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BHRC Meeting 2021-11-04 Beverly Human Rights Committee Minutes - 2021 -11 -04 7:09:33 PM Paul Goodwin: Okay. All right. Well, let's call the meeting to order at 7:10. Okay. So pursuant to Government Governor Baker's March 12, 2020 order, suspending certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law, GLC 30a 18 and the Governor's March 23rd. 2020 order imposing strict limitation 7:09:58 PM Paul Lanzikos: Oh no. 7:09:59 PM Paul Goodwin: on the number of people that may gather in one place. This meeting of the Beverly Human Rights Committee will be conducted via remote participation to the greatest extent possible. No, in person, attendance of members of the public will be available, but every will be made to ensure that the public can adequately access the proceedings in real time via technological means in the event that we are unable to do. So, despite best efforts, we will post on the city's website in post on the city's website in audio video recording transcript or other So, despite best efforts, we will comprehensive record of proceedings as soon as possible after the meeting. Remote Public Access. Will this meeting we've provided in the following manner access through Google Video Voice Conferencing Application. This application will allow users to meet and view the meeting requests. Comment using the chat function. Pursuant to open meeting law, Mass, General Law, c, 38 Section 20, The chair may elect to recognize public comment, submitted through the chat function at appropriate points during the meeting, Okay, so what we do a quick roll call. so, Emitting one person here. Okay. So Rabbi Allison. Leah. 7:11:21 PM Paul Lanzikos: Pressure. 7:11:22 PM Paul Goodwin: Paul and Zikos. Okay, Chief John. Alicia. I'm sorry. And then Gabrielle guitar. And Mindy. And myself here. Okay. 7:11:45 PM Leah Jones: I think Paul also, I don't did a boo already. 7:11:49 PM Paul Goodwin: Oh I'm sorry Abu I got to get you added to the website I'm looking right here at the The list. So we got to add you back. 7:11:54 PM Abu Toppin: Hello. 7:11:55 PM Paul Goodwin: Okay, thank you. Thanks Leah. Okay. Okay, so I know I believe that So Occasia had said that Beverly Public school. Attendees weren't going to be able to make it tonight. So I think we can skip right through to the age friendly community. I think Leah, you said that, you had an update on that. 7:12:25 PM Leah Jones: I wasn't sure what the I to be honest. I don't know what the first agenda item is. I had a different What was the? I do have an update but I don't know if it's about the same thing. 7:12:36 PM Paul Goodwin: Okay. She titled at Age Friendly Community? 7:12:40 PM Leah Jones: Oh okay. That was that was different. Um I did Paul I wondered if if just 7:12:42 PM Paul Goodwin: Oh, okay. So 7:12:45 PM Leah Jones: before we jumping could would it be possible? Just to say a quick I don't think we had a meeting since we co-sponsored the film Crip camp a disability revolution and I just wanted to Thank you, Paul, and Paul Lanzikos. And this whole crew abu for connecting us with the cabin and everybody here. It was such a beautiful event and it was It was I thought it was just right, I don't know if everybody here had a chance to attend but it was kind of a life-changing movie and I felt like it really built some nice connections with the Cabot and the speakers that we had were phenomenal. I have some thank you sitting on my table along with some other, thank yous, but it was really great and I think it planted some seeds in the minds of the viewers as well as with us on the Cabot. So, Just thought I'd share. One of the lines that stuck with was it just it was just did anybody have a question about that event or what that entailed, Paul and zekos? Did you want to? 7:13:58 PM Paul Lanzikos: so when you when you're done or 7:13:58 PM Leah Jones: Say you. 7:14:00 PM Paul Lanzikos:whatever, talk about the potential future, Projects, with the cabin but you keep 7:14:03 PM Leah Jones:What? 7:14:05 PM Paul Lanzikos: on going. 7:14:06 PM Leah Jones:Yeah, and one person who is extremely helpful, also was Cindy Baez of the Domestic Violence response team. She just was really great, her brother. Lewis and I'm forgetting Falcon spoke and a couple of a colleague of yours, Paul. 7:14:28 PM Paul Lanzikos:And Mary Margaret more. 7:14:29 PM Leah Jones:Yeah. And and it was just really just the the, for the, the fierceness, and the strength. And the just this, this whole movement was, It's just something it once again, I'm finding myself thinking, How come we didn't learn this in school, you know? Um, but we're learning now and a lot of people have known this, but I hadn't and 1, 1 felt very enlightened and, and moved, and, and changed by the film. So, thanks everybody looking forward to the next ones too. 7:15:05 PM Paul Lanzikos: Here. Okay to that and in my work with the advocacy Group Dignity Alliance Massachusetts I do a lot of research and I've come across a the San Francisco, Disability Film Festival. That was just held and they had probably close to a score of Different. Films on a variety of disability topics. Some were feature length films. Some were documentaries are shots. I was thinking that it would be during some time during the winter to identify, either a future film, or a number of the, the shots and have us a and similar type of the event at the cabinet with the, with the conversation, we could you touch upon a variety of other disabilities, particularly Ones that affect the Deaf community and people with vision impairments. And I think particularly the deaf community since we have both the New England Homes for the Deaf, which was founded by Helen Keller in Danvers for for older, folks, and people and adults with disabilities and we have the ability children's communication center for younger folks, you know, in a community and then I would was thinking that in June, I've already mentioned this to the folks of the Cabinet. That that's pride month. And there's a, an excellent, a powerful future film called Gen Silent. which we can show with a reactor panel and one of the the aspects that I think it's particularly noted about them, is it? It's it features four different. Um, either individuals or or couples in the LGBT community and at least two of the segments are involved people in the Greater Boston area. Very, very powerful film. Yeah. I think in its own way it's equally powerful as Crip Camp as Ward winner and I think it would be a an excellent activity for us to feature during Pride Month. 7:17:46 PM Paul Goodwin: Now that's great. And then while we're talking movies, if anyone hasn't seen the sound of metal, that was an incredible film and I know it was filmed all over the North Shore and they use resources 7:17:54 PM Paul Lanzikos: Then yeah. Yeah. 7:17:55 PM Paul Goodwin:from the school from the deaf. So that's definitely worth of you. So hey Keisha So occasion, we just got through the roll call and the reading of the governor's statement. And then we were just did a quick recap of the movie that we helped co-sponsor at the Cabot last month. And and then 7:18:16 PM Caja Johnson: How nice nice. Hi everyone. Sorry, I'm running a little late tonight. Okay, so Beverly public schools, canceled yesterday. Um, Dr. Morgan is actually on a flight in the air right now. So I told him that next meeting was. Okay, if that's all right with everyone, Okay. so, The next thing on the agenda is aged friendly community, and I think Paul and zeko's I heard you. Talking a little bit about that. Did. 7:18:59 PM Paul Lanzikos:well actually, yeah, Age-friendly community is part of the Ashley worldwide movement, that was initiated by the, the World Health Organization, the United Nations in it has been Embraced by communities throughout the the country. It AARP is taking on a particular strong sponsorship role here in Massachusetts. The number of communities have have received designation official UN designation as H-friendly. Communities Salem was one of the the early pioneers in this effort and they were actually designated as a community for all ages, all abilities and there is a statewide organization that supports the the planning and implementation of the various elements. That that Go to have a community designated and function as H-friendly or are a community. That's a, for all of our leaders, all abilities, it's one point. The here in Beverly, The Council on Aging was taking a lead on this with Mary Beth and Marianne Holic. Not sure what the current status is, but I would think that we could reach out to Marianne and maybe have her come to a future meeting, and there's a woman over in Salem. Patricia Zaido, who is a retired administrator Salem State University, and she was the head of the. After that career, she was the head of the Salem. Partnership has taken the lead. And she's very dynamic and spearheaded the the effort in Salem, and she has interacted with communities throughout the Commonwealth on this. So, I think future me we can invite a Marianne and and Patricia and have a A discussion. See what the current status of the effort is here in in Beverly, and to see me how the human rights community can support the that and endeavor, 7:21:42 PM Caja Johnson: Thank you, Paul. Yeah, we are 7:21:44 PM Leah Jones: um I just got inspired once again, listening to Paul and Casey I think you and I talked about this, our kids were sitting It's all good actually at the film. And one of the things that I think you're, you're child Venezia pointed out, was that? That universal access means benefits for everybody. And the more that we talk and over the years since we've met and the more, I think, all these issues, feel interconnected that when we talk about diversity, we talk about disabilities. When we talk about access and and age-friendly community, we're talking about making it. Accessible for everybody. And I just feel really kind of hopeful and inspired or maybe it was the election, but I just kind of got this feeling watching that movie and listening to Venetia. And, you know, why don't we just? That's like we have extra resources, we have enough resources, Let's shoot past. Good enough. And and be great and be the city that they're writing about in the paper, you know, I just feel really inspired by the mention of these things, I just wanted to say that. 7:23:04 PM Caja Johnson: Thank you, Leah. I also feel inspired and I know that for folks who haven't heard the term Age-friendly, I just put something in the chat. And so, there's a lot of information there, but like Paul and Zico said, You know, age friendly is for all. And, and so, when we talk about Age-friendly, we're talking about sidewalks, we're talking about, you know, restaurants, right?We're talking about You know, open space. Like we I know that Pauline's equals has brought up that some of our parks are not accessible. And so, when we talk about creating an age-friendly community, these are the things that that we want to talk about. We want to even have conversations with architects and developers and say, Here we are with the planning department, having these conversations about creating more affordable, housing, creating more, senior housing, creating more, you know, all accessible housing and in these conversations that we could be having with developers and the planning office and architects. We could be having these conversations to say you're building this development from the ground up. 7:24:21 PM Paul Lanzikos:Yeah. 7:24:23 PM Caja Johnson:You know, what is it to have the doorways a few inches more you know? doorways a few inches more you know, conversations to say you're building You know, what is it to have the this development from the ground up. apart so that way as we all because we're all aging and so it can be a 7:24:33 PM Paul Lanzikos:When? 7:24:35 PM Caja Johnson: home that can be You know, a livable home from the time that a child is born until the time that they're, you know, older and and needing accessibility. And so, I think it's great that we connect with 7:24:55 PM Paul Lanzikos:Yeah. 7:24:55 PM Caja Johnson: Richard Zato and Marianne. I can grab contact information from you Paul and I'd love to hear from 7:25:01 PM Paul Lanzikos:Yeah. 7:25:04 PM Caja Johnson: Maryanne to what the past conversations have been in Beverly and how we can be more proactive and moving things along. 7:25:13 PM Paul Lanzikos:Yeah, and ah, friendly in communities for all ages. All abilities go. It definitely embraces the physical environment both in buildings, as well as outdoor space. But also extends to things like transportation, um, cultural attitudes society norms. So and empowerment of people with of all ages, all abilities. So is a very broad concept beyond just the physical environment. Definitely is critical, but it goes beyond that. 7:25:52 PM Caja Johnson:Yeah, absolutely. Um, so I look forward to having more conversations surrounding this topic and being a supportive as we can be the on the Human Rights Committee and I don't know if anyone has anything else to add, for each friendly communities. Okay. All right. So I wanted to just revisit the budgeting because I know that this is been a topic that We've sort of. Should be annually looking at our spending and our finances, and we should already be approved prior to events and, and things like that. And so Kitty and Mindy and India have volunteered to, to be on that subcommittee, and I appreciate that. Thank you so much. And I didn't know if there were if there was any updates or 7:27:00 PM Leah Jones: Like it was on me to, I'm trying not to talk a lot. I have one exciting update later that I think you'll be happy. I think I'm speaking about. But this one, I I take responsibility for this because I've had my thumb on the Just you, it's just been like a person at City Hall who's helped us out. We deposit checks and then we write a thank you and then but it's not often, except for when we had the lawn signs. But for example, there are three, not humongous things. But they're kind of three things that I'm supposed to reimburse myself. For the alphabet, rockers the stickers and the performance of Wangari At Artsfest. And I've not, because I've just to be a perfectly honest of just a little been a little overwhelmed and I it wasn't in the front of my radar. So I apologize to the the crew here for not being on top of that. I I think we do have around. Even after that reimbursement, I think we have around a thousand dollars in there, but I need to double check but it gives us a little cushion for speakers. And to think about, I think if we have some action items after this, then I can work together with Mindy and Katia to kind of turn back to City Hall say What do we have?And kind of get up to speed in the next couple of weeks to make sure we can cover? you know, a speaker to come, we have a couple ideas that have floated for a few months around, Martin Luther King celebration and maybe having anyone read income to do, Have a conversation with us or, you know, other things like that. But so I I try not to say sorry as I near 50 but I am sorry that I I don't have a report today. 7:28:48 PM Caja Johnson:Yeah, no, no worries. I really appreciate all of the work. I think we should really just take a moment and just say, like, you know, Go us, we are doing really hard work and it's voluntary and you know I know that life there's the thing right?We all have so many things going on and You know, this is this is just a piece of our daily lives and our work and our schedules and our children and you know, so I appreciate all of you and it's okay if we don't get to it all, you know, it's it's all right. And so I I just wanted to take a moment to just say, I appreciate. Hi Mindy. Yes, 7:29:39 PM Mindy UIppolito:A question. Are we align item in the city budget? Even if it's not or we, okay? So the fundraising is in addition to that, 7:29:48 PM Leah Jones:We we're not a line item in an approved city budget, but we are we don't have a special account, we just have a number so that we get, if we get it, we're we work kind of given guidance that we can't get tons and tons of funding and have it sit there for a long time, but we can kind of get a little bit of money in use it. On activities with city council approval. I'll be honest and say, We haven't, I just saw our our wonderful counselor ran just joined. And I can't say that we have gone for that approval every time we've spent money, but it's just turned around so quickly. So we would get money in for a long signs and then quickly, send it back to the vendor. I think, technically we're supposed to go in front of the city council and ask for approval for a few things at once, but 1 7:30:40 PM John LeLacheur.Well, only only when people making donations to us, it has to go through the clerk's office of the Council approval. 7:30:46 PM Leah Jones: okay, and I and they're I I do think there are, I mean, there are probably five transactions that that fit that bill that over the years that we I probably could have done differently, but I but I I think when you and Kitty and I maybe work together on next steps and we can kind of report back Asia. Um to the team, then we can also come back with some of the things, like, Chief Little Lashers talking about, you know what? Here are five guidelines. And this is what we'll do moving forward and try to implement them. And I'm sure with a little wiggle room when it comes to things, like we've been allowed to pay for something or get it, you know, submit a receipt and then a vendor gets paid later things like that. So, It's not going to be a lot of money and I think we kind of did also talked about over the years, doing as many things in kind as possible. Um, Counselor Rand actually got us a donation once that went directly to the alphabet rockers and we had three $500 donations for this amazing show that we held for free for kids at Beverly High. So I think that was stuff like that is awesome because it's Kind of easy. 7:32:02 PM Mindy Ulppolito:Yeah. 7:32:02 PM Leah Jones:Wasn't easy for you to get that. Estelle but it was easy for us to process. So we really appreciate stuff like that in kind. 7:32:11 PM Caja Johnson:Yeah, and I look forward to that. Answer your question Monday. 7:32:15 PM Mindy Ulppolito:Yes, thank you. That was helpful. Thank you. 7:32:17 PM Caja Johnson: So, I look forward to when you and Leah and Katia do have the opportunity to sort of sit down and brainstorm, I look forward to things that we will be contributing to events and, and how we can be better about budgeting and maybe going in front of the city council to get that approval and we just do the best we can. So, thank you so much, and So, I wanted to talk a little bit about MLK Day. Because I I think that we need. I mean, it's We're here. It's November 4th, and I think we need a subcommittee. If we haven't come up with one already, I know we had one last year, so if anybody is willing to be a part of the MLK Day subcommittee, please, I am for sure willing to be a part of that conversation. I think last year Gabrielle, you were also a part of that subcommittee. So, anyone who would like to be a part of the subcommittee, please just meet yourself. We can just have a an open discussion about it. 7:33:38 PM Leah Jones: I always like to come up and support especially on the kids side with Gabriella. If there's anything that I can do to support those efforts, I'm happy to be. On deck for, for whatever might be needed. And in case you this is kind of a question, but given that we have the Office of Diversity, equity, and inclusion. And in a blue, I don't know what you think, but I'm wondering if the vision this year will be, you know, for the past, I guess, three, or four years. We've had kind of a school-based, like a kid led thing which I think is incredible. I didn't know if the model, if you were thinking about a model being similar, or if other You know, city office. It's kind of been like a city school. Collaboration, which has been really nice and we've had just for the record. We've had the city contribute a couple hundred dollars, we've contributed money to having a big breakfast with elected leaders and things. So just to think out loud who else out of other city leaders might want to help run it it might take some of the load up. The HRC but it might change the model a little bit. So 7:34:51 PM Caja Johnson:Yeah, Abu, I don't know if you sort of went away in a little bit on this, but I really enjoy the students being sort of a lead on this and I I would love to see Dr. Morgan Abu myself, whoever wants to contribute and also the human rights. The Human Rights Club at the high school. I would love to get there and put and so that's what I'm thinking, but But But what are your thoughts or others? 7:35:31 PM Abu Toppin: no, I I think it's a great idea to to involve Across section of of folks, in in this work and for MLK. And, you know, I did, I certainly would, you know, support and participate in any planning and work towards this, but I do think we should I agree with you Cajun that we should, you know, I like the students and the young young folks being, you know, leaders in this space and and the importance can't be understated of them understanding, You know, the history behind this and how significant it is for where we're going in this country moving forward. So I would still like to continue with that. I actually also think that the middle school, there's a diversity equity and inclusion club that was recently formed. And, you know, so I think that's fantastic and we can, you know, bring those kiddos into the, the mix as well. um, but I would love to see Dr. McKenzie involved in this as well, you know, again, a lot of leadership in in Official or unofficial capacities in this community, you know, really be engaged in in this project. So you know, 1 1, again, I'm all for, you know, helping to further that 7:37:03 PM Paul Goodwin: Then Keisha, I will help out in any way. Technically we need help. I know with last year with the pandemic It was not done on site, like it usually was done. So, we worked with Bev Cam to do it virtually. So, even if it is on site, again, I think it would be great if we could try to do a virtual component to it as well. For, I know, it's kind of a tough time of day, for a lot of working people to get to it when it's school-based. And if it's, you know, that nine 10 am timeframe can be a little difficult. So even for our elders or people who might not be able to get there on site, it would be good to try to get a virtual component so I'd help out wherever we can there. And then we had a question in the chat from rich whether non-committee members can serve on subcommittees. I don't know the answer to that. 7:37:54 PM Caja Johnson:Yeah, that's a good question and 7:37:56 PM Paul Goodwin:You know. 7:37:56 PM Caja Johnson: Chief. I wonder if you know the answer. I don't think that I don't I don't think it matters but 7:38:06 PM Paul Lanzikos: No, there's no prohibition now, they're in fact that the more the 7:38:09 PM Paul Goodwin: Okay. 7:38:10 PM Paul Lanzikos: area that they they just can't vote 7:38:11 PM Paul Goodwin:Yep. 7:38:11 PM Caja Johnson: Okay, great. 7:38:12 PM John LeLacheur. Now. 7:38:14 PM Paul Lanzikos: on any matters that come before the committee as a whole. That's the only difference. 7:38:21 PM Caja Johnson: Thank you so much. 7:38:22 PM Leah Jones: I I saw Lisa's question to about what 7:38:23 PM Paul Goodwin:Yes. 7:38:25 PM Leah Jones:things have looked like, before I feel like it's, it's been at the middle school, it's involved breakfast, lots of elected officials, but very student-centered from, from day one. And I think what Keisha really pulled out? I think you did a great job of kind of even whoever we get if we get, um, you know, A president to come in and speak. I feel like the message has been to all the adult speakers that this is usually about an hour and the vision, and the messaging is really coming from the kids. So I love what a boo is saying, getting other leaders involved and maybe some of those leaders have incredible ideas and networks and creative ways, like I loved. Like Professor Jan doing her. Poetry was really, it was exquisite and it was short and it was kind of focused on the kids like that. Knowing that kids would be watching this It was so rich. And so I feel like if that Structure follows that it could be a huge event with a ton of people in person or it could be an online event, like the beautiful one that was curated last year and still keep it. S form but look different every year. That's just two cents. 7:39:50 PM Caja Johnson:Yeah, thank you. And so I can also send Lisa or maybe someone I don't know. Paul. Do you have the link readily available to the MLK Day event that we did last year? Maybe we could just put it in the chat? 7:40:12 PM Paul Goodwin:Yeah. Actually, we have a tab on the website, just titled MLK Day and There is a link to the video that was put together in its YouTube form and then there's the tributes or thoughts that people posted the quotes. That's all I have direct links to So is it something different case you're looking for? 7:40:39 PM Caja Johnson: No, I was just maybe thinking to give folks an idea of past events. And and what that looks like that, maybe we could just put the link to the event and the chat. But yes. 7:40:57 PM Paul Goodwin:Yeah, I don't know. I think it was all based in person, so I'm not sure. What residual info might be out there outside of maybe. Invites or agendas or something, but I can poke around like my old school committee stuff to see because we were always invited and took part in attending. 7:41:18 PM Caja Johnson:Yeah, I think I have it right here. I'll put it in the chat. I'll put it in the um, I don't know Will I'm not sure if this year will be. In person. Should we talk about that?What are folks thinking are we thinking in person or virtual? 7:41:42 PM John LeLacheur. I'd like to try to plan in person and then drop back to virtuously have to 7:41:46 PM Paul Lanzikos:Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I think we got a, you know, have a little bit more time go by before you make up, you know, if final decision but but yeah I think if you you always playing in person, it's easy to convert it. 7:42:01 PM Caja Johnson: Okay. All right, great. 7:42:03 PM Leah Jones:Yeah. 7:42:04 PM Paul Lanzikos:And I agree with what Paul was saying earlier. I think, even if we do it in person, we definitely should have the online presence because I think for folks who for varieties and can't tend, so it's a great way to create access. 7:42:20 PM Leah Jones: Last year, Keisha, you got us also reaching out to all the different schools in Beverly, and I think a more holistic way than we had before. I think maybe with Gabrielle, maybe you could guide us through this. If we did that a few weeks sooner, If we did that a few And just kind of were able to give a heads up like even that we don't know if it will be remote or virtual or in person if you could start gathering ideas. So that I think you know, way back when the vision of the school leadership was that this would be something that automatically, you know the band plan to send a jazz. Group. And this students were new, this was coming and would get ideas about contributing to it before we even asked. I think that was the idea that it would become Something, you know that they're planning for earlier. I think we've you really helped kind of get more schools involved last year and I'm thinking about, you know, recovery high school and I said, You know, whoever else around Beverly that might not Get the just this standard BPS, invite. 7:43:28 PM Caja Johnson: I agree. Yeah, absolutely. And also I think it's important that we include the Beverly School of Communication, Futures hopeful journeys, you know, all I think as it's an inclusive, as we can be, I think the better the event will be Oh 7:43:51 PM Paul Lanzikos: Okay. And in the spirit of a community for all ages, all abilities, it'd be nice if we could get a vomits with an old adult either, someone involved with the senior center or even somebody who's a resident. And one of the nursing homes, recent, nursing homes are often forgotten, but they're very much part of the, the communities, we maybe do it, you know, a tapes interview with, you know, resident one of the nursing homes. 7:44:20 PM Caja Johnson:Yeah, that sounds great and I'm just I'm catching up on the chat a little bit, but In a style. Counselor, Ran mentioned the Council on Aging. And Leah. Warren School's. Private schools Beverly Bootstraps? Yeah, this is all great. and so, I think I it might be appropriate that be just because of MLK Day that we do have a meeting in December. And we can decide we can just do subcommittee meeting. If you know, everyone doesn't want to attend, but I do think that the first Thursday in December typically where every other month, but I think that we may need a meeting there just because it does take some planning and time to coordinate. Is everyone okay with that? Okay. Are we thinking that 7:45:17 PM Paul Goodwin:Yeah, that's okay. 7:45:18 PM Caja Johnson: Okay. And is are we thinking that we should have? Just subcommittee or is everyone okay with meeting? 7:45:28 PM Paul Goodwin:Yeah, I'm okay if when we just didn't let invite everyone and You know, the subcommittee memory can show up. And then anyone else who wants to lend the helping hand kind as well. 7:45:39 PM Caja Johnson:Yeah, that sounds great. Okay, wonderful. And just, I don't know if folks know but Alicia Monfat. She has stepped down off of the Human Rights Committee. She has family things that are happening that our priority right now. So, sending support her way and Really thankful for the work that she has contributed. With that being said we do have an open seat now and I did meet with Abu and Mayor Cahill and Mayor Cale is in the process of talking with a couple of people. And I think that one or Or maybe both of them. I think of who maybe you can help me here, but our Asian American. And I think that it would be great to have representation on the HRC. And I don't remember us having since I've been on it any Asian representation and I think that there was in the beginning was in the beginning right, Leah, I think there had been and then Now there hasn't been I think Mayor Kayle had said that. There was Mayor, maybe not but anyway, we're happy to to have who it is and once I know more I can for sure really that information Okay. Boo. Do you have anything else to add about the meeting that we had? 7:47:33 PM Abu Toppin: yeah, I thought it was It was a good meeting to. To really ensure that we were gonna be part of that process, um, in and who's gonna be coming on to the, the committee. And, and I think Mary Cahill was, you know, letting us know. He had identified these couple people but that he would also once made he was able to meet contact with them and discuss their interest a little bit further that he would then bring Cajun myself into the the conversation as well to meet with them and speak with them before finally making an appointment decision. So I think that's he he asked to to this that meeting in our process going forward. 7:48:17 PM Caja Johnson:Yeah, absolutely. And I remember that there. There had been some challenges in that area and the past and so I am very happy that that meeting took place. I did want to bring up a point that Mayor K Hill brought up about bringing more diversity to the City boards, commissions and committees together as a whole and I believe that Mia Khalil is asking for our assistance with that. And I don't know what folks are thinking. If anyone wants to weigh in on that, my response was I'll just My response was I sort of I think it's wonderful that we're thinking about these things and I really hope that with intent and some strategy that we can bring more representation and diversity to all of the boards and committees and commissions. I'm not sure that my response was, I'm not sure that I have the bandwidth for that right now. Um, but that maybe in the future, You know, as things come along, maybe we'll be able to do it sort of maybe in the spring or maybe we can have more discussions arounding, what our role would be with that?And also I think that there's other things, you know, that may help sort of bring and courage and support. you know, people in the community to want to be a part of the city, and I think, You know, one one of the things I brought up is walking in, you know, city hall, right? Like, you know, I don't there is a lot of white men all over the walls. And, you know, I think that even just that as a step and we've talked a lot about representation and flagpoles, and a place of Independence Park that has the Pride Flag and Black Lives matter Flag and you know, all Flags and I think that, that would be great. That would be a great step of, you know, just so people can feel welcome and safe and hurt and supported. I think if it's visual and it's there. so, I think that would help encourage folks to want to be a part of Um, the city commissions and boards but I don't know if anyone else has any thoughts. 7:51:03 PM Abu Toppin: Keja chief and I can probably chime in a little bit on this and we can talk about it in more depth later if you want. But we actually had a meeting about this very issue this morning. about representations in our and our municipalities and what we can do going forward to better represent our ever-changing community, And we, Have acknowledged that that we, there is a need Cahill. Admittedly said, You know, I don't know that, you know, when we and I think he said that when you and I spoke to them as well. He's like, I don't notice the You know, all the different non-diverse faces that are that are in City Hall and I said, but, you know what I do. I notice it. You know, said, I'm not, you know, insecure and and walking around there or not feeling comfortable, but I absolutely do notice it, and it mean and it does impact me and in a way to see that. So I'll give you first hand experience that that's, you know, that's a real, that's a real feeling in sentiment. Um, and so it's important for us to to work on that changing that representation. So we kind of actually went through quite a bit of thought and and possibilities. I won't go down that whole list at this moment, but I'll share, you know, some of that with, with the group at a later date, but we definitely have some things in the works and that we will flesh out and we'll absolutely want to include this body and in that process as well. So, so more more to come on that. But we're, we're moving on this. we're, we're I don't know. You had anything else you wanted to add from that meeting? Okay. 7:52:55 PM John LeLacheur. I just was a good discussion. I think go ahead on the right direction. 7:53:01 PM Caja Johnson:We are sorry. Ann and Katia. I see you too. Yeah. Oh yeah, you're muted. 7:53:08 PM Kiki F. um, 7:53:10 PM Caja Johnson:All right. 7:53:10 PM Leah Jones: It was thinking this. Just a plate. I think the blue I don't have to mention to Abu that. The culture subcommittee, of the Race Equity, Task Force is also talking about this, so it would be really cool to kind of like Mention them to see what overlaps and some of the recommendations. But 1, 1 love what a boo saying. It's so practical. I remember walking into City Hall and she looked up and she said, instead of seeing White, She says Tan sometimes. I don't know if it's like Because I'm just what She looked up, and she said, Oh, all boys and they're all tan. That's the first thing she noticed. When she walked in. So, even just You can just be current pictures of just. People around town and leaders that are there now and happenings. It doesn't just be covered the magazine. What city leaders? I love love that you're talking about practical real-time things, one of the things and the one we didn't who is hired by the Salem, The city in Salem, indeed was looking, they put plants on the outside of buildings, and you may have seen this on Instagram, but there was something about, you know, square signs. We're like the colonizers pink. I never need that single sign. So he worked with the City of Salem and they put Google around signs Mark. Mom came on history on some of the buildings and just little things like that that are not little are so huge in terms of representation. Um, one of the things I just, lastly, it's about representation in the community and it has to do with the something we talked about earlier with the police that if I could do it,just mention it to this group at the end. I would love to ask who wants to work on it. Maybe with us Keisha but It has to do with. Representation a little bit as well. So, Sorry, that was a bit rambly but Yeah, just talking about the subcommittee of the Race Equity, Task Force is also looking at some of the, some of the same, some of the same thing. 7:55:24 PM Caja Johnson:Yeah, thank you Leah and Kitty. I know that you had your hand up and And Looking forward to hearing from you. I haven't heard from you or seen you bio. 7:55:35 PM Kiki F. I know everyone. So I to regards to what Abu was saying, I'm very happy and glad to hear that conversations are happening. But I am I yes, my biggest. Hope would be that. We actively move. Forward. Not just the conversation and then just getting stumped and if we're feeling something that we reach out to actually make things happen and when we are able to diversify the boards and everything else how do we make those people feel welcome and also retain them because I think If you don't retain them that, that should also tell you that there's a reason why we're not retaining them. So I hope that the whole picture will be looked at because there's the sense that sometimes people feel that. The group is things are being diversified because just for the sake of adding more color and placating people, but the reality is that I think, Oh, if somebody is added to a board, I think will be important to highlight that this person's actually qualified and it has nothing to do with their skin color, but that it is important that they see somebody who represents the other citizens of Beverly and not only just because of their skin color, you know? So I'm really happy to hear that. Yeah conversation. I'm looking forward to see what happens from that. 7:56:55 PM Abu Toppin: Hundred percent agree with that. 7:56:55 PM Caja Johnson: Thank. 7:56:56 PM Abu Toppin: Get the and in the same is true when when I'm having discussions about the restifying, our city workforce and that where, you know, we're not just trying to check boxes off and, and hire black and brown faces. You know, where we want qualified people, as well as part of that process, um, which we are making advancement on we've we've hired City Hall is very diverse. Now folks, you gotta come down there, we have actually hired. We've actually hired and are about to hire another person to the staff. And all these recent hires are people of color all very, highly qualified individuals. And so, you know, we are excited about about what some progress we're making, we're making there, We're making We're making, we're making there. Hall is very diverse. Now folks, you gotta come down there, advancement on We've we've hired City And all these recent hires are people hire another person to the staff. we have actually hired. We've actually hired and are about to individuals. And so, you know, we are excited of color all very, highly qualified about about what some progress. But but again, you know, I think, you know, Kitty's Point can't be understated, You know, we the understated, you know, we The weight of that is is important and we don't want to understand that and overlook that at all. And I absolutely I'm saying this as many times as people can stand it. That, you know, we have to be sincere in our intent and, and moving forward and and it can't be just to placate or like I said, to just, you know, check a box or, or say we did this and we did that, you know, if it takes me, you know, 30 years to get something to happen because, but if it's done the right way, in the way, it's always supposed to be, that's sustained, then that's what it takes to do that. And I'm not in a rush to to just do something but we do want to move on some of these things and the issues that we're talking about, in terms of representation are things that we can easily move forward on and do, um, that should not be any heavy lifting. So easily move forward on and do on that, should not be any heavy lifting. So again, I will share with this group what though came out of that conversation this morning and the things that we're looking at because it's gonna take a collective of us to kind of move that forward, but we're ready to go. 7:58:54 PM Caja Johnson:Yeah, go ahead with me. 7:58:57 PM Mindy D'Ippolito: I was just wondering if maybe a boo, this is exactly what you're talking about, but if they're, I'm not even aware of like how People are appointed to boards and and committees. If it's just word of mouth there's a process if there is like a Something anybody could throw in the chat for me to, like, read later. I'd be happy to do that. But that would sort of help me kind of get my head around. What is happening currently?And then what would need to change going forward? Or you know the process would inform kind of next steps. I think or what changes need to be made. The current process. I mean, 7:59:42 PM John LeLacheur. It's in the current city ordinances. 7:59:44 PM Mindy D'Ippolito: thank you. 7:59:48 PM Leah Jones: it's, it's also, I remember over the past two or three years, there are a lot of people of color, black community members offering a lot of You know, leadership and advice and work and so much brainstorming and strategy and it's hard when they're, you know, Abu, thank you so much for reporting on new hires because it's like, You would look around and kind of be like, Wow, you know, all the people of color, who are doing all this leadership, are not getting paid, you know?And I think that's, It's really hard to go back to this like same people over and over, and be like come serve on this committee here, an incredible leader, but An But yet. The hiring is so critical and that seems like that would promote a lot of a lot more participation in the volunteer side of things. If You know, people were hired for the for leadership positions and and non-leadership positions in the city, you know, I think That's really feels like that would go a long way to promoting other types of involvement. Just To feel like this city belongs to everybody and that makes me feel invested and 8:01:06 PM Caja Johnson:Yeah, thank you, Leah, Mendiana, Boo and, and Kitty. Yeah, I for sure. Here your points. I I know that. Other surrounding cities and towns have like a form that you fill out to request appointment. To be reappointed. I wonder if we Might want to talk to Mary Cahill about. Having that system or a more formal system? Because I know that. It's sort of you sort of express and trust and Mayor K Hill reaches back out to you. You meet with them and talk and he brings the name to the city council and they approve. But I wonder if we should have a form. That needs to be filled out or some kind of a system. Fire style. 8:02:15 PM Estelle Rand: I love that idea. And can you hear me? No. Yeah. Okay. Okay, I love that idea and it would help too because then people people ask a lot, are they're openings on committees and you kind of have to like ask Martha and then Martha has to pull it all together off of whatever? However, she's keeping track of it and then it's sort of, you know, case by case that she's sharing this information. Be so nice, just to have it streamlined on the nice new website, fill out a form, you can see which committees have availability and then there's a like I you know, I just had written in the chat from Mindy that the process right now is quite informal and it does require a lot of follow-up unless you're already on the mayor's mind. Right. And even then it requires follow-up because it's, you know, that there are a lot of priorities. So, yeah, I think that's a great idea and I absolutely support that. So With your support. I'm happy to start talking about that immediately with the mayor's office. 8:03:27 PM Caja Johnson:Yeah, I would really appreciate that counselor and because I am just and Mindy's question. I thought. We should have a better system and, you know, word of mouth is like, you 8:03:37 PM Estelle Rand:Yeah. 8:03:40 PM Caja Johnson: know, okay. But I really think we should have something tangible that we can look through and discuss. And that way, we can keep track of names that have come forward, we can follow up with folks that maybe had applied to be appointed for a new appointment, but we didn't have any open seats at the time once a seat becomes available, you know,just the whole process I think should be sort of looked at closely. 8:04:09 PM Estelle Rand:Yep. I totally agree. And it's, it's absolutely a problem that I've experienced firsthand with somebody showing interest and then they're, like, being this kind of, like, Non-process to connect them and then it falling through. And then you have this person who really cares about the city and wants to be involved and we're not capitalizing on that. So in in a good way, you know, I think that will really help build community to capture those people and then offer them like, Oh, you're not on the Human Rights Committee but we have a subcommittee for MLK Day. So, you know, join in things like that. That'll be a nice resource for everyone. Good idea. 8:04:54 PM Caja Johnson: I agree. 8:04:55 PM Estelle Rand:Yeah. Great idea. 8:04:56 PM Caja Johnson: Thank you, Counselor. And just moving along, I know Paul, I don't know if you have any communications website updates or anything like that, but I know that we had invited. Jerry Parisella Representative Carousel. And 8:05:18 PM Paul Goodwin: Senator Lovely. 8:05:19 PM Caja Johnson: Senator. Yes. And they will be attending. Did you ever hear back? From. 8:05:27 PM Paul Goodwin:You have to, I know. Yeah, so Senator lovely. I saw through your correspondence head or her office had committed to 8:05:31 PM Caja Johnson: Okay. 8:05:32 PM Paul Goodwin: the January date. 8:05:34 PM Caja Johnson:Yeah. 8:05:34 PM Paul Goodwin: So I had a tentative from Jerry, so I'll confirm him as well. 8:05:40 PM Caja Johnson: Okay. 8:05:40 PM Paul Goodwin:And so I don't know if we want to do both of them and the Beverly School people at the same time. That would that be too much for one meeting or do we push Beverly Schools off? It's it's so far away. If we do that, though. So just something to think about for 8:05:57 PM Caja Johnson: I think we, 8:05:59 PM Paul Goodwin: the next agenda. 8:06:01 PM Caja Johnson:Yeah, absolutely I think we include Beverly Public schools on and the December meeting that we're going to have especially since it's going to be geared towards MLK Day. geared towards MLK 8:06:09 PM Paul Goodwin: Perfect. Yeah, that's a good thought. 8:06:11 PM Caja Johnson: I think that we leave Senator and 8:06:11 PM Paul Goodwin: Okay. 8:06:14 PM Caja Johnson: Representative where they are. 8:06:15 PM Paul Goodwin: Okay. 8:06:15 PM Caja Johnson: So 8:06:16 PM Paul Goodwin:Yeah now for though website stuff, it's all kind of running. Well it's just the constant. Battle for me to publish content. I'm not great at that. So I see things coming up. Like I know it's National American Indian Alaska Native, Heritage Month this month but I haven't posted anything because I just start going down this rabbit hole of trying to find the perfect article or the perfect words to say to represent the group. So if anyone else has the time or talents or wants to just forward me stuff, I'm happy to post it but I'll still do what I can to try to keep things current on the news, on the website and post it to Facebook so people can share it there as well. And then there was a question in the chat about someone of their email address added to Do. We have a We have a constant contact type of And then, there was a question in the chat about someone of their email address added to Do. mechanism or do we have an email people can share it there as well. website and post it to Facebook so group that we do mass mailings to that way? 8:07:22 PM Caja Johnson: I don't think we do, but I I think 8:07:24 PM Paul Goodwin: Okay. 8:07:25 PM Caja Johnson: that or Leah Dewey but maybe we haven't used it anything. 8:07:29 PM Leah Jones:Yeah. We have a great database from Renee but we haven't used it in a while. 8:07:34 PM Paul Goodwin: Okay. 8:07:34 PM Leah Jones: So I think when she needed her stuff over, there's a whole list of people who Used to do this, this email blast. 8:07:45 PM Paul Goodwin:Yeah. 8:07:46 PM Leah Jones: i I have a question about I don't 8:07:48 PM Caja Johnson:Yeah. 8:07:48 PM Leah Jones:want to talk into much but I do have a question about Facebook because I feel like That it's a great way to reach a lot of people, but it feels kind of insidious to me in a lot of ways and it but yet I can't find out about flu vaccine clinics and things if I'm not on there. So I'm Wing, I'd love to send you stuff because I love reading articles and sending them. But I like what you're asking for everybody to kind of send you things as they come across interesting articles around human rights issues. Alerts Paul and Zico sends out great stuff with his email newsletter and 8:08:24 PM Paul Goodwin: and even with the, you know, posting 8:08:24 PM Caja Johnson:Yeah. 8:08:26 PM Paul Goodwin: that we're having a meeting, just trying to get more viewership participation in that respect. Maybe we can dust off that mailing list and and look at see if we can figure out. Budget-friendly constant contact type of thing or maybe we can get a nonprofit thing going with them to once we do. A good article or something to Facebook. We can also blast it out to people that way as well and people can opt out. If they don't want to keep getting them or opt in, if they do. 8:09:00 PM Caja Johnson:Yeah. 8:09:00 PM Paul Goodwin: Because I know everyone's not on 8:09:01 PM Leah Jones: Even. 8:09:01 PM Paul Goodwin: Facebook or, you know, when I did 8:09:03 PM Caja Johnson:All right. 8:09:05 PM Paul Goodwin: some social media marketing classes, you know, they describe it as a river and if you're not standing at the river when that things floating by, you're gonna miss it and not see that content. So, if you don't check Facebook for a couple days and you didn't see our posts that we're having a meeting or there's an event, you don't know about it. So I'm trying to figure out how we can get that in front of more people. 8:09:22 PM Caja Johnson:Yeah. Yeah, I agree. 8:09:24 PM Paul Lanzikos: It. But 8:09:24 PM Caja Johnson: I know that we have a eve. I know that we have a list of emails but I would love for us to have like a subscribe button on HRC website and I guess that's what I mean is that 1 8:09:37 PM Paul Goodwin:Yeah. 8:09:38 PM Caja Johnson: don't think that we have sort of like an automatic way that people can click and subscribe or sign, you know? Have, you know, we can put together whatever we want to go out and email blast without us entering all the like, I don't know. Is it called it serve, is that what it is? I don't know. That's a good. 8:10:03 PM Paul Lanzikos:Well, champion is fairly easy to use and it has a free subscription component with without all the belts and whistle. So like, that's something we might want to look into. And then we could create a subscribe button right on our website. That feeds right into the Into the Distribution list for Male Champion. You can generate a newsletter or whatever you want to send out. 8:10:30 PM Paul Goodwin: Okay, great. 8:10:31 PM Leah Jones:All right, I wonder. 8:10:31 PM Paul Goodwin: I can look into that. 8:10:33 PM Leah Jones: Call. I wonder if this wouldn't be, I don't want to make more work for us, but I was thinking like, if we could do a separate even like a coffee time, discussion about communications at some point because I feel like I'm thinking Counselor Rand you had this great idea at one point about sharing you know a couple years ago what the city of Beverly was doing around What the city of Equity, you know, just in terms of like mayor's proclamations and things and I know Abu has like 10,000 pots on the stove right now with a million events and, and networks. And it just maybe this isn't an interesting thing but maybe there's like a collaborative or something that You know, Unity Equity. I don't even really know what it is but where people can find out what's happening. 8:11:23 PM Paul Lanzikos: so, 8:11:25 PM Leah Jones:And a lot of these areas that overlap, and I guess now we wouldn't sort that all out now. But it, you know, we could maybe do our human rights blasts. But it, I love to know like I feel like a boo, you've done some incredible work that We sort of like I'm like Oh that happened last month? How did I not know about that? You know, or like the the domestic violence? I would have loved to us to have represented there. I feel like that you know, and I I just feel like, How do we? I know there's a city calendar, but I don't know. Sorry my brain is like a million tentacles tonight and so many directions but I It's all these brilliant people are doing all this stuff, but sometimes you want to know about all of it. 8:12:10 PM Paul Lanzikos: Now if we do it, maybe a brain stomach is just suggesting the, you know, we could put up a call out to the community to try to recruit one and more volunteers, who might be interested in being the point person for our communication vehicle could be a younger person and maybe a student, who wants to get something on her his resume, or maybe an older person who's got the time and experience. And they could sort of, like, be the, the compiler editor of not only from the human rights community, but other, you know, people, you know, other messages in the city and you're getting information out. 8:12:50 PM Leah Jones: I love it and it sort of serves like just just this whole idea of people feeling seen, I just think if people know of all the different things that are happening, there might be some sparks that could come from that. I love it. And even reporting on the cool things that have happened. If, if they're not, not just an alert of what's upcoming, but look, what we did I think is, is neat, not just US Human Rights Committee but Police. And the El office of Yeah. 8:13:26 PM Abu Toppin: That's a conversation that's been had to in City Hall as well about generally speaking across the board, not even just di initiatives but things that are happening across City Hall government, better communication and and transparency with those things. So I think it's it's being realized that that's that's lacking and that we need to find a way to, you know, better communicate these things out to the community as a whole. So yeah, it's a good time to for all of us that kind of be, you know, talking about this and and trying to find a way to to connect those dots. And so we can all kind of communicate these things out. Broadly. 8:14:08 PM Leah Jones: Maybe sorry. Oh, sorry. I was just gonna say maybe like with an upcoming thing. There's an event that that to mention just an update. I don't want to cage. I just been talking so much. I'm so sorry. I can talk about it after but I was thinking like What if we use this approach for the next couple of things that we have that we just keep in mind the communications around it and like make sure if we do something, the human rights committees doing something that we contact, you know, request relevant offices, to kind of say Can you include that in your blast too?And then we sort of encourage that sharing in the meantime. So even if it isn't a newsletter, we know, you know If abu your office is doing something that it automatically will get blasted out on the HRC page. So you know that we're one of your go-to PR avenues or council rand you you know you share something you're doing part you know that feels community centered or I love, I love that idea of sharing. It can only help. 8:15:19 PM Paul Goodwin: Okay, so if everyone's okay with it, I'll look into the mailchimp option and then we can at least get a subscribe button on the website over the next few weeks. And we'll get those current email addresses in there and We'll have it ready to roll. Next time we want to blast something out to people. 8:15:38 PM Caja Johnson: Okay, that sounds great. Thank you, Paul. Thanks, Leah. Um, Oh, Gabrielle. 8:15:46 PM Gabrielle Montevecchi: Sorry, I'm going back one agenda item, but I just wanted to share share the chat a link. That the Central Office has been sharing. It's a collaboration between Dr. Morgan and Bethany Splansky. Who's the director of People and Personnel Services. And they're referring to this great little doc as cultural and And these go out at the beginning of linguistic, diversity, tidbits. the month, to all of the bps employees by way of expanding and sharing and informing these great resources with our students, but they're just great for people, which is great for humans. You can't get in Leah. 8:16:26 PM Caja Johnson: Now, I can't either we 8:16:27 PM Gabrielle Montevecchi: Oh, it's probably exclusive bps but I'll see if I can get a. I can give you guys a PDF. So you can see that that it's a hyperdoc, though. So let me see what I can do. But it's super useful. Just thinking about what Paul said about, find finding great resources that are vetted out when you start to go down, I've been there Paul. I've so been there on those rabbit holes. I so get that and I really appreciate getting a list of vetted sources. So when I share, I share these back again in my faculty notes, too, by way of reminders, we're currently in Diwali and there's some wonderful resources there to share and celebration of the Wally etc. It's a little little excited, it's exciting. And then also overwhelming like, Oh my goodness, we got work to do, right? Right, Leah, in the words of alphabet rockers but wowzy the amount of things. What? You don't know. You don't know. Right. So I appreciate those resources and that's just something to share in the school side but I'll see if I can't get you guys and unlocked link that I can share. From Dr. Morgan Great things to have. 8:17:31 PM Caja Johnson: Thank you so much Gabrielle. Just moving on a little bit. Abu do you have any upcoming events? 8:17:39 PM Beverly Human Rights Committee (chat): thanks Abu 8:17:41 PM Caja Johnson: Do you have any Or any updates to share with the HRC. If you haven't already know that, you sort of jumped around a little bit on the agenda. 8:17:55 PM Abu Toppin:Yeah, sorry, and I'll kind of sprinkle some things here and there. Just quickly. I'll try have a list of things, but I did want to follow up a little bit. I don't know if we met since we've had the conversation at the middle school. um, where we kind of in response, the September 8th, who committee meeting I I was Who committee meeting Very happy about that, that event and and participation by all. I think we had. Close to, if not over, 200 people who participated in that event either in person or online. So I I think that we are, you know, starting to As Dr. Morgan and I had said, Miss Donna. Actually did us a favor. Um because I think she she woke up some some folks and and I think that people start our starting to pay a little bit more attention now, which was great. And and so, you know, we'll look to to build on that and out of that, I did get a a couple of comments and councilor and you and I briefly spoke about this too, but I get I did get a couple of comments from People who said, Well aren't we still kind of preaching to the choir? And, you know, I I took a little bit of fence to that, but, you know, I know the, the comment wasn't meant to be offensive, but I feel like we, you know, we have or are bringing in more people into the conversation, more people are starting to pay attention, But we'll also not going to get people who feel like Donna to come front and center on to have these, You know, to voice themselves, especially after the outcry that the community had about about the meeting. So some people who might feel that way certainly are not gonna come and stand up right now and say, Oh yeah, I agree with her. Um, but what I've suggested to Counselor and in a couple other counselors is that I would like to have From small group conversations, where folks in there constituencies, you know, if that they know of or have encountered who may have said, You know, I don't agree with this or, you know, what's the CRT thing or, You know, whatever if there's an opposing view or or understanding I would like to have a conversation with those folks, Um, you know, not to be on Beth Cam or broadcast it but, you know, small group conversations where there's a group of us who get together and we can just have a conversation and try to see, we can better understand each other. Um so I I'm looking to I just spoke to make Cahill about this um and so I will be kind of officially reaching out to all the counselors about this including our new ones to see if we can set something up in the New Year to to explore the opportunity to have those conversations because I think that's important for us to kind of know where people are coming from and and is it. Is it just you just have misinformation or you know, you coming from an entirely different spot, whatever it is. I think it would be good for us to have that discussion that and and foster that dialogue and allow folks who do feel that way to have a safe space to to express themselves honestly honestly without having that be again, broadcasted on Beth Cam or spot, whatever it is. I think it would be good for us to who do feel that way to have a safe have that discussion that and and foster that dialogue and allow folks space to to express themselves something like that. So I am looking to to do that. I also I mentioned, you know, our workforce diversity is is heading in the right direction. We have three new hires Of diverse backgrounds. Also, again is mentioned very qualified candidates and I'm interviewing. I'm part and participating in that interviewing process. and we also working to talk about, The things we need to do better in terms of retention. So we're also looking at career development programs or else looking at. Training and development for our staff, Our department heads and hiring managers. I just recently issued and unconscious bias training for our department, heads, that they're all completing right now, will deploy that out to the rest of the staff after that, then that will be in the new year will then follow that up with a series of different conversations. We'll be talking about having courageous conversations. We'll be talking about how to be good allies at work. We'll be talking about microaggressions, things like that. So we're going to start to begin to have. We're gonna be normalizing, these conversations and having these be more of the common in engagement that we have at City Hall. So those things are being planned and coming up. Still in the process. Looking at language access, we're we're looking to we didn't even have on the City website and the ability to translate our pages. So we're working with our, IT team to at least initially give switch to our ad, Google translate to the Web, all of the Web pages. And so, once that's done, we'll make that an official announcement, so that people know that that's available to them. And then behind that, I'm also looking at all costs and etc. What it would take to translate our documentation or the forms and things like that. The different people will come in that are that they'll need to acquire especially on the first floor and that also includes meeting notices and things like that that we might need to to have translated. So that's that's in the works as well. Ongoing work with our minority businesses. I may have mentioned in the previous meeting. I had invited our minority business owners to City Hall, back in October. We had a couple series of meetings there, great great meetings, got some great feedback from them. And from that, I've been working with our economic development team and our planning team to make some changes to our website provide resources and information that we currently, we previously did not have available. Um, I have meetings schedule next week with our minority business, owners, and Leslie Gould of our Chamber of Commerce and she's gonna have an opportunity to meet them and then meet her and get a chance to talk about the benefits of becoming part of the chamber and And part of the chamber and what what resources were available to them. That help support their businesses, so that meeting will be next week. Um, we talked about a little bit about the cultural representations, so that's again, forthcoming will, will engage you all on that process. We are in close to getting near the last stages of our equity audit, what? They just finished the process part of the process that they just finished up was the the interviewing process. So they went through all the data collection. They've been building their case studies, across the city departments, and to fill in any gaps with it with the data that they collected. They went through an interview process. So they went through an interview, the department heads and if necessary additional personnel, to kind of figure out, you know, what are some of the issues?What are the things you normally do in course of business?And kind of dig a little deeper where again, there was no data to support some of the some of their findings. So they just So they just wrapped that up. some of the, some of their findings. So we're starting to get ready to get again, there was no data to support to the point where we'll be shaping up, what that audit is going to look studies, across the city departments the data that they collected. and to fill in any gaps with it with So they went through an interview, process. They went through an interview the department heads and if necessary of the issues? additional personnel, to kind of in course of business?And kind of dig a little deeper where figure out, you know, what are some What are the things you normally do like in terms of final final product. So I think probably by the end of the year, we should have the final product and then the will have A large kind of community engagement about what the report is, what it says, what findings were and recommendations going forward, and then obviously, that they'll be a lot that'll come out of that. In terms of you talk about the process of formalizing appointments and things like that. Well, I think one of the biggest things that they have found is that we don't have official formal processes for a lot of things. And so that's going to be one of the key things that we're going to be looking to to change. And I think that's about it. That's all. 8:26:23 PM Caja Johnson: Thank you Abu. That's that's a lot. That's a lot of change and work and we are for sure, moving on the right direction and I appreciate your your work. I know that you work hard and you are for sure, multitasking all the time. So, 8:26:41 PM Abu Toppin: United me yet because we've like talk almost daily. So, 8:26:46 PM Caja Johnson: No, no, no. 8:26:48 PM Abu Toppin: Leah sick of me. She said it, she saw me. 8:26:50 PM Leah Jones: No, no. I actually 8:26:50 PM Abu Toppin:You don't want to talk? No, don't don't talk. 8:26:53 PM Leah Jones: don't know. 8:26:53 PM Abu Toppin: I can't, I can't do it. 8:26:55 PM Leah Jones: Not, I wanted to say that you left something out of your that's on your agenda. 8:27:00 PM Abu Toppin: Oh, what did I forget? 8:27:01 PM Leah Jones: so, I just wanted to, I'm gonna plug for this event that I'm so excited about that Abu Director, Abu and Chief John and Sergeant Costa and Chair person, Keisha have all agreed. So we talked about. So there's the Civil Rights task force with the police and a booth been working on creating this form for people who maybe have a bias incident or feel their human rights have been violated, but it's separate from a police form, but it's a way to kind of file an incident without, you know, it may be referred for follow-up to, for legal action or to other some other social service. But I think the idea is to improve the wrap around support to somebody who's been victimized by something like that, or who feels is having feelings that they may be. Subject of bias or some some other kind of discrimination. So I think There's a lot of that stuff Abu that that you're working on. I haven't update, we talked as the human, can I do this one super fast because I I wanted to ask Page, I think this is one that we've been talking about for a long time, but we reached out to Officer Kristen Healy, who's the LGBTQ liaison at Brookline of Brookline Police Department? There was that beautiful article where she kind of saw the need and filled the need and is now been kind of created a job and does outreach not just to teens and kids, but adults and making the processes that the police undertake more equitable non-binary, You know, and a non-binary line on an intake form or, and just providing that kind of support to community members and, and really seeing people in the community. And, and that representation that we're talking about anyway, I talked to her and Chief John so graciously suggested that maybe we could have a conversation at the new Beverly Police Department where the the police, the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and the Human Rights Committee. Could invite office or Healy to come. She. She's part of their Community Service division and she was also suggesting. We were thinking, it could be like a conversation between among police and they're in their community room and that it would be a great chance for the public to kind the public to kind of see some of Division and she was also suggesting. conversation between among police and We were thinking, it could be like a that it would be a great chance for they're in their community room and the, the good work that this officer's doing to share with our police department. And then our police, we talked with Could invite office or Healy to come. She's part of their Community Service She. Sergeant Costa about maybe Beverly, please sharing their expertise around mental health and the community and just kind of doing like a learning exchange. So again, it's like the power of community conversation I think here and there might be an opportunity for the public to ask questions. But Chief John even I'm just putting you on the spot here made a little. Maybe we could even have get our own LGBTQ liaison at some point, but at the very least, we can ask good questions and and I have to say, Officer Healy is awesome. She's super interested. She's super excited. She said, What we can absolutely make it work and we talked about maybe something in mid December. So if we could get and she was thinking that her deputy superintendent of the Community Service Division, focuses on mental health. So if they came together, she could talk about the LGBTQ plus liaison work she does. And then this other officer could talk about mental health and then maybe the Beverly police could talk about their work in mental health supports. I think a lot of community members ask us that over the past couple years. You know what kind of training did the police have in terms of mental health and response and we know that they have a lot. So Um, anyway, I feel super pumped up about it. I think that's why I'm all bursting, but I but I thought what a great collaboration for us as these three departments to kind of take on or offices or, you know, committees, whatever. And it could be very simple and structure. But if it works, we could do another one. You know. Just these not the network between the community and and the police I think is really important. Now more than ever. And so I just think it sounds cool and I was curious if Keisha and Abu and Chief John. If you think maybe? Mid-December would be a good time. Just like an hour or two at night, mid week sometime, or if you'd rather wait till January. But if you think that's an exciting option and our opportunity, we still like the idea and if you think it sounds like a decent structure. Anybody else want to weigh into? That's all. And I'm really done talking to me. 8:32:01 PM John LeLacheur:Yeah, I'll have to I've reached out. I'm going to reach out to the Chief again. They just had a change in leadership with a chief step down a new chief came up. It shouldn't be a problem. The one thing that we have to deal with with unions is overtime and things like that so may have to be during the day. Their community services unit is similar to our community impact but they're all tied to one unit where we have SROs community, impacting traffic and three separate divisions their service unit covers all of that. So if she works a very varied hours like documenting impact works days and nights during the week, we'll just we'll try to schedule, you know, and work it out. 8:32:41 PM Leah Jones:Yeah, she said she works nights but she also I kind of asked her about that. I said You know, ideally we'd love you to get paid for your department for your time, you know, maybe there's some kind of outreach and she's like, that's so sweet but 1 8:32:54 PM John LeLacheur:Yeah. 8:32:54 PM Leah Jones: really just want this to get out. She's like, I just love the idea of 8:32:57 PM John LeLacheur:Yeah. 8:32:58 PM Leah Jones: exchanging learning. So,just to let you know, I love whatever you think is the best way. 8:33:03 PM John LeLacheur:Tuesday, Tuesday, Wednesday night, when our impact guys are working. It's not a problem and 1, and they'll send her down. I know that I met her. Another thing we would do with you that Salem PD, one time, 8:33:13 PM Leah Jones:you think that would be a good structure, maybe in the community room, with kind of sharing getting a couple guys and we thought at the school resource officers were there It just would be a win-win I think for the community too and maybe we could even do. You said we might be able to do Bev Cam, which would be pretty awesome for people who can't attend in person. 8:33:32 PM John LeLacheur: Maybe not for the first meeting because I'd really want to find out what the ground rules are going to be and then maybe set up a second to follow. 8:33:42 PM Leah Jones: Okay, maybe we could talk in the next couple of weeks would Keisha, would, would I have your maybe green light to just set up a little meeting where we can talk about, what the structure would look like? Just real simple, like one pager about what it could look like. 8:33:58 PM Caja Johnson:Yeah, absolutely. And you know, I'm okay with mid December but I'm also okay with January after MLK day you know I'm super flexible. I know that the holidays are this is a really busy time for for folks and we have a lot of planning to do for MLK and we have time to spend with our families. And so I I want to just be mindful of wellness and folks being able to reset and take that time. So, Um yeah, it sounds wonderful and and thank you Chief and and we have her into boo for reaching out. It sounds like this is gonna be a powerful and impactful meeting that I look forward to being a part of look forward to being and so if no one else has anything to add in on that. I did just want to say that we have been meeting with Echo. Which is a faith-based organization who has been working on. Transparency, surrounding the police department. And we will be sending out a Doodle poll. I did, I talked to you Chief a little bit about this already and you to a boo, but I will be sending out a doodle poll for folks that are able and I think Mindy, did you attend the last meeting?Yes. so, Anyway, Chief, I can send you the questions that would tentatively. Be asked what the Doodle poll and maybe you and Sergeant Costa could could Do the doodle policy?What would work best and review the questions to see if it would be something that you'd be interested in. 8:36:01 PM John LeLacheur.Yeah, absolutely. 8:36:02 PM Caja Johnson: Okay, and I just want to be mindful of folks time because it is it's 8:36 and I don't know about y'all, but I'm tired. So, 8:36:18 PM Abu Toppin:Asia. 8:36:20 PM Caja Johnson:Yes. 8:36:20 PM Abu Toppin: I'm sorry. Can I add one more thing? 8:36:22 PM Caja Johnson:Absolutely. 8:36:24 PM Abu Toppin: Um, the Public Health Subcommittee, of the Task Force Race Equity, Task Force. We're a partnering with Beverly Hospital on their community needs health assessment. And that process and their survey is now available. Paul, that's what I was mentioning to you. In the chat, I wanted to send you the flyer and information and link if you guys can post that on HRC page. So folks can have access to the to take the survey and also part of that process is they want to conduct some focus groups and So we are councilor ran. I also mentioned this to you and and ask for your participation in that, which I think you agreed to do and we'll get a few folks from across. We'll need a representative from the HRC. So if someone we kind of to represent HRC and part of that process and 8:37:23 PM Caja Johnson: It would be. 8:37:25 PM Abu Toppin: other folks across the Beverly government and community on the participate in that focus group. So we're trying to get as many Cross-sections of Beverly as we can and that focus group. So I mentioned this to make Cahill and I would be sending out an email, shortly to request. Everyone's participation in the, in the group. I mean, if you, obviously, if you have time, an opportunity to do, so, would be very much appreciative. But no worries, if you cannot, but we're trying to get as is not a ton of folks, probably about 12 or to 15 people. Um, to represent different cross sections of city, government and community, but I just want to give a heads up to that to folks about that. 8:38:15 PM Caja Johnson:Yeah, that I I did think you sent an email about that and thank you so much. That's so important for all of us to be a part of and to recognize and and take the time out to participate in and that's such a that's that's a great collaboration. 8:38:38 PM Abu Toppin:Yeah, yeah, no, absolutely, absolutely. And it's it, you know, it's it's important to really, you know, there 8:38:42 PM Beverly Human Rights Committee (chat): sure Abu, send along and I will post 8:38:44 PM Abu Toppin: and they're sincerely concerned with identifying, you know, these gaps in equities in the like and and where this issues with accessibility inclusivity, all of that. And and how that plays out in healthcare and, and so, we want to, you know, get as much as we can out of the community. I gave the survey, the council rotundo. So he's gonna be running that up to Apple Village and and handing that out for folks up there as well to take the survey. So, you know, we're trying to do as much as we can to get the the word 8:39:19 PM Caja Johnson: um, 8:39:20 PM Abu Toppin: out. Paul, thank you. You would like to participate that. Okay. 8:39:26 PM Caja Johnson:Yeah, and I know Counselor Rand you were at our last meeting as well that we had with Echo. Thank you for taking the time to do that and Counselor Flowers. As also was also at the last meeting and will be a part of that conversation. So if there's no other any other business, No. Okay. Great. Great. So 839 pm Motion to adjourn meeting. So 839 pm motion to 8:40:02 PM Paul Lanzikos: so, 8:40:03 PM Caja Johnson: Thank you. 8:40:05 PM John LeLacheur. Second. 8:40:06 PM Caja Johnson: Thank you. So thank you all for coming.