2017-03-01 Diversity Commission MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS
DIVERSITY COMMISSION
March 1, 2017
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT
Ed Dorame — Chair
Tung Bui
Donnie Griffin
Mario Brown
Dean Olson
Councilmember Adrienne Fraley-Monillas,
ex officio
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT
Maria Montalvo — Vice Chair
Roll Call: Call to order at 6:01 p.m.
Pat Valle
Diana White
Adam Khan
STAFF PRESENT
Patrick Doherty, ED/CS Director
Cindi Cruz, ED/CS Program Coordinator
Misha Carter, Diversity Commission
Coordinator
2. Approval of Agenda: The agenda approved by consensus.
3. Approval of Meeting Summary of February 1 and February 22, 2017: Summary minutes
approved as submitted by consensus.
4. Public Comment: Vanessa Steadman read statement from Maplewood School principal
regarding use of inappropriate words by students and the encouragement to use respectful
language when referring to students. She is also hearing from school age kids they do not feel
safe. And she also expressed concerns they are hearing there are no problems in the schools.
Sarah Mixson — thanked the Diversity Commission for interviewing her for the vacant
position and she expressed her interest in volunteering when possible. She works at the
Edmonds Center for the Arts (ECA) they are having a Teen Night at ECA the evening of the
same day as the scheduled Youth Forum which is in the afternoon. The performer is Niyaz
and will also feature a pre -show artist talk on "Feminism in the East", a reception, and show
all for $5 for teens. Pat Johnson from Edmonds Neighborhood Action Coalition (ENAC)
discussed march held on 2/25/17 was well attended. Julie Herd organized march on 2/25/17
with 450 — 500 attendees, Rick Steves spoke, information on Islam provided, ACLU, 32na
Democrats, and ENAC, Indivisible Edmonds had approximately 30 volunteers in attendance.
Obtaining the special event permit thru the City resulted in potentially some changes being
made to the permitting process. Julie stated she had a very positive experience working with
City to obtain the permit. Permits took about two weeks to obtain. Streets were shut down
and it was a peaceful march. Police were supportive and provided help with street and crowd
control.
5. Update from the City: Patrick discussed permitting process and bringing it up to City law
department to get the permit approved due to existing language in code. PD stated that it was
very well organized and a good example of events for the future. 3/22/17 event for
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Diversity Commission
March 1, 2017
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small/home based business owners at 1:30 in the Plaza Room of the library. Adrienne
discussed problems with Ed School District and bullying. Is the ESD aware of the problem
and does the Diversity Commission want to meet with District? Are concerns with
immigration status for students perceived and/or realistic?
6. Youth Forum Update, Tentative Date March 17: Ed read press release that was issued for
the Youth Forum to be held on March 17, from 1:30 — 3:30 in the Plaza Room above the
Edmonds Library. See notes — Topics were agreed at meeting at MHS with students,
facilitators volunteering are: Adrienne, Mario, Tung, Donnie, Ed, Sarah Mixson, and Amelia
Wood, need one more meeting and there will be follow-up with everyone who volunteered to
be facilitators. Cannot buy items to give-away but if they receive donations they can be given
away. Press release has been issued and any ideas for getting word on the event out are
welcome. School will provide information to students. There is a Teen Event at ECA on the
same day in evening.
7. Discussion about Commission Retreat: Will be advertised as a public meeting. Purpose of
retreat: getting to know commissioners better, plan out goals/ideas, future direction of
commission. More interested in goal outcomes, demonstrate to public that the commission is
fulfilling a need that was expressed initially by the community. Schedule for 4 hours and if it
takes less then could end more quickly. Look at Saturdays in April.
8. 2017 Work Plan Discussion
a. Events subcommittee presentation
Tung summarized meeting: regarding events for the Diversity Committee to consider
supporting: Events should reflect the diversity of Edmonds citizens. Fourth of July events
- encourage participants to wear their native dress for parade, multi -cultural fashion show
before fireworks show on 4th of July, communicating with Chamber committee regarding
participation, musical group idea before 4t1i of July fireworks to represent diversity and
then leading into patriotic music, float for parade. Would like to have picnic but liability
issues could be difficult but would like to have meet your neighbor event. Diversity
themed movie series at Edmonds Theater could be monthly and would need to be curated
by commission. Speaker series hosted by Commission which could be quarterly at a
location within City. Story -telling event by performance artist related to diversity related
perspectives. Karaoke contest and/or international soccer day Story time for small
children going into schools with books regarding bullying and struggles that are faced by
children. Will take back to discuss in subcommittee and settle on some concrete ideas.
b. Outreach Policy subcommittee presentation
Donnie summarized meeting: Outreach policy should align with mission statement of
Diversity Commission. Action items: schedule meetings with directors and key
community leaders to learn about issues and when issues come up what does the City do
about it. These could be issues based on bullying and immigration. Bad things can
happen and what do we (the City and Diversity Commission) do about it. Should begin
dialogue with various leaders including Mayor, Council, Police Chief, BID Board
President, plus other community leaders. Setup partnership so we can mobilize quickly
and succinctly when something (an incident) occurs. Creation of this commission was
City's response to such incidents. Meet with neighborhood groups and school groups etc.
First meet with city leadership, neighborhoods groups, then convene Town Hall event out
of the "Bowl" area in the neighborhoods. Find places that the Commission can see where
there are gaps/deficiencies and make recommendations about policy changes etc. to
facilitate change.
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Diversity Commission
March 1, 2017
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c. Partnerships subcommittee presentation:
Patrick discussed forum that was held in April 2016 and this is same theme — how to
build on the base of creating a sense of partnership with these organizations. Need a
understanding of what the other organizations do? What does partnering with groups
ultimately mean? Information purveyor through website, communication methods to get
the information out to the citizens and community. Providing information on website for
help. The subject of "Indigenous People's Day" was considered and could commission be
ready to push forward to City Council? Cascadia Art Museum may be interested in
displaying traditional dress from cultures across the world, similar to Tung's fashion
show idea. Community resources: the Commission can now be sending community
resource info to staff for inclusion on website. Will place Indigenous People's Day on
future agenda for discussion. Patrick, Misha, and Maria to put together a draft workplan
for the next meeting.
9. Commissioner's Corner:.
Discuss Calendar of Observances/Facebook page: Placed on Diversity Commission
webpage. Look at the calendar and send events to be posted to Cindi or Misha. Webpage can
continue to grow with resources.
Community events attended or upcoming events: Mario: Tung & Adrienne know that a
number of people didn't think the City needed a commission but it has been evident in the
events of the past few months it is a needed group. Dean: who thought we would have
lawyers in airports waiting to help immigrants. Donnie: advised that a case where a young
African American Muslim man was found hanging from tree in Lake Stevens has been
reopened as it was originally designated a suicide now being investigated as a hate crime.
Question is how would we react in Edmonds. Patrick reminded the commission about the
protocol in place to issue a statement regarding situations such as this Lake Stevens incident.
Commission decided by consensus that they would issue their protocol statement. Ed talked
about the need for the commission in the City of Edmonds. Adrienne discussed an e-mail
sent to her as well as to the rest of the Council regarding the writer's displeasure with the
slogan "Black Lives Matter" on an employee's shirt at the Edmonds Theater and a display of
books on "Black History Month" in the Edmonds Bookstore window. Tung expressed his
concern about stories regarding schools and bullying. He related it to being Vietnamese,
growing up in the 70's. He believes it is better to start education of diversity issues at an early
age.
Adiourn: 8:07 PM — Next regular meeting: April 5, 2017, 6 PM
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Diversity Commission
March 1, 2017
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