Also Kat Neville (12'' grade) president of GSA who is interested in becoming a liaison- pair with Talia (10`}' grader)—they'll be the next wave Thanks Katherine for your help. Jess and Ruthie met students during flex block -over 70 applications! Page 1 2 FR O c Town of Reading r Meeting Minutes 'aJr INCORwPR Next meeting tentatively set for July 13th Update on Graffiti at RMHS and discussion of HRAC Role Subcommittee—Gina, Heather, Linda and Susan— Jamie—update from Clergy Committee—TM LaLecheur gave it to 2 clergy to bring to the rest of the clergy association. Clergy association would like a larger presence and include the other stakeholders who have been working on this issue. Father Steve Rock out of state and just got into town and Rev Lisa Stegmen had no idea because lives out of town, and now has been managing Fire victims' recovery. The 2 selected clergy have asked Kyung and Jamie to take the lead. First meeting was postponed because of the fire. Clergy association would like to invite HRAC educational subcommittee and any members of the HS who would like to move forward and work together in partnership. Steve and Lisa would like to clarify expectations with Bob Motion -- for our committee to give permission for HRAC reps to make decisions on behalf of the committee so that we can move forward for planning an event. Subcommittee- Gina, Linda, Heather seconds 3 in favor, Deputy Chief abstains Selectman Andy Friedman– reading from BOS policy—it's HRACs role to do this kind of thing. Section 2.3.1 first set of bullet points point #4 revised 6/23/2015 Linda I've been told differently What kind of events? Josh suggested that we think about a series—not just one event, tough time for clergy. It's important to respond quickly. Think about multiple events, to keep discussion and sensitivity alive. We could promote Holocaust survivor's RCTV debut (also on youtube) an easy way to start, maybe script a message to start. Scaffold events- first promote RCTV, then invite Dr Ornstein to dinner with town leaders and then panel discussion with town leaders. Plan something that's just conversation to get to know one another as people. If you have other ideas and can contribute contact Jamie Michaels pastorgoldsouthumc. org Transition to Commission discussion John Arena wants a word document rather than a power point. Terse, to the point. The BoS might just decide they still want to make HRAC an advisory committee. He wants prose to describe what HRAC will do. He wants to know what should be changed about the language that's already in place. Should we go ahead and make a "policies and procedures" document? Yes, John Arena said to create a "shall" document. We shall do this etc. The real issue is whether we are advisory or separate. Lori – her sense is that Board doesn't really want HRAC to be separate entity. Wants to keep HRAC as advisory. Commission means to Lori that HRAC can do events. John A – all commissions and committees report to a town body. No autonomous groups. The autonomy is substantive change and John A said that will be the hardest discussion. Wakefield - under school committee and Board of Selectmen. John A – make the language however you want to write it. He thinks Wakefield wrote theirs differently. "We shall do this" We shall do that" and "report back." What are the different models of "reporting". How do the other boards, committees do their Page 1 3 Town of Reading Meeting Minutes work? Report back once per year. There is a real disconnect between interpretation. The first paragraph says HRAC is advisory. But the second paragraph is "shalls" with action items. Is there a difference between a committee, commission and board? Ask town counsel? Next step—internal meeting Linda is concerned that if we don't meet with the Selectman liaisons that there will be same problem about language. When Seema presented she was told to give ideas not suggestions John Arena- I'll volunteer, in a perfect world I'd like HRAC to be dispatched to address issues like the swastika and as an arm of the BOS come up with a plan. Issue is what level of autonomy do you want? I'd be willing to work with you to come up with a draft document that would be closer to what the BOS expect. It might take some time. I work with Barry well. Linda I don't think the preamble statement worked out so well, Barry's amendment was taken out. Heather- I appreciate his willingness; let's move forward, I don't want to repeat what happened last year John- it's not an equal relationship Andy- I'm not sure, because in the policy they're suppose to do stuff, that's not advisory, 4 other bullets are more autonomous John- implied in that is a relationship Bill- Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill about if you put 2 people in a room with different solutions if they listen to each other they can come out of room with a third and better solution. Committee creation worked well for us (aided by Melrose advisor). Suggest that you work it out together. Sue- looked up commission—definition is a group granted by a written warrant with a power to perform a mission, vs committee definition is a group directed to look into something and report back. Gina- Is there anything akin to us that I can research? John – not really Andy- yes Building, Planning, Elder/Human, Public Health.... Takeaway- we will schedule a subcommittee meeting MARTIN RICHARDS AWARD: Seema nominated us ran Boston Marathon for MR8 fund - got donation for HRAC $500 *Copy of letter included with minutes.** Heather add language* Minutes: Lori moves to approve 5-30-17 meeting minutes with Dave Clark's amendment and a correction for Jamie Micheals named misspelled, Heather seconds 4 approve John Arena invites HRAC to Open meeting training run by the state time TBD BOS will attend. Lori moves to adjourn, David Clark seconds 4 approve Page 1 4 F O oar°p'�`" 9:10 Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Addendum: Explanation about Superintendent's decision not to allow the posting `No Home for Hate' Signs at schools: When I spoke to Dr. Doherty, he stressed that the message of the sign is not the problem. The schools have all built into their core values and curriculum, the lessons related to respect, inclusion, appreciation, and bully prevention. This was the first step of the Multiple Tier System of Supports Framework all the schools are implementing (MTSS), and the process continues to grow. Many schools, including the high school as you described, have related lessons built into their everyday operations, and many are stepping up their efforts with the burgeoning tide of hate threatening nation-wide. There is no room for hate in our schools. Unfortunately, our schools are public institutions and given the laws surrounding freedom of speech, if one sign is allowed, all signs must be allowed, regardless of whether they are compatible with the schools' values or not. So if the No Home for Hate' signs were posted, the schools would have to post signs contradicting those signs. It is for this reason that Dr. Doherty instructed the Principals not to post the signs, but rather recommended to them to focus on and step up their core value work which many of them reportedly have been doing. Public schools have different rules from private or religious institutions whose Board of Directors or congregation can decide to put a sign up and restrict the messages of any other potential signs. He cited Supreme Court cases reinforcing the jeopardy the schools would be in if they posted one sign over another. I hope this helps explain the disappointing rules about the signs. Page 1 5