2017-04-21 Diversity Commission MinutesCITY OF EDMONDS
DIVERSITY COMMISSION RETREAT
April 21, 2017
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT
Ed Dorame — Chair
Maria Montalvo — Vice Chair
Donnie Griffin
Diana White
Pat Valle arrived at 4:14 p.m.
Dean Olson
Councilmember Adrienne Fraley-Monillas,
ex officio — arrived at 3: 38 p.m.
Councilmember Dave Teitzel,
ex officio alternate
1. Roll Call: Call to order at 3:00 p.m.
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT
Tung Bui
Mario Brown
STAFF PRESENT
Patrick Doherty, ED/CS Director
Cindi Cruz, ED/CS Program Coordinator
Misha Carter, Diversity Commission Coord.
2. Mission,vision statement discussion: From the code: The mission of the Edmonds
diversity commission is to promote and embrace diversity through action, education,
and guidance. The commission seeks to foster an understanding that includes,
accepts, respects and appreciates each individual member of our community. What
are commissioners': hopes, inspiration, and challenges?. Donnie: personal hopes are
higher than hopes for commission, hopes that commission helps him, teamwork is
important and crucial, value is learning things he does not know, getting to know
commissioners, need to know each other as a group. Diana: inspiration is lack of
diversity, socioeconomic diversity — open up the eyes of the community, lack of
Native American diversity in area. Challenges are being politically correct all the
time, always learning, keep our education up at all times. Hopes are people are
coming to commission for guidance, deep and meaningful commitment to education.
Dave Teitzel: he appreciates great work by commission. Inspiration: friends of color
and ethnic diversity living in this very white community. Hope that we become better
as a community by creating welcoming community, and inspirational challenges:
economic development, planning, in Highway 99 purpose/focus to create more
welcoming environment. Maria: similar to Diana for inspiration: grew up in
Philadelphia very different more comfortable environment than Edmonds, lived in
very mixed race community; make sure the commission is impactful. Hope is the
commission must be good stewards of the funds. Focus on the goals and make a
difference. Ed: Inspirations: finding a way to help in Edmonds. Challenge —
socializing with friends that are not understanding, social equality is important. Hope:
to do our best to make it better for all, socially equal. Understands that group will not
always agree. Dean: Inspirations — left area and understands the fact he has MBA and
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many cannot and do not have access to higher education; it is an inspiration to him
working with people not so advantaged. Challenges: avoid lawsuits by proactive
reactions, Hopes: new on commission so still getting in the learning mode. Adrienne:
Inspiration: has lived in city her whole life sees the white privilege in the downtown
area, has lived in Hwy 99 corridor and sees the lack of understanding the issues
around diversity (husband not white, son is disabled) bringing forth understanding
about differences of people that live in Edmonds. Misha: inspiration - related her past
experiences in relationship to working with Commission. Hopes: people reaching out
to her on a continuing basis to learn more. Patrick: gave examples from past work
history. Challenges: assumption was Edmonds appears very white but pleasantly
surprised at how diverse it is in Edmonds. Cindi: Hope is the Commission creates
change and acceptance in Edmonds.
3. Joint discussion on guiding principles: Are we going to make a difference and
change minds? What are guiding goals/principles? How to choose events that will
make a difference. Will not necessarily change minds but make people think about
differences. Create a critical mass of people that are educated. Need emphasis on
awareness and communication. Bar starts to rise as more people are educated.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion. (not just diversity). Equitable vs. equal.
Justice/injustice vs social justice? Highway 99 corridor community may perceive not
receiving environmental justice. A tagline promoting diversity, equality, inclusion.
80% of population is white and should not forget that. Disabled, gay/lesbian,
transgender, ages, diverse religions, are part of that white population. How to
approach mission? Always use civility with educating the public. We will not always
agree. How to implement work plan. Goal is to grow a critical mass of educated,
aware, citizenry. Role of commission (collectively and individually) to educate,
engage, represent, and speak up. Need a common message. Come back to next
meeting with some statements as examples for approval. Need common and impactful
message.
4. Operational issues/discussion:
Subcommittees: The challenge is to figure out how much to be involved with
different events. Can Commissioners be on more than one committee? Answer - Yes.
Donnie suggested another committee be formed perhaps called an Executive
Committee. This committee would keep tabs on attendance, also on how the sub-
committees are doing. It was decided the subcommittees would do their own reports
in the form of memos or the like on their progress and send to Commissioners before
monthly meeting so everyone can speak about sub -committee progress and plans.
Materials and resources for Commissioners
Attendance and participation: Patrick spoke again about not being discouraged
because numbers have been small at events. If these events had been done many
times and still had small attendance then it would be a different story. Ed talked about
how a youth forum participant come out and that it possibly saved their life by
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providing an opportunity to come out in a safe place. Adrienne said press coverage
for the youth event was good.
General membership issues: Donnie mentioned he has met with representatives of
Lynnwood and Shoreline Diversity Commissions. It was agreed that anyone can
meet with whomever they please for Diversity purposes and that the contacts and
pertinent information can be sent to Misha for contact list. It was discussed about
how Commissioners should conduct themselves when representing the Commission.
It was revealed that Adam resigned and it was asked if the Commission had to
advertise for a new Commissioner or just chose one of the last who had applied.
Attendance was discussed and perhaps instead of the trigger for dismissal from the
Commission being absence from 3 consecutive meetings, it could be absence from
four meetings in a year, and take out the word consecutive. Also, perhaps having a
few alternates can be on board so that when vacancies occur an alternate can step in.
Patrick said a "simple code change" could allow alternates. Donnie mentioned
perhaps expanding the Commission from 9 to more members.
Training/member support:
Volunteers: The use of a volunteer pool was discussed. How would they be used?
What would they do? Maybe for partnerships.
Work Plan ideas and general parameters:
Adiourn: 6:03 PM — Next regular meeting: May 3, 2017, 6 PM
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April 21, 2017
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