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Home My WebLink About01/25/2022 REAC MEETING MINUTESBremerton Race Equity Advisory Committee – Meeting Minutes Tuesday, January 25th, 8:00 p.m. via Zoom Learn more at https://www.bremertonwa.gov/1232/Race-Equity-Advisory-Committee-REAC Regular Bremerton REAC meetings are held via Zoom at 6 p.m. on second Thursdays monthly. SERVING THIS MEETING Tech Host: Quinn Dennehy Tech Co-host: Darryl Riley Facilitator(s): Quinn Dennehy Land Acknowledgement Reader: Sarah Van Gelder Timekeeper: Glenna Matteson Notetaker: Airen Lydick OUR PURPOSE o To advise the City Council, by applying a race equity analysis to all aspects of governance; and o To maintain engagement with and accountability to other work being done throughout the Bremerton Community in service of Race Equity. OUR VISION Bremerton Race Equity Advisory Committee envisions a City that: o Strives to continually dismantle its own institutional racism, within policies, programs, budgets, initiatives, legislation, systems, and infrastructure. o Amplifies and joins racially, culturally, and socially integrated community endeavors toward equity, well-being, and liberation for all; and o Aspires to model for the nation a City in which people of different races, ethnicities, and backgrounds can interact, form friendships, and participate fully in the community’s political, economic, educational, cultural, and civic endeavors. REAC Members Attending: Darryl Riley, Glenna Matteson, Sarah van Gelder, Airen Lydick, Quinn Dennehy, Jennifer Chamberlin, Jeff Coughlin REAC Members Absent: none 1.Opening and Welcome a.The meeting was called to order at 8:20 p.m. (The meeting began later than anticipated due to technical difficulties getting the Zoom to open.) b.The Suquamish Tribe’s land acknowledgement was read. c.Bremerton REAC’s Purpose and Vision were read. d.REAC members introduced themselves. Welcome new members, Jennifer and Jeff. 2.Approval of This Meeting Agenda a.More to motion to approve the meeting agenda as written, with one amendment, that the “Approval of Minutes from December 9th, 2021 REAC Meeting” be tabled until our next meeting, since we have not yet received those minutes to review. Motion made by: Airen Lydick Motion seconded by: Jeff Coughlin The motion was unanimously approved. 3.Public Comments a.Jessica Guidry, Equity Program Manager from Kitsap Public Health District introduced herself and offered to come to a future Bremerton REAC meeting to present on KPHD’s 2021 resolution “Declaring Racism a Public Health Crisis.” b.Mike Szymanski commented on Bremerton REAC’s Purpose and Vision. He asked for Bremerton REAC to provide evidence of systemic racism in Bremerton City Government. Committee member Quinn Dennehy clarified to Mike Szymanski that these meetings are not a forum for debating the existence of systemic racism. Quinn Dennehy reiterated that he is available to discuss these concepts with community members who are seeking to better understand systemic racism. Bremerton Race Equity Advisory Committee – Meeting Minutes Tuesday, January 25th, 8:00 p.m. via Zoom Learn more at https://www.bremertonwa.gov/1232/Race-Equity-Advisory-Committee-REAC Regular Bremerton REAC meetings are held via Zoom at 6 p.m. on second Thursdays monthly. c. Drake Evans brought up past mentions (in previous Bremerton REAC meetings) of the Norm Dicks Government Building as an “example of systemic racism.” Committee member Darryl Riley reiterated the offer he and other committee members have made to meet outside of Bremerton REAC meetings, to discuss the concept and the existence of systemic racism. Committee member Quinn Dennehy noted examples of institutional privilege and racism that are part of systems of government, etc. 4. Approval of Minutes from December 9th, 2021 REAC Meeting a. This item was tabled until the next Bremerton REAC meeting. 5. Update on Bremerton City Council’s Activities a. How does Glenna get started as liaison for City of Bremerton’s membership to GARE (Government Alliance on Race and Equity)? ▪ Committee member Darryl Riley mentioned a recent conversation with Mayor Greg Wheeler, in which Darryl’s take-away was that the Mayor thinks someone on City staff might already be doing this. ▪ Committee member Glenna Matteson said that she’s still interested in and able to serve as liaison. Glenna is willing to do this collaboratively with a City staffer. ▪ ** ACTION ITEM ** Committee members Quinn Dennehy, Jeff Coughlin, and Jennifer Chamberlin will contact City staff Christine Grenier and Lori Smith to: i. Find out if anyone in Bremerton City government is already stewarding Bremerton’s GARE membership, and ii. Make it clear that Bremerton REAC would like Glenna Matteson to also steward this membership and serve as liaison for it. b. What is the date of Council’s early-2022 retreat? ▪ Council member Quinn Dennehy reported SAT, MAR 12th as the likely date. 6. Prep for Bainbridge Island REAC and Bremerton REAC study session a. This session is Thursday, January 27th, 6-7:30 p.m. b. B.I. REAC is hosting this Zoom; link will come from rlassoff@bainbridgewa.gov. c. For this Zoom, please “Rename” to [first] [last] Brem REAC (ex: Airen Lydick Brem REAC). d. ** ACTION ITEM ** The following people will speak on behalf of Bremerton REAC for the various portions of the January 27th agenda shown below. i. Introductions - Everyone introduces themselves. ii. Background/history of each REAC - Darryl iii. Goals for 2022 - N/A - pending our March retreat! iv. Successes and challenges thus far - Sarah v. Community needs and feedback - Airen vi. Collaboration with City (council, admin, etc.) - Darryl with Glenna vii. Opportunities to partner and support - Glenna e. Follow-up -- recording of 2022.01.27 study session of B.I. REAC and Bremerton REAC: http://apps.bainbridgewa.gov/media/video/2022/REAC_20220127cc.mp4 7. Working Team Reports a. Change The Power - C-T-P working team gave an update on the in-depth interviews and surveys they’ve been doing with local community members, specifically people who are leaders on race equity (among other things). Almost all of them are People Of Color as well. C-T-P working team would like to host a forum to highlight want we’re learning; City electeds and staff will be highly encouraged and enthusiastically invited to attend. Bremerton Race Equity Advisory Committee – Meeting Minutes Tuesday, January 25th, 8:00 p.m. via Zoom Learn more at https://www.bremertonwa.gov/1232/Race-Equity-Advisory-Committee-REAC Regular Bremerton REAC meetings are held via Zoom at 6 p.m. on second Thursdays monthly. Afterward, Bremerton REAC also wants to take the highlights from that form to an early March meeting of City Council meeting, to share in a ~30 minute presentation. i.**ACTION ITEM** Change The Power working team will plan an online forum, likely for TUE, FEB 15th, 4 - 5:45 p.m., and will keep REAC informed on progress. **ACTION ITEM** Committee members Quinn Dennehy, Jennifer Chamberlin, and Jeff Coughlin will work on getting Bremerton REAC a ~30-minute time slot during a City Council meeting occurring between the 2/15 forum and the 3/12 City Council retreat, ideally at the WED, MAR 2nd Bremerton City Council meeting. They will keep the full Bremerton REAC updated on their progress. b.Educate & Communicate - no report tonight c.Business & New Economy - no report tonight 8.2022 Bremerton REAC Schedule - Regular Meetings & Retreat a.**ACTION ITEM** Committee member Quinn Dennehy will tell Christine Grenier and Lori Smith that our Bremerton REAC meetings will still be second Thursdays at 6 p.m. b.**ACTION ITEM** Quinn Dennehy will tell Christine Grenier and Lori Smith that instead of having our regular meeting on Thursday, March 10th, we’ll be using that regular meeting night for our Bremerton REAC retreat. Committee members Sarah Van Gelder and Airen Lydick will plan the retreat agenda. (The meeting will last somewhere between two and three hours. We’ll know the exact length as it nears.) 9.2022 Bremerton REAC Chair, Vice Chair, and Community Co-Chair a.Chair - Quinn Dennehy nominated Council Member Jennifer Chamberlin as Chair, and she accepted. Sara Van Gelder nominated Council Member Quinn Dennehy as Chair, and he accepted. With no other nominations made, Bremerton REAC members voted. The Vote: Quinn Dennehy voted for Jennifer Chamberlin. Jennifer Chamberlin, Jeff Coughlin, Darryl Riley, Glenna Matteson, Sara Van Gelder, and Airen Lydick voted for Quinn Dennehy. RESULT: Quinn Dennehy was selected as Chair. b.Vice Chair - Jeff Coughlin nominated Council Member Jennifer Chamberlin as Vice Chair, and she accepted. RESULT: Jennifer Chamberlin was selected as Vice Chair. c.Community Co-Chair - Rather than decide this tonight, the committee will frame and fill this role at our Bremerton REAC retreat on Thursday, March 10th. 10.Old Business a.Presentation Offer from Jessica Guidry of Kitsap Public Health District - Late last year -- and again tonight, during “Public Comments”-- Jennifer Guidry of Kitsap Public Health District offered to provide us with a presentation on the health board’s Resolution 2021- 01 “Declaring Racism as a Public Health Crisis”? The committee spoke further with Jessica Guidry to see if possibly this could be incorporated into the TUE, FEB 15th forum. **ACTION ITEM** Committee member Airen Lydick will loop Jessica Guidry into the planning of the TUE, FEB 15th forum, so that we can collaborate on including this in it. b.Vacancies - We have three vacant seats. We have multiple previous applicants (already interviewed) as well as one new applicant, Madalyn Squires (not yet interviewed). **ACTION ITEM** Quinn Dennehy will contact Madalyn Squires to schedule her to attend our February 10th meeting so that we can interview her there. Quinn Dennehy will also contact other recent and long-ago applicants to thank them and to verify whether they are still interested. He will let them know that we plan to do our final interview THU, FEB 10th and to choose who will fill our three vacant seats that night. Those applicants are Reama Schuldt, Asia Creech, Kirsten Lee Dahlquist, Stacey Opiopio, Bremerton Race Equity Advisory Committee – Meeting Minutes Tuesday, January 25th, 8:00 p.m. via Zoom Learn more at https://www.bremertonwa.gov/1232/Race-Equity-Advisory-Committee-REAC Regular Bremerton REAC meetings are held via Zoom at 6 p.m. on second Thursdays monthly. Tracy Flood, Cristopher Bellini, Hajar Mhasni, Harrington Griffin, Katherine Carpio, Kiaha Long, and Katherine Carpio 11.New Business - none tonight 12.Public Comment - no additional comments 13.Closing Remarks Meeting adjourned at 9:54 PM. NOTE: Roles for the TUE, FEB 10th Bremerton REAC meeting were not decided Chair Quinn Dennehy could follow up with other Bremerton REAC members to get these figured out. The usual roles are: Tech Co-host/Helper Land Acknowledgement Reader Timekeeper Notetaker Facilitator