Social Equity and Racial Justice Committee


Minutes
October 5, at 5:00 p.m.
Due to a lack of a quorum this meeting was for informational purposes only.

Meeting Video
 

1) Yamaguchi called the meeting to order at 5:00Attendance: Yamaguchi, Simon, Geraghty, Houston, Seltzer (staff liaison), DuQuenne (council liaison),

Absent: Santiago

2) Geraghty read the Land Acknowledgement and Houston read the Labor Acknowledgement 

3) Echo Fields, chair of the Health and Human Services Advisory Committee, spoke of the work of the committee.  In addition to commenting on the common interests of both group she mentioned the opening of the shelter scheduled for later this month and encouraged SERJ members to attend the open house. 

4) Geraghty reported on her efforts to research racism in Ashland. Her report can be viewed here.  She referenced the Mayor’s direction to the committee at the June meeting asking SERJ to do this research. She will have more information at upcoming meetings. There was some discussion on how to move forward. 

5) Pride Parade: DuQuenne suggested the parade may be a place to recruit SERJ members. City Councilor Jeff Dahle will be the backup council liaison to SERJ.  Seltzer will add him to the Zoom link for November.  Simon noted that the Mayor and other councilors will be marching behind SERJ with a City of Ashland banner.  Yamaguchi, Simon and Geraghty will march in the parade with the banner and pass out pride flags. 

6) MLK Day: Simon informed the committee and DuQuenne that SERJ does not have the resources or person power to be the lead for MLK day in January.  DuQuenne noted that planning meetings for MLK with BASE, SOU and the Chamber will start later in October. 
Indigenous People’s Day:

7) Yamaguchi noted that SOU is planning this event 11:00 – 4:00 on Monday, October 9 in the courtyard at SOU. 

8) Recruitment Yamaguchi asked people to let her know if there are people who would be willing to serve. Seltzer was asked to develop something as to what SERJ is looking for in recruitments. 

9) Update from Council and Staff Liaisons:Seltzer is researching Asian Heritage flags and asked about the progress of the MLK flag research. It was suggested that we have something custom-made. Houston might be able to discuss manufacturing the flags at OSF. Houston committed to getting back to SERJ with information by October 13.Simon asked Seltzer to pick a flag design and place the order if OSF is not able to make the flags.

10) Adjourn: 6:30