| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
REGIONAL EXCHANGE OF
HUMAN RELATIONS ADVISORY BOARD/COMMISSIONS
Mesa Arts Center, Farnsworth Studio
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
1 East Main Street
6:30 p.m.
Present:
City of Mesa: Terry Benelli, James May, Renee Coelho, Ana Cadillo, Lisa Hudson, John Matthews, Everette Woods (Board Members); Mary Berumen, Ernestine Tesarek, Denise Traves, Jennifer Hedges (Staff) and Mesa Police Chief George Gascon
City of Chandler: Niki Tapia and Leah Powell (Staff)
City of Tempe: Patricia Young (Commission Member)
City of Scottsdale: Linda Simmons and Enid Seiden (Commission Members); , Linda Walton and LaVerne Parker Diggs (Staff)
City of Phoenix: LaShawn Jenkins and Diane D’Angelo (Commission Members)
1. Welcome:
a. Diversity Office Director, Mary Berumen welcomed the commission to the City of Mesa’s Mesa Arts Center.
b. Human Relations Advisory Board Chair, Terry Benelli called the meeting to order.
2. Call to the Public:
a. None.
3. Engaging the community – Mesa Police Chief George Gascon:
a. Chief Gascon shared the different community forum boards created to engage Mesa citizens.
The Chief’s Community Forums are charged with going out to the various communities that are being served by the police department, for example; the African American forum, the Clergy forum, the Hispanic forum, the Disabilities forum, etc. These forums work with the police department at a citywide level, the forums go directly to the police commanders with specific topics or issues impacting their communities. Each forum creates projects that help bring their community and the police department closer together.
A Community Police Advisory Board was also created at a station level; these are more community based (one step above a community block watch). The goals of these advisory boards are geared towards operational concerns within a neighborhood, for example; a spike in graffiti or an increase in burglaries. The advisory boards address how issues are taken care of at a neighborhood level and at a station level. There are four Advisory Boards within Mesa, located at each sub-station. The Advisory Boards bring the entire neighborhood community together along with the police department, some boards have held community events such as; the lock-it or lose-it project.
The key to the community forums and the police advisory board is to give the community access to the police department. The police department also benefits, as there is now a list of community leaders willing to communicate the needs or concerns of the department directly to their communities.
All of the Chief’s Community Forums are open to the public; forum descriptions, dates, and times can be found at: http://www.mesaaz.gov/police/forums/default.aspx. The advisory boards are staffed by community leaders that speak between the neighborhood residents and the police department; guests are welcome to attend, board member seats are filled by invitation and an application process. If you are interested in attending a forum meeting or becoming a board member please call Community Partnership Coordinator, Denise Traves at (480) 644-2620.
Chief Gascon explained that the Regional Human Relations Commission can assist with communicating accurate information. Getting the correct key information out to the public is crucial and the individual Human Relations Commissions can assist with that. Communication is crucial in addressing our communities, being able to clearly and accurately express the impacts and decisions being made that affect the community. Chief Gascon, also suggested bringing a mixed group together; these mixed groups can create a commonality among the differences, a mixed group can put a human face to many of the problems neighborhood communities face.
5. Pro-Active Education About Immigration:
a. Leah Powell, Diversity Administrator for City of Chandler, addressed the commission on the training session held with the Department of Justice. The training session empowered each Human Relations Commission (HRC) to engage the community when events take place that have the potential for conflict. One event that has the potential to spill into the community is immigration.
Ms. Powell asked if there are any HRC members interested in continuing with this topic, either in a more in-depth training or to form a forum to address immigration concerns and issues. Regional HRC member Diane D’Angelo from the City of Phoenix informed the group that the City of Phoenix’s HRC has just addressed some immigration issues and has come up with some ideas on how to make every city aware of potential conflicts. The City of Phoenix HRC is creating a “White Board” that will communicate the hate and racial related crimes happening within the city.
A united voice with all the citywide HRC’s is a proactive approach to immigration and the discrimination happening within Maricopa County. A forum created to address these concerns will bring resources that might not be available otherwise. This forum needs to be built by the community, volunteers, and staff. Communication between HRC’s will need to be done through staff as to not violate Open Meeting Laws. Whether a forum is created or the regional board meets more often, all HRC’s need to make a stance on issues; verbalizing the concerns, issues, and the point of view from the Regional Commission to each cities Council and Mayor.
ACTION: City of Mesa, Human Relations Advisory Board member, John Matthews made a motion to create an Ad Hoc committee of the different city Human Relation Commission members to draft a statement regarding human rights concerns happening within Maricopa County. The motion was seconded by City of Scottsdale, Human Relations Commission member, Enid Seiden. The vote was carried unanimously.
Individual commissions/boards will come back with volunteers willing to participate on the Ad Hoc committee.
6. City Exchange:
a. Scottsdale
A Cross Cultural Communication Series will take place at the Scottsdale Public Library. More information can be found at: http://www.scottsdalelibrary.org/upcoming_programs.cfm
The MLK celebration dinner will be held on Friday, January 9. More information can be found at: http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/events
The HRC will be revising the strategic plan after the holiday break.
b. Tempe
The MLK Diversity Awards Brunch will be held on Monday, January 19. More information can be found at: http://www.tempe.gov/hrc/DiversityAwards/awardsbrunch.htm
The HRC will be meeting in December to revise the strategic plan.
c. Chandler
The City of Chandler Diversity Office is proudly presenting a special showing of “Praying wih Lior” on Wednesday, December 3. More information can be found at: http://www.chandleraz.gov
The Celebration of Unity begins Friday, January 16, which includes a unity luncheon and a multicultural festival. More information can be found at: http://www.chandleraz.gov/default.aspx?pageid=281
d. Mesa
The City of Mesa Human Relations Advisory Board co-sponsored with Equality Arizona the film premiere of “Freeheld”, that was held in October.
The MLK Celebration events begin on Friday, January 9. More information can be found at: http://www.mesamlk.org/2009%20Events.html
The City of Mesa Diversity Office is talking with the different faith based and cultural communities within Mesa. The HRAB was able to meet with Sudanese community leaders.
The City of Mesa will host a Light Rail opening celebration on Saturday, December 27. More information can be found at: http://www.mesaaz.gov/lightrailgrandopening/default.aspx
7. Meeting Evaluation & Next Speaker Topic:
a. Ad Hoc committee – statement on Human Rights issues.
8. Closing Comments & Adjournment:
9. Next Meeting Hosted by:
a. City of Chandler’s Leah Powell will revise the meeting schedule and send city staff members the updated schedule.
Submitted By:
__________________
Mary Berumen,