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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 02/11/2021Human Relations Commission Meeting Minutes February 11, 2021 CALL TO ORDER Meeting was called to order by Chairperson, Beth Jaeger, at 5:30pm ROLL CALL Present: Eva Amason, Jean Runyon, Denise Apodaca, Vic Smith, Oscar Felix, Wendy True, Beth Jaeger, Phil Walker, Julia Mackewich Staff Present: Carol Thomas, Equal Opportunity & Compliance Manager, HRC Liaison Observers: Kimberly Chambers, SPLASH NoCo AGENDA REVIEW No additions. Accepted as written. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion to approve by Jean Runyon; second by Vic Smith. Approved 9-0 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SPLASH Youth of Northern Colorado Speaker: Kimberly Chambers of SPLASH: Queer and Trans already isolated pre-Covid, and now is impacting suicide ideation; can get kids together but has no space; needs space to provide programming; has to rely on coffee shops to have space to meet; space for 20-30 kids; activity center at the mall would be ideal- accessible, central location, bus goes there, once a week for a couple of hours; needs advocacy to secure appropriate meeting space. HRC to follow-up re: possible solutions. BUDGET REVIEW No expenses to date. All budgeted funds, $5,900, still available. Wendy True will report via Carol Thomas. NEW BUSINESS Guest Speakers from Public Health Office: COVID Vaccine Discussion- Guests: Tom Gonzales, Director, Larimer County Public Health; staff: Katie O’Donnell, Phillip Daniel, Sergio Torres (Outreach Team), Emily Darryl, Kori Wilford. Tom G.: Presentation on current vaccine distribution plans; focus on 70+ population; cases going down; challenges include eligibility and availability; asking for patience, it is a slow process; Johnson & Johnson vaccine by middle of March; can go to website to sign up by calling, texting, or emailing; Latinx population vaccination rate much lower than non-Latinx population. Sergio Torres- COVID-19 Outreach Team: tasked with working to close inequities; building community partnerships with Latinx populations through established organizations that work with Latinx population; outreach and education- language, website, information center- email, text, phone- staff can speak Spanish and English; culturally relevant, not just Google Translate; Charlas de COVID- community members can ask questions directly- all in Spanish; continue work in assessing, partnering, and producing; working on access piece; education efforts; Colorado Vaccine Equity Task Force- has materials produced- website, videos, printed (they are aware and have been modeling their resources based on this). Group Discussion: how can HRC support in ensuring people are aware staff are available to talk to; continually updating website; coordination of organizations that can be helpful to support, disseminate information; FRCC; some outreach but open to strengthening; need to stick to state guidelines; can provide extra effort for outreach, but need to stick to guidelines; homeless population: what specific outreach; a group of interest for equity work; hesitancy of Latinx includes some skepticism of the value/efficacy of vaccine. HRC discussion on next steps: sharing information; social media posts, resources- phone number, email; how can HRC be more visible in supporting distribution of information in a meaningful way; distribution of information to homes in certain areas of the county; also to homeless shelters. Beth, along with Denise and Vic, will follow up with Sergio to see if there’s a way HRC can use their contacts to serve communities of color; also ascertain what are the current mediums of outreach; include churches, mosques, synagogues. OLD BUSINESS Approval of 2021/2022 HRC Work Plan Vic provided suggested revision; dates on document need to change; Vic moved to approve, Julia seconded; passed with proposed revisions; 10-0; acknowledgment of those who helped drafting and revising document, and good work aligning activities to strategic plan. Group Gabs Wendy: Neighborhood Book Club- Group Gabs; simplicity; three books selected; wants to do in own neighborhood; introduce other cultures in a way that people are open to it; some books include discussion guide; Potential books: “White Fragility”; “How to be an Anti-Racist”; can a small group from HRC start a small book club as pilot group to keep abreast of current practice, unconscious bias. Overall HRC support for idea and Wendy was asked what she needed to move forward; connections for book title suggestions- CSU, PSD, local bookstores; include group norms. Principles of Community Carol provided update on Principles of Community; City working in teams focusing on equity; meeting regularly to do internal and external outreach; very aggressive timeline driven by council; mid- April council presentation; maybe in March. Approval of Work Plan Motion to approve work plan: Phil moves to approve; Denise seconded; approved 9-0; Beth will make updates and send final document Next Steps Consider SPLASH request for space Beth, Denise, and Vic will follow up with Sergio Torres on possible next steps Create New Standard Agenda Item: Quick updates from each committee chair Carol will connect with Lindsay Ex of the Fort Collins Housing Commission for March meeting presentation Beth is creating contact list and is requesting contact information Discussion on City of Fort Collins Equity & Inclusion Office, including hiring of leader; question on whether HRC can be involved in search committee; all can attend listening sessions; Jean will draft letter on behalf of HRC regarding support for the new Office and Director, including shared responsibility approach so that not all work is left to the leader/office, which can doom success; Jean will draft letter to City leaders. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn by Jean Runyon, second by Wendy True. Approved 9-0. Meeting adjourned at 7:13 pm.