HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-03-04 Human Relations Advisory Committee Minutes NECEIVED
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Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes
Board - committee - commission - Council:
Human Relations Advisory Committee
Date: 2021-Q3-04 Time: 7pm
Building: Town Hall Location: Town Zoom call
Address: Remote Session:
Purpose: Monthly Meeting Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Josh Goldlust, Kyung Yu, Dani DeVirgilio, David Clark
Members - Not Present: Jordan Serpone
Others Present: Amy Lannon, Lisa Racine
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Josh Goldlust
Josh calls meeting to order at 7:02 pm
1. Sharing- METCO Family help emails and community responses for support.
2. Welcome new member! Maddy Herrick and Ashley Gross
3. Police Read Out (Chief comments)-
a. Confederate flag found deep in town forest.Tough to find but DPW did find it.
Waiting to see if person who reported it will connect with the office. Not 100%
sure if it was a crime, but up in the air if a hate crime. Need more details. It was
taken down.
b. Domestic violence, larceny and fraud cases are all up. Amy- anything Library can
do around domestic violence. Can contact Chris O'Shaughnessy or Sammy
c. New deputy chief effective Mar 1st
d. Kyung-increased attacks against Asians. In the news so highlighting awareness
4. HRAC recommendation to select board for supporting Division of Equity&Social Justice
a. Kyung-we should formally advise the board to formally support this initiative.
b. Linda-some concerns that this isn't needed due to other positions or groups,
which isn't true. Extends the existing mission within the library.
c. David might have to abstain as it concerns budget matters.
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Meeting Minutes
d. Kyung- member of HRAC for about 10 years. Struggled with limitations and
structures that have inhibited efforts for. Inclusion. Select board initiated this
move about 3 years ago so need to use their voice to support it through.
e. Josh suggested that someone needs to bring forth a pre-written motion to next
meeting for the group to review,comment and vote.
5. March-Women's History Month
a. Josh- posted on our FB page+march 8th is International women's day
b. Dani-virtual pledge wall at her work. 'Choose to challenge'-what are you
choosing to do. Do a prompt as to what they would pledge?
c. Amy- Is library doing some type of reading event?Lisa- more inclusive of authors
throughout the year not just during their'special month'. Will have a series of
videos on YouTube page. Lots of activities. Highlight a couple of books?
d. Can we highlight female leaders in reading? Like Anne Landry, Nina on the library
board,SMB Whitelam books,Town Managers,Assistance Superintendent.Chief
Amendola,-Spotlights. Dani to create a shared google doc, {photo, name,title,
prompt,choose to challenge question}. Dani will take the lead on this effort&
Maddy offered to support with creating visuals for the posts.
6. HRAC Facebook page-Mar/Apr Community Calendar
7. Feb Mass Human Rights Coalition-recap
a. Linda-quick summary of the group's function for newer members who weren't
as familiar with it. Lots of discussions about human rights org to be safe places
when they have had a 'challenge'. How to engage to find out options or
resources. How to receive these complaints. How to triage and find out answers
for residents in need. Planning a convening for fair housing in April ->virtual this
year. Plan to have a panel of experts to talk about fair housing challenges w/
break out groups. And leave with action items to move forward. Event will last
about 3 hours
b. Josh- incident reporting system-what are other towns doing?Connect with
other towns &sync with Bob
B. Minutes approval-
a. Dani makes motion to approve minutes, Kyung 2nds. Approved 4-0 [Ashley and
Maddy abstained as they weren't on HRAC yet]
9. Additional items
a. Library items-
i. 2nd in series was in Feb. Facilitated discussion.
ii. 3rd of three part series about'power' [67 attended Jan event/44 in Feb
event]. Listening to understand
iii. 31st of March. Debbie Irving event about her book"I'm a good person,
isn't that enough'.
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b.
30. Next Meeting-Thursday April 1st 7:30 PM
11. Meeting Adjourn-
a. Josh makes motion to adjourn. Dave Clark 2nds. Motion passes 5-0. Meeting
adjourns at 8:18 PM
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