2024-02-07 DEIA Commission MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS
EDMONDS DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION &
ACCESSIBILITY COMMISSION
February 7, 2024
Meeting conducted via Zoom and in -person at the Brackett Meeting Room
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT
Elaine Helm, Co -Chair
Jessie Owen, Co -Chair
Pam Iverson
Rebecca Perrault
Dipti Chrastka
Kim Gunning
Umrah Thomas
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT
Councilmember Chris Eck, ex-officio
GUESTS PRESENT
Ardeth Weed
Sofia
Venus Forteza via Zoom
Cheryl Farrish, Ed! via Zoom
Mackey Guenther via Zoom
Lori via Zoom
STAFF PRESENT
Megan Luttrell, Program Coordinator
Molly Jay, DEIA Commission Coordinator
STAFF ABSENT
Todd Tatum, Director
6:00 P.M. — Call to Order and Land Acknowledgement: "We acknowledge the original
inhabitants of this place, the Sdohobsh (Snohomish) people and their successors the Tulalip
Tribes, who since time immemorial have hunted, fished, gathered, and taken care of these lands.
We respect their sovereignty, their right to self-determination, and we honor their sacred
spiritual connection with the land and water." - City Council Land Acknowledgment
1. Roll Call and Absences
Dipti read land acknowledgment.
2. Approval of Agenda: Pam moved to approve the summary; Dipti seconded; approved by
consensus.
3. Approval of December 6, 2023 Summary: Rebecca moved to approve the summary; Pam
seconded; approved by consensus, with Kim abstaining.
4. Public Comment (3 minutes per speaker):
Cheryl Farrish, Ed! board member, shared that the plan to have a presence at the meetings
going forward in an effort to collaborate more.
5. Youth Commission Update: Not in attendance.
6. Guest — Dr. Sally Guzman, Edmonds School District:
Dr. Guzman is here to answer questions and explore opportunities to work together. She
explained that the Edmonds School District hosts and partners on local events such as
Hispanic LatinX, Native American Month, Allyship Month, cultural fairs, Black Lives
Meeting Summary
DEIA Commission
February 7, 2024
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Matter, Pride, art activities, and more. Jessie mentioned that one of our grant program could
support the districts efforts within Edmonds. Jessie asked if minority members of the school
district are encouraged to vote and what the outreach looks like. Sally said 25% of their
students identify as LatinX, Vietnamese is second most -common language. Do voting
outreach in various top 5 languages of the school district: Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean,
Amharic and Arabic.
Jessie asked about staff demographics. "Goal to diversity staffing." Equity questions in
intake process and interview to hire with equity lens. Over 90% of staff identify as white.
7. Interviews:
a. Student Rep — Sofia Marie Castillo
The Commission held a brief discussion following Sofia's interview. Rebecca
motioned to appoint her, Dipti seconded, approved by consensus.
b. Nicholas Falk
c. Patty Narvaez-Wheeler
d. Rowan Soiset
The above candidates were interviewed by the full commission.
e. Debrief & Vote
After a robust discussion, Elaine moved to appoint Rowan to the full -term position
and Patty to partial term position, Kim seconded, approved by consensus.
8. Update from the City: Todd, Megan, Molly, Councilmember Eck:
Megan shared that the Lunar New Year celebration will be held on February 10th. The
Multicultural Association of Edmonds is hosting a free daytime event and a ticketed event
in the evening at the Edmonds Center for the Arts. There will be an afternoon/evening
market at Civic Field hosted by the City from 2pm-6pm.
9. Committee Reports:
a. Engagement: Jessie reviewed projects that she has been working on the last couple
of months. She facilitated the purchase of books from the Edmonds Book Shop with
the remaining funds in the Commission's budget for 2023. There is a plan to
determine how to distribute the books at the retreat. She's working with the City to
add accessible parking at Seaview Park. The Student Representative interview
questions have been updated. She requests that we add Holiday Market guidelines
to a future agenda.
10. Commissioner's Corner (10 minutes): Time did not allow for this item.
Adjourn — 8:23PM
Next meeting: March 6, 2024, at 6:00
Meeting Summary
DEIA Commission
February 7, 2024
Page 2