2016-11-02 Diversity Commission MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS
DIVERSITY COMMISSION
November 2, 2016
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT
Mario Brown — Chair
Ed Dorame — Vice Chair
George Basioli
Diana White
Tung Bui, arrived at 6:10 p.m.
Guests:
Councilmember Dave Teitzel
Ninder Gill
Donnie Young Griffin
Larry Wechsler
RollCall: Call to order at 6:10 p.m.
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT
Maria Montalvo
Pat Valle
Adam Khan
Councilmember Adrienne Fraley-Monillas,
ex officio
STAFF PRESENT
Patrick Doherty, ED/CS Director
Cindi Cruz, ED/CS Program Coordinator
Misha Carter, Diversity Commission
Coordinator
2. Approval of Agenda: The agenda was approved by consensus after adding an item for City
Comments at end of meeting.
3. Approval of Meeting Summary of October 5, 2016: Summary minutes approved as
submitted by consensus. (Diana explained who and what the speaker was for the October
meeting).
4. Public Comment: No comment
5. Update on old business:
a. Recap Immigration Forum 10/12/16 — Mario and Ed gave a recap of the event. The event
was taped and will be placed on our website for public viewing. There was an article in
My Edmonds News that recapped the event. Publicity should be ramped up for these
events.
6. Meet Diversity Commission Applicants: Each applicant gave a brief overview of why they
want to be on the commission and information about themselves. There was a question and
answer period for each applicant following their opening remarks.
Ninder Gill, Donnie Young Griffin, and Larry Wechsler were interviewed.
7. Select new Diversity Commissioner for confirmation by Council:
The commission deliberated for approximately 15 minutes regarding interviews of the three
candidates brought in for interviews. The Commission chose Donnie Young Griffin to
recommend to the City Council for confirmation to fill the vacant commission position.
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Diversity Commission
November 2, 2016
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8. World Cafe Discussion: Patrick discussed the date change for the event to December 10
from 10 to 1 p.m.; date was approved by consensus. Logistics will include tables around
room, move around room to sit at different tables for different topics. Discussed name of
event: look at possible event titles, discuss situational topics to determine what the name
could be based on, Maria has volunteered to work on wording of situations with Patrick if
Commission agrees on topics. Concerns about training for facilitating/leading conversation at
tables. The three applicants for the vacant seat were asked if they would be willing to attend
the event and facilitating a table. Ninder cannot attend but Larry and Donny will be able to
attend. Topics were approved by consensus. Titles: 2 & 4 are both liked; title option 4 was
chosen ("World Cafe" Community Discussions on Diversity") and Patrick will research
trademark issues of using World Caf6.
9. Commissioner's Corner: Which City Council meeting can the appointment be confirmed?
Patrick will find date. Columbus Day name change on Indigenous Peoples Day was brought
up by Diana. Could commission request City Council to also honor Indigenous Peoples Day?
Diana read the FB post that she wrote in response to the Columbus Day holiday. Add
discussion to January agenda. Commissioners need to state in writing if they want to be
reappointed by the Commission in December. Commission will make recommendations to
City Council to reappoint those commissioners wanting to continue for a 2nd term. Human
rights awards are coming and they are looking for nominees please give info to Mario Brown.
George asked about the ability to vote privately in the upcoming general election when you
are blind. Patrick announced the City has an ADA committee and would like another
commission member to join the meeting if possible. George is already a member. Extending
the commission to include regular volunteers and invite both Ninder and Larry to consider
attending as volunteers. Will be discussed at December meeting.
Adiourn: 8:00 PM — Next regular meeting: December 7, 2016, 6 PM
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Diversity Commission
November 2, 2016
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Situational topics:
Read the situations and ask yourself: "what just happened here?"
Additionally, some suggested questions are placed after each situation to
spark discussion.
• Build a wall or Statue of Liberty. Immigration is a hot topic these
days.
George and Jean are having lunch at a local restaurant. After the
waitress, who spoke with a marked accent, leaves the table with their
orders, George remarks: 'It seems like all the wait staff these days
are foreign folks. I wonder if she's even legal. Geez, do these places
hire any real Americans anymore?"
Would a scenario like this occur in Edmonds? What issues or
concerns are hiding behind George's remarks? What would be
appropriate, helpful responses to George?
• There's a Muslim in my neighborhood. Muslim Americans and
immigrants from predominately Muslim countries create anxiety for
some people as incidents of terrorism based in extremist Muslim
ideology have occurred around the world.
Grace is chatting with her neighbor Sam about a new family that just
moved in a couple doors down. "Did you see the Muslim family that
just moved in over there?" asks Grace. 'Ijust don't know how I feel
about having those people living so close to me. I don't feel safe."
Have you ever experienced a situation where someone expressed
concern or even fear over Muslims in their midst? How would you
respond to Grace in this situation?
• My coworker is disabled. With greater availability of tools and
programs that help overcome some of the challenges some people
with disabilities face, a greater number of our coworkers are disabled
individuals.
Ahmed and Cindy are in the breakroom. Ahmed complains: "Did you
see that expensive desk and fancy monitor set-up they gave to
David? I get that he's in a wheelchair and supposedly can't see well,
but if they have to spend that much money to accommodate him to
do the job, maybe it's not the right job for him. Like the rest of us don't
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Diversity Commission
November 2, 2016
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have back problems, numb wrists and other conditions from our work
spaces, and I don't see them spending money on us. "
What might have provoked Ahmed to be so concerned over David's
accommodations by the employer? Is it incumbent upon the
employer to inform the rest of staff about the policies for
accommodating employees' needs? How might Cindy respond to
Ahmed's remarks in a constructive way?
• "Modern Family" may be good on TV, but...
Dan and Melody run into each other at the local Starbucks. Melody
mentions that her 3rd-grade daughter, Kiley, is becoming good friends
at school with a little girl whose parents are a gay male couple. "Kiley
keeps asking me if she can go over and play at the other girl's house
after school, but I'm just not comfortable having her be in that
environment. We see the two daddies at school events, but I don't
know what goes on in their home, and I don't know what Kiley might
be exposed to there. "
Melody may not be outwardly homophobic, but when it comes to her
young daughter she's uncomfortable exposing her firsthand to a gay
household without her being present.
How would you respond to Melody — or to the situation?
• White or light -skin privilege.
Two sisters, Janelle and Jackie, are in the supermarket. The sisters
are of mixed -race heritage. Janelle, with lighter skin often "passes"
for white. Jackie has darker skin and is not infrequently viewed as
African -American. Janelle and her daughter are first into the check-
out line and her transaction is complete when she hands the cashier
a check. "Thanks and have a good day, " replies the cashier as she
takes the check. Jackie steps in right behind Janelle and starts to
check out as well. "That'll be $45.19. Will that be cash, check or
credit?" asks the cashier. Jackie has already begun writing a check
and responds: "Check OK?" The cashier replies: "Well, yeah, as long
as you have three pieces of ID."
What just happened here? How would you respond if you were
Jackie ... or Janelle? Do you think this resulted from the cashier's
bias, or an institutional bias or management policy?
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Diversity Commission
November 2, 2016
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